Hello gorgeous ballet lovers! Welcome back to my monthly Pink Tutu Time Travels blog. It’s Emma here from Derbyshire. As always, I'm bursting with excitement to whisk you away on a delightful journey through the realms of ballet history, all from the comfort of your favourite pink tutu!
This month, I'm hopping onto my beloved Magic Meg – our fabulous pink, sparkling Shire horse with the golden hooves and snowy mane – and we’re travelling all the way back to February 2nd, 1689. Oh, it’s been such a whirlwind of a month, seeing as the day after my visit it was the Glorious Revolution in England – but luckily the dance world is very much our safe space from such upheavals!
Let's just say, it's always such an adventure finding what's happening in the world of ballet on a given date. As I pack my trusty leather rucksack (you’ll have to keep checking in next month to see what treasures I’ve brought back this time, darling!), I love seeing how our love for this graceful art form has blossomed over time. But honestly, I feel we haven’t moved on from the gorgeous, luxurious tutus that we wore back in the day. Let's just say this whole pink tutu trend started with the lovely ladies of 1689!
1689: Ballet is EverythingBack then, it felt like every city had some sort of ballet-themed performance. The Court Ballet had reached the peak of its fame in Paris – it's hard to imagine such grandeur with their huge lavish productions, the magnificent court costumes and the intricate choreography. We might have a big, grand spectacle with Swan Lake – but even that pales in comparison.
For example, in 1689 there were grand ballets created by none other than the legendary Jean-Baptiste Lully. This master of his craft, known as the "father of French opera", even created an opera-ballet named Armide – the story of the beautiful sorceress Armide!
While we had many performances like this on the Continent, our English cousins had their own delightful take on the art form: the Masque, with lots of stunning dances. And they took things up a notch. Did you know they actually put ballet on the throne! Or more specifically, the monarchs did have their say. It was a royal, magnificent, very high-class affair - the court was basically the ultimate place for a fabulous ballet experience.
It seems as if King James II (yes, THAT King James!) even requested a particular ballet about the mythical, alluring character of "Circe." The entire production was staged at the glorious Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
Ballet Fashion & The Royal GlamourOh, the fashion. It’s everything, right? Imagine a huge royal court teeming with beautiful costumes and gowns. Every ballet dancer must have felt like they were the centre of their own fairy tale!
The Court Ballet, with its theatrical flamboyance, embraced intricate designs. Let's talk feathers! Can you picture it? A sea of dancers, swathed in feathers and beautiful brocades! A whole flock of vibrant pink, red and orange hues just bouncing across the stage! Talk about a feast for the eyes! It’s an almost unreal image of beauty and grandeur, that truly was something else! If the court ballet wasn’t the ultimate fashion show, I don’t know what is!
While ballet was everywhere in 1689, there wasn't exactly a plethora of information readily available, unlike the countless ballet books we have these days. But fear not my lovely dance friends - I always carry my trusted diary with me, diligently jotting down all the intriguing snippets from the time! This helps my trusty blog keep this fascinating, magical world alive!
A Pink Tutu for Every Lady!You can see why 1689 has truly been a month that captured my heart! But every single one of my magical adventures has something so very important in common - it’s the shared joy we have for dance, and especially ballet, across every era.
Do you have any favourite ballet shows you can remember watching on February 2nd, from any year? I love hearing from you lovely ballet lovers, and finding out what excites you in the wonderful world of ballet!
It’s time to head back to the future, and for you gorgeous dancers and lovely ladies - be sure to check back for my next blog! Oh, and of course don’t forget - there is a beautiful pink tutu out there, just waiting to find you!
Until next month, darling dance lovers!
Emma xxx
