Hey beautiful ballerinas! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel, your monthly dose of all things ballet and time travel! This month, I'm whisking you all back to the dazzling year of 1685, and what a fabulous journey it’s been!
As always, I'm in my trusty pink tutu - because why wear anything else? It's a reminder that ballet is a celebration of grace, beauty, and, of course, fabulous fashion! Magic Meg, my pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and white mane and tail, was absolutely positively beaming with joy as we travelled through time. He's such a trooper, my loyal steed! He loves galloping through history with me. And what a story we’ve unearthed in this trip back in time.
A Royal Ballet Birthday Bash!
Buckle up, ladies, because this month's journey is a truly special one. It’s a day that’s near and dear to every ballerina’s heart, the 7th of July 1685! Why? It’s the birthday of Louis XIV, the Sun King, the man who pretty much invented the court ballet! This man was ballet’s biggest fan, and on his birthday, you can imagine the grand festivities were off the charts.
I’m lucky I even managed to sneak into the celebrations at the Palace of Versailles, it was the height of fashion! A veritable ballet paradise! Think gold braid embroidery, feathers, sequins, and enough silk to create a ball gown the size of my little village in Derbyshire! And as for the ladies? Picture shimmering brocade dresses, bouffant wigs, and their tiny little slippers dancing on exquisite parquet floors. Absolutely fabulous!
Ballet Royalty
The King himself loved dancing, even at 49 he was a true showman! It seems that court ballet was a must-have on his birthday and his lavish parties included incredible productions that brought together the biggest talents in the world. I was particularly drawn to the graceful elegance of the dancing courtiers - they looked like real life versions of our beautiful ballets, even if the shoes were flat and there was more drama than dance moves.
It wasn't just about dancing. These royal parties were truly epic, think opera singers, poets, and elaborate sets that were like something out of a dream! The King even invited the very best ballet masters to court! It’s no wonder, his birthday became the ultimate event for Parisian ballet lovers.
Fashion For A Queen!
Speaking of fashion, darling, did I tell you what I got to see! The costumes! Oh, my dears! Think richly embroidered velvet for the men and flowing satin gowns for the ladies, all in those elegant colours that just scream "French Royal." This birthday bash was the ultimate ballet fashion show and it’s truly no surprise why people still look to those days for style inspiration.
You know I couldn't resist popping into a boutique to pick up a couple of beautiful hand-painted ribbons for my own collection, which now sits pride of place in my backpack (along with a whole heap of interesting stories and the odd quill and ink pot!). They are perfect for decorating the neckline of my next tutu, and as for the quill… well, it’s all going to be on my website for you all to read, in my special ballet-themed font, of course!
Royal Ballet Birthday Wishes
As we sped away on Magic Meg, I couldn’t help but imagine how Louis would have felt on his special day! You can be sure he danced like a prince! His birthday was, after all, an event worthy of ballet history. And so it’s only right that we pause and reflect on his passion for the art form. After all, his love for ballet paved the way for what we enjoy today.
So, to all you lovely dancers out there, I hope your next birthday is just as filled with joy and the sweet music of ballet as the Sun King’s birthday celebration. Let's all make this month about ballet celebrations - in the pinkest way possible, of course!
Happy dancing and see you next month!
Emma, The Pink Tutu Time Traveller!
P.S Make sure you pop over to www.pink-tutu.com to keep up to date on all my adventures! You can also see my most fabulous performance schedule for the month where all the money goes towards my ballet time travel fund! Just imagine, your ticket could help bring you closer to a pink tutu and ballet’s incredible past!
