Hello my darling ballet bunnies! It's Emma here, your resident time-traveling ballerina, and oh my goodness, this month's trip has been a real whirlwind! I've always been a big fan of royalty, so imagine my delight when I found myself waltzing back to the glittering court of King Charles II in 1680!
A Fashionable Arrival:
I arrived in the heart of London, ready to immerse myself in the world of 17th century courtly life. Thankfully, my trusty pink tutu seemed less out of place than I'd feared. Imagine, swirling silk gowns, sparkling jewels, and, yes, even a hint of that iconic French-influenced pantomime style that later would evolve into the ballet we know and love!
My horse, the dazzling Magic Meg, with her pink shimmering coat and golden hooves, really stood out in the cobbled streets. People stopped and stared, and I swear some ladies even tried to touch her tail! I mean, it is practically magic, what with all that glittery white! She's the most stylish steed on this side of the time-space continuum, that's for sure.
A Glimpse of Courtly Life:
My first stop was a performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I slipped into the crowds and immediately found myself mesmerised. It wasn't your classic ballet performance, no pirouettes or graceful extensions. Yet, it was fascinating! I'm talking full-fledged plays with extravagant costumes, lively dances, and a lot of exuberant movement. This era of ballet focused on theatrical storytelling through movement.
You wouldn't believe how different it all felt! There was such a sense of occasion. Every gentleman was clad in a fine powdered wig and his very best coat, and the ladies were a vision of silk and lace. There was an electricity in the air that truly made the show come alive!
A Royal Ballet Inspiration:
It was all very charming and, well, royally inspiring! I have to tell you, these performers truly lived and breathed the dance. Their passion was infectious, and you could just feel how important the performance was to them. In a way, I see it as a kind of origin story for the ballet we love today. A time when every dance held within it a spark of narrative and theatricality!
And speaking of narrative, did you know that Charles II's sister, Mary, had a personal dancing master at the time? Imagine, private ballet lessons in a lavish palace, with the queen's brother as your teacher. That's royal inspiration if you ever heard it!
A Pink Tutu Ambassador's Work is Never Done!
And, of course, what would a time-traveling ballet bunny do without a little pink tutu propaganda? During my stay, I felt it was only right to introduce my favorite pink tutu fashion into the courts of King Charles. With my charm and a lot of friendly chatter, I convinced the ladies-in-waiting to give it a try. I had even packed some little satin ribbons and feathers for added flair. Let's just say, by the end of my stay, a few of the bolder ladies were proudly swirling in the courtyard with their own pink tutus!
A Treasured Time-Travel Tale:
Leaving 1680 was bittersweet, of course. As usual, I filled my rucksack with relics from the past – some intricate embroidery from a dancer's costume, a faded program from a play, and a hand-written songsheet of a ballet ditty, sigh, how very charming!
Now, these stories and artifacts will inspire a whole new batch of blog posts! Who knew that such simple things could transport you back to another time and connect you to the very essence of dance itself?
My dear ballet bunnies, don't ever stop embracing the joy of dance, no matter where your feet may lead you! Whether it's in the theater, in the studio, or in the shimmering pink embrace of a time-traveling tutu, ballet has a magic all its own! Until next time, dance on!
Yours truly,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
