Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where a girl and her pink tutu can time travel to any point in ballet history. This month, weāre taking a little trip to Paris, September 1675! Letās mount Magic Meg and set off, shall we?
Now, you might not immediately think of 1675 as a peak time for ballet, but hold onto your tulle skirts ā there was a lot brewing in the world of dance back then. King Louis XIV had been running things in France since 1643, and this was a big era for royal ballet.
I think itās worth mentioning here, darlings, that I know I look fabulous on Magic Meg. Iām sporting a very fetching cerise pink tutu, one I picked up from a little shop in 18th century London, for this trip. This is an amazing era for embroidery ā the details on this tulle skirt are intricate and divine. But what would a ballerina be without accessories? My matching pink beret with a giant, glittery pink bow and, of course, my matching pink rucksack - always good for collecting stories from the past. Magic Meg is, as usual, a dazzling sight in her full, flowing white mane and tail.
So, after a rather scenic (and somewhat chilly) time travel via Meg, we find ourselves in Paris. Imagine, darling, the streets paved in cobblestone and horse-drawn carriages rolling by! It was so delightful to get a bit of fresh air before venturing into the elegant Parisian theaters of this period. I hear these theaters have wonderful acoustics. And donāt even get me started on the outfits ā the aristocracy were just dripping in silk and lace!
You see, dear readers, ballet in this period was largely still in its infancy, but there was a burgeoning excitement surrounding the art form, a sort of fresh-faced youthfulness about the world of dance. And guess what?! On this very day, 9th September, 1675, a certain Madame de La Fontaine performed her new work "L'Amour Malade", right here in Paris. Imagine, dancing under the gaslights! It was like something out of a dream!
Madame de La Fontaine was known for her captivating choreography and the use of beautiful, elaborate costumes, perfect for my time-traveling eyes!
This is exactly what I love about this job, darlings. Itās the joy of being transported into the stories of these pioneering women of ballet. It reminds me, every time, of why we do what we do! Weāre carrying the torch of these ballet trailblazers into the future!
Of course, I had to find some relics of this Parisian premiere. I scoured the dusty antique shops and came away with some wonderful finds for my pink rucksack, my precious ātreasure troveā: a stunning set of faded dance slippers with intricate stitching (almost perfect with my tutu, darling!) and, I kid you not, an original manuscript of the work!
But it wasnāt just about the performances and the finds. It was about the vibe. Itās like walking through the pages of history, taking in all the bustle and chatter, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from streetside bakeries. You feel a part of something very special, the evolution of an art form.
I want to leave you with this, darlings: ballet is a journey, and Iām just starting mine. Each step is a new experience, a new memory. Each performance is a little bit of history in the making. Let's take that spirit and that joy into our own dancing!
Until next month, my lovelies! Letās get out there and live our pink-tutu-tastic lives, one pirouette at a time! And donāt forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for my next installment, you donāt want to miss it! And while you're there, donāt be shy - tell me about your own ballet journey! Iād love to hear about your adventures in the world of dance.
See you soon!
Xoxo,
Emma.
