Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your portal to the most fabulous history of ballet! I'm Emma, your time-travelling ballerina, and today we're skipping back to the 8th of August, 1690. Grab your tea, darling, because we're taking a delightful journey through the dawn of ballet, and you won't believe what we'll discover!
Blog Post #356: Dancing through the Ages
August has always been a time for dancing, wouldn't you say? With summer drawing to a close, the nights grow cooler and the energy for a bit of revelry bubbles up! This month, my love of history has taken me back to the year 1690. My trusty pink steed, Magic Meg, the most stunning shire horse you ever did see with her golden hooves and dazzling white mane and tail, clopped me right into the heart of this fabulous era! It was truly an amazing experience, full of intrigue and wonder. I always get so excited to see how ballet developed and evolved over the centuries!
Now, picture this, darling: London, the year 1690. The streets are cobbled, bustling with carriages and elegant gentlemen in their fine frock coats. Imagine me, your darling pink-tutu-clad historian, walking amidst these busy throngs, my pink leather rucksack slung across my shoulders, filled with all the exciting bits and bobs I find along the way. I do love collecting items from the time period I visit – just a little something to take home to show everyone at the next ballet school class! My little treasures help me recreate that feeling of stepping back in time for all of my devoted readers. And I just know everyone out there wants to have a pink tutu, darling! Don't you agree?
Dancing Under the Stuart Reign
I've found a rather interesting tidbit in my research - at the Royal Court in 1690, King William III was making big waves in the world of ballet. It seems he wasn't particularly keen on fancy steps or flamboyant costumes. A bit of a grump, you could say. But as I always say, everyone's a little grumpy after a long day, so who can blame him? Imagine him standing, stoic as a stone statue, in his royal finery, surrounded by his dancing courtiers! Oh dear, the poor things! Not even my vibrant pink tutu could get this king to smile! He seemed to favour simple and orderly routines, which I suppose sounds quite formal compared to the passionate, flowing performances we're used to seeing today!
However, even King William couldn’t completely suppress the artistry and enthusiasm for ballet that was simmering beneath the surface. Back in the day, it seems there were many dancers - men, mostly, dressed in exquisite costumes! So stylish! These dancers would be invited to show off their moves at social gatherings, or perhaps in noble households. I bet it was delightful. There must have been such a feeling of elegance and glamour! Imagine!
I picture my journey back to 1690 like a gorgeous dance sequence in a timeless ballet: the clink of hooves on cobbled streets, the smell of chimney smoke swirling through the air, and the lively conversation of the courtiers, all a backdrop to the grace and beauty of the dances performed. It’s truly enchanting to see the very roots of this amazing art form - a perfect reflection of our current love for the graceful beauty of ballet!
Where Are The Ladies?
One interesting thing I noticed - not many ladies took to the stage back then. Perhaps the King didn’t want women dancing too much? It could also be that society felt ladies weren't quite as suited to the stage, much to my chagrin, I must say! It just shows you how far ballet has come - and I know I have a part to play in its journey, promoting tutus and all! Just think, if those lovely ladies of 1690 had the chance to see me pirouette in my pretty pink tutu, I’m sure they'd agree it's an inspiring spectacle to behold! It seems that history needed a little push towards more inclusive practices! Well, thankfully, my time travels help change all that, darling!
But fear not! This is not the end of the journey, darlings! My research suggests there are other interesting dances that captured the attention of London society in the late 17th century. I’m keen to look at what performances were happening on the 8th of August 1690! The more we learn, the better we can appreciate the vast journey ballet has taken to reach its glorious present state, don’t you think?
1690: A Glimpse into London's Entertainment
Let's peek into what a typical London theatre would have looked like on this date in 1690, a real spectacle! It seems a little less extravagant compared to our fancy, modern theatres. The actors used the simple settings that the stage offered and had only a handful of props, mostly focusing on storytelling. You can see how much we value these beautiful sets in today’s ballet world, so it is so interesting to see how minimal and effective the storytelling still could be back then!
But remember darling, there's always room for a little drama! The most important thing about the theatre in 1690 is its raw, unfiltered performance style - a real treat for audiences of that time, much like the joy we experience watching our ballerinas grace the stage today.
On the 8th of August 1690, it appears there was a particularly exciting show on in the city. We’ve found reports of the famed King’s Company - you’ve got to see those stunning costumes, darling! It’s not like today, with the extravagant ballet shoes! The dancers were using boots! These boots must have been awfully clunky to move in - can you imagine trying to leap and dance? They might be more comfortable to walk in on the cobblestone streets, but you can’t be leaping everywhere! So this was definitely not the traditional dance, but who could ever resist a dramatic performance with flamboyant costume changes? There are hints of dances performed during these shows, so it looks like ballet is creeping into the mainstream, little by little! Oh how I can’t wait to witness its slow and graceful journey to where it stands now in all its vibrant glory!
I hear whispers of a new theatre - called Drury Lane, darling. I've been so busy collecting stories that I've missed out on the details! But I have it on good authority that the playhouses are filled with vibrant colour and theatrical grandeur - how I long to witness it for myself! It is quite easy for me to simply use my magic watch, you know! My little watch that grants me the magic to time travel - such an indispensable little thing to carry in my purse! Imagine how fascinating the whole theatre experience would be!
Now, let’s not forget the incredible clothes worn during that time, darlings! In 1690, a lady of fashion would’ve been adorned with beautiful brocades and sumptuous satins! Perhaps they were even starting to wear those elaborate gowns with elaborate, large panniers! I can only imagine! These dresses are truly remarkable to see.
Imagine: I stand on stage, bathed in a golden spotlight. My pink tutu is twirling gracefully as I perform a graceful ballet, my white ballet shoes making soft pirouette movements on the floor. But what would that have looked like in the 17th century, I wonder! Such different times for fashion! We have come a long way in this grand evolution of ballet - and fashion - haven’t we? I must confess, that despite how fashion evolved, my personal opinion is that pink tutus really do stand the test of time, darling!
Looking forward
As you can see, the world of ballet in 1690 was filled with a certain amount of change, all just as glamorous as what we have today! This glimpse into the past gives us an insight into the amazing journey that ballet has taken. Who knows what wonders await me on my next time-traveling escapade, dear readers?
You can always find my updates and ballet adventures on www.pink-tutu.com!
Till next time, darlings!
Love, Emma
Remember: A pink tutu makes everyone smile!
