Hello, fellow tutu enthusiasts!
It’s Emma here, your time-travelling ballerina extraordinaire, and I'm so excited to whisk you away to another spectacular journey through the pages of ballet history. This month, we're pirouetting back to 2nd February, 1688! My trusty steed, the magnificent Magic Meg - a dazzling pink shire with golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail - is ready to carry us back to the world of swirling skirts and powdered wigs.
Hold onto your tutus, darlings, this is going to be a fun one!
It was a rather brisk Derbyshire morning when I woke up with an intense feeling that a trip to the 17th century was calling. With a quick hop on to Magic Meg, I donned my ever-so-stylish pink tutu (a new arrival from my recent trip to a stunning Parisian boutique!), grabbed my leather rucksack, and off we trotted into the swirling vortex of time.
Landing softly in a sun-drenched English courtyard, I felt a strange combination of anticipation and a longing for the delicate scent of sandalwood from my favorite ballet class studio. Still, it was the 17th century, and even then, the arts were alive and flourishing!
My journey started at the heart of English theatre - London. This period in time marked a turning point in theatrical entertainment, and while ballet hadn't truly exploded on the scene yet, I was keen to soak up the atmosphere of pre-ballet theatre. The London stage buzzed with exciting new dramas and comedies, offering glimpses of what the future held for the ballet world.
As I walked through the bustling streets of the city, the hustle and bustle of the theatre scene surrounded me. Plays were in full swing, with some popular works of the time, like "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley, grabbing audiences' attention. My ears were attuned to whispers of theatrical plots, I watched with excitement as plays like “The History of the Troublesome Reign of King John” and “A Looking Glass for London and England” performed, leaving me enthralled with the vibrant, captivating energy.
The atmosphere, oh my, the atmosphere! You just had to be there, experiencing it first hand! You could almost feel the very pulse of this artistic evolution happening. And, just as the curtain falls on a great performance, the thrill of anticipation for the next big thing kept everyone on the edge of their seats, myself included!
But here's the catch - and something fascinating I found in my travels -
The dancing during these performances? Well, it was a far cry from what we consider ballet today! More like simple, symbolic gestures used to amplify the drama, adding a sprinkle of theatrical spice to the stories being told. These gestures weren't the precise, graceful movements that I adore, but you know what? They paved the way for our beautiful ballet!
There’s this gorgeous sense of evolution you feel when you travel back in time and witness how art forms like ballet evolve and adapt. Just thinking about those first few steps, those tentative, but passionate expressions, makes me want to pirouette in appreciation for how far we’ve come.
My Rucksack: A treasure trove from the past!
My trusty leather rucksack has always been my faithful companion, storing all my ballet treasures and fascinating finds along the way.
This time, I couldn’t resist acquiring a beautifully aged, handwritten playbill featuring "The Country Wife" which was a hilarious commentary on societal scandals of the day. This one, I'll be adding to my personal collection, nestled in among my collection of other playbills and program posters.
This little beauty also reminded me of the way stories come to life through dance!
Just as I imagine those playful actors engaging with the audience, I think about the beauty of how ballet continues to touch our hearts with each performance.
I was delighted to stumble upon an enchanting old book featuring theatrical engravings and sketches depicting the costumes of the time, each more elaborate and captivating than the last. My rucksack was bursting with the sheer volume of beautiful detail I collected! Imagine satin, silks, lace, and all adorned with sparkling embellishments. They may not have had the streamlined elegance of the ballet tutus we have today, but those 17th-century costumes were absolutely dazzling in their own right! I know I'll find the perfect place for them in my own little corner of the ballet world.
Remember that special feeling when a performance makes you feel all the things - excitement, passion, and that undeniable spark of magic?
That’s what it’s like for me every time I travel, a swirling sense of discovery, like I'm in the middle of a beautiful ballet show, and my rucksack is filled with all the captivating finds and insights!
Finding the Spark: From theatrical gestures to graceful leaps
This trip reminded me of how far the world of ballet has travelled from those simple gestures, yet how those very beginnings lay the foundation for what we cherish today. It was a fascinating peek into how the dance was used in its infancy. I find it exhilarating knowing how even simple movement and storytelling pave the way for something truly incredible – ballet, my beautiful, graceful, and powerful dance!
So, fellow dancers, keep those tutus twirling, keep the magic alive, and keep exploring! There's so much to be discovered in the history of this captivating art form. Remember, we’re all on this dance journey, stepping into the beautiful future, inspired by the grace and passion of the past. And never forget: the world needs more pink tutus!
Join me again next month for another adventure through ballet history on www.pink-tutu.com !
Love, Emma 💖🩰
