Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your time-traveling tutu-phile, reporting from... well, where in time am I even now? Honestly, it's a blur. All I can tell you is I just got back from Paris, and boy, did it leave my little ballerina heart fluttering. I'm talking waltzing through cobblestone streets, swirling around elegant squares, and gasp even finding some inspiration for my next pink tutu creation.
So, gather 'round my darlings, grab yourselves a dainty cup of tea, and settle in for the grandest of grand tales. As you know, each month I whisk myself through the grandest of history on Magic Meg, my beautiful pink and sparkling shire horse. And this month, she trotted us straight into the year 1682. What better way to celebrate the beauty of history than by finding out what was on stage?
Now, you know I have a fondness for all things ballet, from the frothy tutus to the dazzling dances. But you'll have to forgive my slight bias towards the pink tutu. Oh, it is truly my ultimate favourite - the colour of whimsy and ballet joy. Every time I travel through time, I try and see what inspired ballet of the era and pick up any fabulous garments or ballet-related stories I can fit into my leather rucksack. Just wait, you're going to adore what I unearthed on this trip!
Paris, Paris, the City of Lights and (Sadly) No Ballet!
You may not know this, darlings, but back in the 1680s, ballet was all about the court. King Louis XIV - he was the epitome of royal elegance! - was a huge fan of dance. Now, you wouldn't find ballet like we know it today in a grand Parisian theatre. The dances back then were called ballets de cour. Think extravagant dances done by noblemen and women within a royal palace. I'd just love to get my hands on those intricate costumes, wouldn't you?
Royal Ballet in a Golden Court
You might be thinking, why no public theatres? Well, dear reader, that was all about royalty back then! Imagine a world where dance was solely for the aristocracy. It felt a tad exclusive to my little pink-loving soul. Still, it's fascinating, don't you think? It tells us something about the history of ballet: how it was a powerful art form connected to power and nobility.
So, while we didn't find any actual ballet performances (much to my ballet heart's chagrin), I did come across an extraordinary dance happening at the Palace of Versailles. I saw it while galloping through the magnificent gardens on Meg, oh what a magnificent beast she is! It was the famous "Ballet de la Nuit", a show that took the entire French court by storm in 1653, years before our adventure, but I did find out how it influenced many ballet performances later down the line. There were grand figures, stunning costuming, and dances that embodied everything that was sophisticated and elegant during that time period. A glimpse into a history of "dancing royalty", my darlings, was certainly divine.
And Now For Some Pink Inspiration:
Now, onto the fun stuff! This whole Parisian adventure was not just about seeing royalty dance. Oh, no! I am on a mission, my dear readers: a quest to get everyone wearing pink tutus! So, of course, I had to look for some pink Parisian inspiration. I spotted a stall near the Seine river filled with beautiful pink silks. I imagined swirling them around in a graceful waltz! Imagine, a light pink tutu, like the sunrise over the Seine! You wouldn't have to worry about stepping out of your pink tutu at all with that one, darlings! It felt absolutely heavenly. I know just how to use that silks, for my new creation! I know what my new pink tutu will be named. Sunrise Over The Seine! What do you think, dear readers?
My journey back to Derbyshire on Magic Meg was full of Parisian memories, each one dusted with pink glitter and spun from dreams of the golden age of ballet! Do tell, dear reader, did you enjoy this post? And did I sparkle you enough?
Until next month,
Emma
p.s. * Follow along my travels on my website *www.pink-tutu.com!
I will continue to share stories, dance fashion and fabulous pink creations every single month! Remember darlings, the more pink, the better, so be sure to grab yourselves some sparkly pink attire for our next ballet adventure!
[Image of Emma wearing a beautiful pink tutu, riding a sparkling pink shire horse named Magic Meg in the Paris garden with the Palace of Versailles in the distance].
