Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu clad time traveller, Emma, here with another enthralling adventure from the past! This month, Magic Meg and I are whisking you back to the heart of Paris, to the year 1692. Yes, darlings, we're about to experience the exquisite world of ballet at a time when its roots were just taking hold!
My trusty pink-sparkling Shire horse, Magic Meg, shimmered as we trotted through the bustling streets of Paris, her golden hooves leaving sparkling dust trails. My heart beat with anticipation! My pink leather rucksack was slung across my shoulders, ready to be filled with ballet stories and trinkets. It felt magical, this journey through time. The air was filled with the chatter of horse-drawn carriages, the sound of street musicians, and the unmistakable, joyous fragrance of pastries!
Stepping into the Theatre du Palais Royal, I couldn't help but gasp! It was like stepping into a dream! Imagine a grand hall, adorned with gilded statues and chandeliers dripping with sparkling crystals. The air buzzed with anticipation and excitement.
I saw a sign in French that announced a performance of Le Ballet Royal de la Nuit. This wasn't just any performance; it was a masterpiece choreographed by Monsieur Pierre Beauchamp, the King of Choreographers!
We slipped into the plush velvet seating and, oh my, the colours were absolutely breathtaking! I swear I felt like I was surrounded by swirling pink clouds. (And yes, darlings, there was a lot of pink – the most fabulous, exquisite shades! Just like in a ballerina's dreams, my love!) The costumes! Oh, the costumes! Embroidered silks, lavish feather plumes, and sparkling jewels adorned each dancer. I spotted a particularly fabulous, shimmering green and pink satin coat on the King's Dancer. How absolutely divine!
I’ve written before how Louis XIV (or 'The Sun King', as they call him in those days) just adores ballet! The king was also one of the biggest fashion fans of his time. Imagine all those dances in velvet and satin! He commissioned Le Ballet Royal de la Nuit and danced in it himself, which was quite the honour. All eyes were on him, of course. The court, dressed to the nines, watched in awestruck silence, mesmerized by the dance and beauty of the performers.
As the ballet progressed, my notes flew onto the parchment paper in my notebook, filling the page with my descriptions of the elegance of the dances, the power of the music, and the graceful movements of the dancers. I was utterly enthralled! This performance was unlike anything I'd ever witnessed in my modern-day ballet world!
I couldn’t resist snapping a quick picture (my special camera can record anything in any time, which I find rather brilliant!). In fact, there was quite a commotion in the crowd – it seemed the King was quite pleased with the show, so much so that he started dancers! It seems the Sun King was quite the dancer in his own right.
As I walked back with Magic Meg, my rucksack heavier with stories and souvenirs, my heart fluttered. What an extraordinary night! And wouldn’t you know it? A charming fellow on a magnificent white steed gifted me a silk flower! My time travel adventures really do bring a certain touch of romance.
Did You Know?
In 1692, the world of ballet was on the cusp of some monumental shifts! This year was about the French, their royal court, their grandeur and their amazing fashion! They were setting the trends and pushing boundaries. From what I saw and collected at the Parisian court that evening, 1692 felt like a turning point for ballet, from being primarily an elegant court tradition to becoming an exciting artistic movement.
From Derbyshire to Paris... and Back to the Pink-Tutu Blog!
If you haven’t joined my online ballet family, come and join the chat! On www.pink-tutu.com you can get all my latest fashion advice (yes, I have a fab line of ballet inspired fashions that I sell on my website – so do come and take a look!), all about my ballet adventures, my upcoming ballet shows and of course, my latest stories from the ballet past! Don’t forget to share all your favourite tutu looks with me. I'm also super excited to share that I have another dance performance coming up next month. It’s going to be spectacular – think Giselle but with a twist of pink, of course!
Pink tutu fans... remember, never lose the spark, never stop dancing and don’t forget, you’re beautiful! Until next month, keep it pink, darling!
