Welcome to Post #229 of my Ballet Time Travel Blog, darlings!
Can you believe it? January already? It seems like only yesterday we were all wrapped up in our favourite Christmas jumpers (with a cute tutu, of course!) sipping hot chocolate. But fear not, because January means one thing - a new ballet adventure for me, and I'm always up for a trip back in time!
Today's adventure? The 1st January 1680! And just as I promised, I'm here to share the latest instalment in my world travels - a visit to 17th century England! Buckle up, darling, because itās going to be a whirlwind!
Fashion Fit For A Queen!
First things first - the outfits! Weāre talking elegant dresses with a hint of drama - I love the puffed sleeves and fitted bodices, so flattering. And while ballet hasn't fully bloomed yet, the dances were still pretty impressive. I even found a little snippet in my vintage collection, which describes a ball with āgracefulnessā and "delicate movementsā. Iād love to know more! Perhaps the 1680ās saw the beginnings of ballet movements - the steps we know today. I always thought that French and Italian ballet began way back in the Renaissance!
Meg & The Royal Court
This trip, I travelled on horseback, of course. No one gets around like me, my dearest! My sparkling Shire steed, Magic Meg, she truly does sparkle! Her golden hooves are almost blinding! Meg is my secret weapon in the world of time travel. This time, I saddled up, packed my pink sparkly tutu, and a special pink silk bag for ballet mementos. Oh, and a bit of sugar, Meg always deserves a treat for being so fabulous!
So off we trotted towards the Royal Court - imagine, darling, I met royalty! A little stiff perhaps, but gracious and friendly, and they really were impressed by Meg, as much as I'd be impressed by a horse of that era if I ever saw it. A proper pink sparkling shire is certainly a conversation starter! I saw King Charles II, he had a great fondness for all things dance! Even then, there was a fascination with dance. You can see how much we owe the Court for spreading the world of ballet to so many. It is such a treat seeing how the fashion evolved into ballet costuming.
A New Year In Old England
Of course, my rucksack (itās very fancy, donāt you worry, leather and embellished) is brimming with stories and finds. I have already sketched a magnificent ballroom scene with grand staircases, chandeliers reflecting pink tutus like a thousand tiny stars (that's a vision I just have to have).
I can see my pink tutu, swirling amongst the silks and lace - oh the possibilities, dear readers! My mission? Get all these beautiful folk, these charming men and ladies in their lace collars, frilly cuffs and silk skirts, to dance and maybe, just maybe, wear a tutu, a little pink tutu, like mine, even if itās just for a grand ballroom evening!
See You Next Month
Thatās all for today, my dears, it's back to reality now! The dance studio awaits! But stay tuned - Next month we're whisking back to another time! A brand new era, a new city, and a whole host of ballet treasures awaiting! Don't miss it, and until then - keep your tutus twirling!
See you soon, darling, Emma
Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more fabulous posts!
What Emma's Collecting: - Fashion from the era. - Ballet history notes (snippets about royal dances, perhaps) - Dance steps. - A sketch of a beautiful ballroom, all dressed up with sparkly pink!
Want to learn more?
Let's delve a little deeper into that 1st of January in 1680: The year saw King Charles II presiding over the English court, still in its early stages of ballet. He himself was an ardent dancer, and dance was fashionable, an important social element within court life, I'll be learning all about the kind of dances and fashions of that period - It's truly magical!
Stay tuned, darling, there's more to come.
Your ballet time-travelling friend,
Emma
PS: If you ever spot a sparkly pink horse, give it a pat, and say hello from me!
