Welcome back, dear readers!
It’s Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, and you’re in for a real treat this month. Today, I’m transporting you right back to the glittering Court of Louis XIV, where the elegance of the French court dances hand-in-hand with the dawning of ballet as we know it.
It’s the 7th of July, 1689, and as the sun rises over the Palace of Versailles, I'm perched atop the back of my beloved Magic Meg – our pink shimmering Shire with hooves like polished gold, who even with a flamboyant mane and tail the colour of spun sugar, never fails to blend into any era. This month, however, the real sparkle is my very own creation – a vibrant pink tutu shimmering with layers of tulle, custom-made for a truly regal encounter with the Sun King himself.
After all, today, the ballet is in full swing at Versailles, and it wouldn't do for me to blend in. Instead, my mission, as always, is to find the most spectacular pink tutu imaginable and, of course, to tell you all about it.
Now, as any seasoned time-traveller knows, history isn't just about big dates, it’s about the smaller stories – the stories tucked away in the back corners of museums, or hidden in dusty diaries, waiting for someone with the right pair of pink-tinted spectacles to spot them.
This month, our adventure isn't just about a performance – it’s about a transformation. 1689, a time when Louis XIV is already a decade into his reign as King of France, and dance is reaching a new height of artistry at his court.
We’re talking about the very birth of classical ballet as we know it. Forget those courtly dances – grand gestures and stiff bows! We’re about to experience the grace and strength of movements carefully choreographed to create captivating stories and emotions, a shift in how people understood and felt about ballet.
Back to the blog...
As the sun streams through the windows of the Palace of Versailles, a hushed air hangs heavy in the air, anticipation buzzing amongst the ladies-in-waiting, gentlemen in wigs, and curious onlookers like myself.
It’s a day to witness ballet history in the making. And as you can imagine, Magic Meg and I are front-row seats for this historical extravaganza.
The ballet for this evening, as I gather from a few whispers between ladies, is called "Le Triomphe de l'Amour" – The Triumph of Love. A fitting title considering the extravagant opulence and attention to detail woven into every aspect of the French court.
But my true focus is the dancers. Even though these are the earliest days of classical ballet, there’s already a level of artistry and technical skill on display that could rival a contemporary dancer’s elegance. I'm mesmerized by the grace of the ballerinas' leaps and turns, their carefully choreographed steps tracing stories in the air, and the masculine yet nuanced strength of the male dancers, who move with such purpose.
Imagine, this is the world where these steps were born!
From their exquisitely crafted point shoes (oh, a bit rough by today's standards, but they’re getting there!), their elaborate costumes shimmering in the soft candlelight – yes, it’s quite an upgrade from the simpler attire worn at court dances previously - the performers are taking audiences on a magical journey! And that's the heart of ballet – that magic, that transporting quality.
But today's dance is also about more than the spectacle. It’s about love, conquest, and, most importantly, the ultimate triumph of virtue over vice.
In this particular ballet, the story unfolds before us with grace and fluidity. There are heroes and villains, romance and intrigue, and above all, love – the grand emotion that ties everything together. As a pink tutu aficionado, I must admit, the female dancer's costumes in the performance have stolen my attention. They aren’t the pink explosion I crave (alas!), but the use of luxurious fabrics, elaborate adornments, and stunningly complex stitching takes the courtly look of the day and gives it a hint of theatricality, setting the stage for the modern day ballerinas' iconic costumes!
As the music fades and the final tableau unfolds, I find myself lost in the emotionality of the dance – an early, beautiful seed of what ballet would become.
It’s hard to imagine that just a couple of hundred years from now, ballet would travel beyond the confines of royal courts and capture the hearts of people from all walks of life. Yet, here it is – in its nascent stage, full of passion, and radiating artistry, taking its very first steps on the grand stage of world history.
And me, with my little rucksack on my back – which is already overflowing with sketches, snippets of dance steps, and a precious scrap of fabric from a dancer’s costume – I'm ready to jump right back onto Magic Meg and return to my world. But I’ll leave with a memory etched in my mind, the wonder of that early ballet, reminding me just how far this magical art form has come.
My fellow time-travellers, there’s so much more to explore when it comes to ballet history. Join me next month as I delve deeper into the evolution of tutu design, take a look at what happened on July 7th in other years, and even discuss the current ballet scene, which is abuzz with so much talent and inspiration!
And, most importantly, let's keep those pink tutus spinning! After all, what could be more fitting for the art of dance? Don't forget to tell me your favourite ballet moments and dance memories - you can leave a message in the comment section of my blog.
Until next month, dance like nobody’s watching... especially in pink tutus.
Keep dancing!
Emma
P.S. If you haven't already, visit the fabulous www.pink-tutu.com for even more behind-the-scenes stories from my time travels and all things pink tutu! This is blog post number 343 for Pink Tutu Travels – make sure to catch up!
