Hello, my lovely ballet bunnies! It’s your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, back with another whirlwind adventure in ballet history. This month, we’re travelling back to the vibrant and dramatic era of the 1680s, landing on the 8th of August, 1688. Buckle up your ballet slippers, grab your imaginary pink tiaras and hold onto your tutus tight because we're about to step into the Baroque heart of France, the very heartland of ballet's grand origins.
Oh, and my trusty time travel steed, Magic Meg – my beautiful, pink-sparkling shire with the golden hooves and white mane – is all ready to go! You wouldn't believe how much we get to see on these trips, especially the ballet fashions from all these bygone eras. Today, it's all about elegant bodices, frills, and billowing fabrics – definitely some pink-tutu inspiration right there!
I just love finding treasures from history and packing them into my leather rucksack for my blog posts. Today's haul is especially exciting! It's a vintage scroll with detailed drawings of ballet steps from the period, and I'm just dying to show you the beautiful, graceful figures and complex footwork - imagine learning from these centuries-old techniques!
The King of the Dance: Louis XIV
Stepping out of the shimmering time portal and onto the cobbled streets of Paris, we're welcomed by the extravagant pomp and ceremony of the French court. 1688 - that’s smack bang in the middle of Louis XIV's reign – and oh my, was he a fan of dance! Not just a fan – he was practically the choreographer, the patron, the embodiment of ballet itself! Can you believe that the king, ‘The Sun King’, danced publicly and actually choreographed some of the most important ballets of the period? How amazing is that?
He even established the Academie Royale de Danse, essentially the first ballet school, and it's right here, in Paris, in 1688. Talk about ballet milestones, eh? He made sure ballet was not only the most exclusive entertainment but also a symbol of France's growing power and artistic brilliance.
Dance Lessons from the Past: Court Ballet's Evolution
Speaking of the Académie, its influence in the development of dance cannot be overstated! This institution took the ancient Italian influence of dance, mixed it with the extravagance of the French court and voilà – court ballet was born. I can practically feel the energy of the early dancers, practicing and refining those elegant postures and intricate steps in these grand halls!
Of course, everything was different back then. No comfy, modern studio spaces for these pioneers. Instead, imagine vast rooms in opulent palaces with high ceilings and gleaming chandeliers, creating the most majestic and intimate settings. The dances themselves weren't just about the steps, you see. They were narratives – legends, myths, and historical figures brought to life through the power of dance. It was like watching a story unfold in real time, choreographed with passion and skill!
Imagine performing for royalty in the intimate atmosphere of a grand palace – the sheer awe, the grandeur, the thrill of every leap and turn… it would make even the most confident dancer shiver! It was an entirely different form of dancing and one which I would love to have experienced, but we can't go changing history! But, I guess that's part of the excitement of time travelling!
Stepping Back in Time
Today, as we waltz through the streets of Paris in 1688, let's not forget about the amazing spectacle we are seeing - street performances were a huge deal in the 1680s, just as it is now! Think of jugglers, clowns, dancers, acrobats, even puppet shows – it's all part of the ballet spectacle of the time! I bet it was full of the same joy and enthusiasm we find in dance and street performance today. And just wait for all the fabulous fashions – bodices, feathered hats, lace… I need to buy some of these! I might even try and make some pink versions for my pink-tutu collection!
A Peek into Ballet's Future
So, here I am in 1688, in the heart of Baroque Paris. Even with all its majestic splendor and aristocratic flair, the ballet we see in this time is really just a whisper compared to the beautiful and diverse dance world that would follow. I can almost see the threads of what's to come; the evolution from court ballet to the graceful elegance of the romantic era, and eventually, to the freedom and experimentation of modern dance – all so beautifully intertwined, each era a vital thread in ballet's extraordinary story.
Oh, and don’t worry my fellow pink tutu enthusiasts! Even in these earlier eras, you’ll find hints of what we've come to love: playful leaps, flowing steps and of course, those intricate tutus (although perhaps not as flamboyant or pink as I'm used to!), and this only reinforces my life goal to bring a little pink-tutu joy to everyone, every single century!
Remember, I post my pink-tutu time-travelling stories every month, right here on www.pink-tutu.com. And don't forget to come say hello at my next live ballet performance, I always love a good ballet audience!
Until next time, my beautiful ballet bunnies, keep twirling and dream pink!
Emma, x
