Welcome back, dears, to Pink Tutu Travels! It's November 11th, 1679, and your favourite time-travelling ballerina is back with another dazzling adventure! I'm Emma, your whimsical guide to the magical world of ballet throughout the ages. It's a delight to welcome you to my 227th post on www.pink-tutu.com - oh, isn't it just the most delightful address?!
Now, buckle your dancing shoes and let's take a trip back to the elegant era of powdered wigs and silk stockings. My faithful companion, Magic Meg - she's a shire horse with the most magnificent pink shimmer and hooves like golden nuggets! - is patiently pawing the ground, ready to whisk us back in time.
London, 1679
The crisp November air nips at my nose as we arrive at a bustling London street. This time period - a haven for elaborate costume and fashion! I do love to see how style has changed, though thereās nothing quite like a delicate tulle tutu - particularly if it's a stunning shade of pink, naturally!
My heart thrummed with anticipation, for this day held a particular excitement. It was the very date that a truly iconic ballet performance took place in London. It wasnāt a formal āballetā as we know it today, mind you, but more a theatrical dance spectacle within a larger entertainment.
The court of Charles II was in full swing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - oh, just imagine the glittering gowns, the powdered wigs and the delicate hand fans - and itās on this very stage that the very first ever recorded performance of what we now know as "The Dragon" ballet took place. The dragon wasn't as fierce as you'd expect - in fact, it was actually the human lead, Louis DuprĆ©, who carried a costume which gave him a rather comical, if a little terrifying, appearance. It's all rather comical, but so wonderfully historic, too. I do love the colourful, historical elements of ballet. I think there are far too many "serious faces" and stark minimalism in modern performances!
As a self-proclaimed ballerina with an insatiable curiosity for the history of dance, it's fascinating to see these theatrical dances becoming increasingly elaborate, moving from their original simple forms to full-blown spectacles! I have a whole shelf of books on 17th-century French Ballet de Cour, and I have to confess, this bookish, academic side of ballet is quite an addictive rabbit hole!
Time Travelling Tutu Travels: My "Tutu Time Travel" Rucksack
My little satchel has taken some rather exciting and dusty items today. A specimen of the programme for the Drury Lane performance, a beautiful etching from the period - itās quite remarkable, showing dancers in elaborate costumes, with such striking poise. Then, the little "icing on the cake," if you will, a beautiful feather boa, most definitely owned by a dancer in the show. This truly was the era of elaborate costume and fashion, donāt you think?!
This has definitely been one of my favourite days of time travel, and I shall be recounting every exciting detail in my journal. Do have a read, I do hope you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed reliving this very special ballet moment in history!
Modern-day Pink-Tutu-isms!
Weāve all been through a time when it felt like "everything ballet" and a lovely dose of "tutu travel", and of course the "shimmery horse time travel"! You know what they say - āTo the future and the past with you,ā which is one of the lovely little mottos I picked up during my 16th century travels in the beautiful French Court. So let's celebrate this grand heritage of dance and style! What could be more fun than wearing a pink tutu?! Do wear one, just for yourself, just for today!
Thatās it for today, dears. My lovely Magic Meg has whisked us back to the present. Time for me to hop back onto stage for an afternoon of teaching the local ballet class - we've got a particularly exciting performance in the Derbyshire local community center - all those lovely kids with their big eyes and twinkling smiles! How wonderful it is to make that passion shine. Now off to shop! Itās my birthday and my birthday shopping and dress shopping all at the same time! How delightful!
Do keep in touch, darlings! You can follow my ballet travels on www.pink-tutu.com where you can also read my diary of ballet travels and browse my little gallery. Until next time!
Love, Emma
