Post Number 341 - www.pink-tutu.com
Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where I, Emma, a pink tutu-loving ballet enthusiast from the heart of Derbyshire, share my time-travelling adventures! I hope you're all ready for a trip to the fascinating world of ballet in 1689, because my sparkly pink Shire horse, Magic Meg, is chomping at the bit to take us on another exhilarating journey.
It's been a whirlwind month! The recent performance in London was simply divine. I absolutely adored the costumes, and of course, a whole row of ladies wore pink tutus! My aim is to spread the pink tutu love far and wide, and every time I see someone else embracing this delightful fashion staple, it warms my heart. But back to our exciting time travel...
Now, as many of you know, I'm not just obsessed with ballet, I'm absolutely fascinated by its history. Imagine, this date - 5th May 1689 - marks the beginning of a beautiful chapter in the story of French ballet, and it all revolved around a dazzling King!
Our time travel adventure takes us to the grand French court of King Louis XIV, known fondly as the Sun King. This captivating monarch, who ruled France for a staggering 72 years, wasn't just a king, he was a passionate lover of the arts! And in his era, ballet truly blossomed into a magnificent art form, fuelled by lavish courtly dances.
Think grand balls with dazzling chandeliers, ladies in sparkling gowns and gentlemen in velvet breeches. Imagine intricate steps woven into elegant dances performed with incredible grace. But there was something different about this period – Louis XIV had a visionary vision: to create a formal academy for dance!
So, on 5th May 1689, he announced the formation of L’Académie Royale de Danse. Think of it like a school of ballet, dedicated to nurturing and showcasing the beauty and technique of French ballet. The establishment of this academy was like a shining star illuminating the path for generations of future dancers. It was the dawn of a new era!
Just imagine the excitement of those times! It was as if all the dance aficionados of Paris were saying, "Hurray, a formal dance academy dedicated to perfection! We can learn and teach ballet with all the pomp and flair it deserves!" The excitement must have been infectious, and the entire world of dance probably trembled with anticipation.
But let's pause for a moment and imagine the life of a ballet dancer in those days. No ballet barres! They used benches or their own arms to maintain their balance, and there were no classes as we know them today. Dancers learned by performing! The French court was the ballet studio and the King the dance instructor! Now wouldn't that be a lesson to remember!
Now, as you may know, I collect items from the time periods I visit and tuck them into my leather rucksack to preserve a piece of their magic. Just recently I found a beautiful hand-drawn copy of a ballet manuscript. Imagine, dancers of those days had to learn their steps by rote! Today, with YouTube videos, the internet and even TikTok, we've got it so easy! It was quite the feat to memorise those routines and then perform them to perfection.
Just imagine being able to teach people the steps from this manuscript – perhaps a new choreographic style of that era. It's so exciting to think that maybe this could spark some inspiration for new routines. My blog is always brimming with ballet fashion inspiration, so if you have any ideas for interpreting the dance moves from these manuscript pages into modern times, do share them!
But let’s rewind back to the 17th century!
Another delightful tidbit of ballet history from this time period: French ballet saw the birth of the Ballet de cour, court ballets, essentially a dazzling dance spectacle put on to celebrate grand occasions like royal weddings and birthdays. What could be more magnificent than a beautiful dance dedicated to the birthday of a king, don’t you think?
Of course, during this period, ballet was exclusively a male domain! No tutu-wearing divas performing grand pas de deux, alas! Men graced the stages in their exquisite, silken costumes and breeches, bringing stories and emotions to life with the most graceful of moves. But who knows, perhaps that old hand-drawn ballet manuscript contains the first glimpse of a tutu-wearing ballerina of its time! I, for one, hope so, wouldn’t you?
Just imagine, maybe somewhere deep within the dusty archives of France, hidden beneath faded velvet drapes, is a page in that manuscript illustrating a lady wearing the first blush of pink tutu! Perhaps it’s not an actual tutu, but something similar. Who knows? Perhaps we can unearth it together, as time travellers sharing our love for ballet!
Now, my lovelies, it's time for a bit of indulgence. The most amazing part about being a ballet time traveller is having the chance to catch a show in every era I visit! And believe me, 17th century France had some incredible ones! I especially adored one piece by a remarkable ballet dancer, Pierre Beauchamp who choreographed a charming little piece titled “L’Amour Médicinal." And of course, nothing would have been complete without a grand costume change! Can you imagine, a beautiful dance showcasing love being treated as a medical cure? Well, as they say, sometimes you’ve got to love to be loved, eh? I do think it’s a grand idea!
But of course, we can’t go back in time without thinking of what we can learn from these dances. The ballet of the 17th century was an artistic force reflecting the opulence of the court. Just imagine the grand steps and the dazzling costumes. The idea was to mesmerise audiences and impress, with dance telling tales and highlighting the king's magnificence! Perhaps in these extravagant dances lay the blueprint for future dance forms, maybe even my favourite, the classical ballet.
That is what makes my journeys through history so inspiring! Every era holds its own special dance magic!
Well, my loves, that’s a wrap for today! But don't you worry, there's a whole world of pink tutu-laden fun awaiting us in our next adventure. Make sure you check back next month! In the meantime, grab your pink tutus, hop on your trusty steeds (imaginary or real) and keep the ballet spirit alive. Keep on dreaming, and keep on dancing, you glorious bunch!
And always remember, darlings, the world is waiting for you to spread the pink tutu love!
Emma, xoxox
