#BalletHistory during 1672 08 August

Hey fellow tutu lovers! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! August has been a whirlwind, full of fabulous shows and beautiful costumes. I'm still buzzing about the Swan Lake performance at the Royal Opera House last weekend. They used the original Tchaikovsky score – pure magic! And I managed to snag a vintage pointe shoe from the shop at the theatre! 🩰✨

But today's blog is a little bit special – because we're time-travelling all the way back to August 8th, 1672, a day which marks a really important date in ballet history! And who better to travel with me through the centuries than Magic Meg, my pink-sparkling Shire horse? He’s already polished his golden hooves and is waiting patiently outside the stable… Ready? Off we go! 🎠💖

As Magic Meg gallops through time, I can't help but imagine what ballet was like all those years ago. Think tight corsets, silk gowns, and maybe the very first glimpses of the beautiful tutu!

This day, August 8th, 1672, is significant because King Louis XIV of France officially established the Académie Royale de Danse. This was a huge moment for the world of ballet! The Academy quickly became the focal point for all things dance, a place where future stars were nurtured and polished.

Can you imagine how thrilling it must have been for those dancers? It was like being part of a brand new world, where movement was finally being taken seriously, not just as a form of entertainment. And even better, the Academy established formal rules for technique, making sure every step was precise and beautiful.

And now, get ready for some fabulous lady power! While the idea of ballet was very much attached to courtly ceremonies at this time, women were starting to be seen in more than just elegant walk-on roles.

Yes! We had dancers like Mademoiselle de Lafontaine, who performed with such grace and charm, she inspired others. She helped create some of the early, famous ballet scenes - can you imagine choreographing a scene in The Princess of Navarre?! We were a little late getting to see the premier, but that was due to a slightly wrong time-warp by Magic Meg - never one for punctuality, you know! 😜 But seeing this incredible performance at the court of King Louis, surrounded by such lavish decor and beauty, made the journey completely worthwhile.

I think the story of how the dancers wore extravagant gowns back then, then whipped them off for more agility - now THAT's ballet!

It wasn't all waltzing in the clouds, though. Back in those days, men were usually at the heart of the performances, and some people frowned upon women in ballet. Thankfully, women were bold enough to step up and create their own spaces for dance! It’s such an empowering story. It gives me strength every day as a ballet blogger – we all have the power to achieve what we set out to do. 💗✨

It’s pretty amazing to think how our modern dance steps have evolved. One of the greatest breakthroughs back in the 1670s was a technique called 'terre à terre'. Think tiny little steps close to the floor, lots of elegance and precision. I couldn’t help myself but grab a piece of paper from my rucksack and jot down all the steps I saw performed that day in Paris. Imagine choreographing something so elegant, like those ballerinas on point – a symphony of steps!

In my backpack, you’ll find other incredible memories and snippets of history from our adventures. This month’s addition? A small piece of fabric from a gown belonging to Lafontaine! Can you imagine wearing a gown with a train over two yards long?! Not sure if I would get my dance moves in with that amount of material to deal with, but imagine all the potential for breathtaking beauty! I’ll have to share it with all my ballet fans at the Pink Tutu club - think of all the design ideas it could spark! 🎨💫

Of course, every time trip leaves me brimming with ideas and inspired for new content! Right now, my little studio is a haven of ballet dreams! Imagine the colour pink in every shade possible! This month’s blog is bursting with stories and colour from the very first ladies of ballet – but I can’t resist mentioning a project I’ve got simmering away.

This is a top-secret one, I’ll have to share it next month. I’m calling it “Pink Tutu Derbyshire.” Think of all the history in my own home county of Derbyshire! I’m not letting the secret slip just yet, but let’s just say that even England, so long ago, is overflowing with inspirational dance stories… Stay tuned for next month!

And finally, what’s on the ballet scene here in the present? I have to recommend a little gem of a production happening at the Birmingham Royal Ballet – The Nutcracker. The choreography is just brilliant and the costumes! Oh, you’ll be swooning over them. What more could you ask for?! And while you’re at it, remember the pink tutu - you never know what amazing performance might come your way! 💖🩰

Happy Dancing,

Emma 💕