Hello darlings! It’s Emma, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina time traveller, back with another blog post from www.pink-tutu.com! This month, I'm taking you all the way back to 1683, a date that's surprisingly brimming with ballet happenings. Let's jump on Magic Meg's sparkly back and take a twirl through history, shall we?
**(Note: Before we go on a time-travel adventure, a little disclaimer – we're going to talk about some historical details that may not always be entirely "pink-tutu" appropriate. Remember, the past was a different world! But fear not, we're sticking to ballet and its connections – and a little fashion too.)
Today's journey brings us to 6th June, 1683, a date etched in my memory (and perhaps not in yours, but hey, that's what time travel is all about!). Now, the ballet scene in 1683 wasn't quite what you'd call 'a flourishing rose garden'. It was more of a 'wildflower patch', sprouting beautiful, unique styles that would bloom into what we know as ballet today.
Imagine London, a city brimming with life – street entertainers, theatre, and… ballet! Well, a rather early form of it. You see, back in this time, dance was considered part of courtly entertainment, a regal expression of grace. It was the golden era of The Court of Louis XIV, the Sun King!
This date was actually a pivotal one! This is where the 'Ballet de la Royalle', essentially a theatrical and courtly dance performance in one, hit its stride! And I’m sure the fashion in those performances was divine!
Of course, we couldn't discuss 1683 without a quick trip to Paris, the cradle of French ballet. Remember my fabulous Paris ballet trip, with the macarons and all? We'll save that story for another time! Anyway, back in 1683, the King was in the midst of the ‘Grands Ballet' craze – grand, elaborate ballets involving lavish sets, gorgeous costumes, and dramatic plots. You’d have been stunned at how much was crammed into a single performance! I bet those ballerinas had outfits to die for. Can you imagine how divine the colour palette was? Pink, of course! Perhaps some beautiful shades of teal and ivory would have complemented the pink perfectly!
You know what else is exciting? It's the time of the French Royal Ballet – the ultimate fancy dancers – all those twirling, leaping, elegant performers with elaborate steps and grand costumes – just wait till you see them in my next video. Think tutus made with silks and satins, delicate and romantic with flowing lines. Pink, definitely pink! It's even been whispered that the original tutu made its appearance somewhere between this time and the late 1600s. Can you imagine?! I’ve added it to my travel wishlist – a pink tutu hunt through 17th-century Paris, imagine the stories I could tell!
This is the era where ballet really started to transform, growing from courtly dances to an art form worthy of dedicated theatres. Back in my time machine! This is where it starts, darlings!
This isn't the only thing on the ballet front in 1683, darling. This was also the year that Queen Mary II, my favourite monarch – yes, that Queen Mary – took the throne of England. Mary loved to dance! She is, dare I say, my ultimate muse when it comes to combining a love of dance with royal presence. You can see why my ballet rucksack has a picture of her. She brought in a wave of new excitement and enthusiasm for the arts, which also led to a flourishing of ballet! I think we need a dance to celebrate her in honour of her reign. A quick change of clothes…
Speaking of a change of clothes, you know I love my fashion! We couldn't visit 1683 without looking at the clothing trends. Now, those elegant courtiers (fancy pants for the 17th century!), dressed in their ruffles and ribbons, silk jackets, and powdered wigs, really knew how to make a grand entrance. Imagine dancing with a giant wig – I bet it’s incredibly hot, but worth it for the flair. Fashion back then was all about embellishment, layers, and that 'larger than life' feeling, perfectly matching the dramatic style of those royal ballets!
And, as always, I was so thrilled to check out the fashion! While their clothes wouldn’t exactly fit into a 21st-century ballet studio (think hoop skirts and very puffy sleeves – that could be difficult for those pirouettes!) they definitely influenced ballet attire in future years. That's why we've seen the evolution of the tutu, a direct descendent of the 17th century "frock." This journey is so rewarding – to trace our passion from those historical roots.
This, darlings, is what makes history such an exciting dance, just like ballet itself! You see how our passion for tutus, elegance, and dance flows right from these times. There's a timeless beauty to this art that stretches across centuries. And while 1683 might not have been all rainbows and tutus (more velvet, I think, and feathers!) we have much to be grateful for! Those courtly dancers with their regal poise and dramatic movements set the scene for what ballet became – an art form that continues to capture the human spirit, the love of movement, and the thrill of beauty.
And remember darlings – while we are taking a little dip into a less-than-ideal past, ballet still flourishes today, and always has a place for every person! It's the beautiful dance of grace and expression, waiting for every little pink tutu-wearing dancer, every graceful performer. Every pink tutu brings a smile to my face!
I'm going to add a 1683 pink tutu design to my to-do list. Think luxurious fabric, embellishments and of course a nod to that era’s signature features! You just have to follow along to get exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks at the process!
What's coming up on my pink-tutu journey? You know I’m always trying out the newest steps! Who knows what the ballet world has in store for us, darling! But in the meantime, I hope you enjoyed my trip to 1683, full of the spirit of early ballet and some fantastic fashion moments!
Don’t forget, darlings, check out our Pink-Tutu shop for a curated collection of my personal favourite items, plus keep an eye on my website www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest posts on my ballet journey, including fashion picks and time travel highlights.
Until next month, happy twirling, my little ballerinas! 🩰💖
