Hello, fellow twirlers! Itās your favourite ballerina blogger, Emma, back from another dazzling time travel adventure! September 1693 - what a date for a pink-tutu-loving historian like myself! And let me tell you, my darling readers, this trip was a truly royal one!
As always, Iād been practicing my pirouettes before my morning ballet class, a bit of barre work to get the legs toned and ready for the magic Meg to whisk me away. Magic Meg is my pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail ā wouldnāt she be perfect for a royal carriage ride? You see, dear friends, for every ballet journey, I need to ensure Iām in peak physical condition for dancing in each new era. Itās not as easy as it sounds when your dance floor changes from smooth stage to bumpy cobblestone! But Iām tough, darling. All in the name of ballet history!
And what better way to start this September adventure than with a pink ballet costume fit for royalty! I pulled out my favourite, a soft rose-pink satin tutu, trimmed with pearl-white ribbons ā it just screamed French elegance. Itās one of the reasons my readers always love my style posts. It's all about those vibrant pops of pink! On my back, Iāve always got my trusty leather rucksack, ready to collect new treasures and ballet stories from the time period Iām visiting. A new pearl and silver tiara would be an excellent find, wouldnāt you agree?
Speaking of the French, today I found myself waltzing back to Louis XIV's majestic French Court, specifically to the royal theatre in Versailles. Can you imagine a ballet theatre in the Kingās Palace? It was sheer brilliance, my darlings! I even glimpsed a magnificent show ā an extravaganza in fact. But I had to move fast, to keep my timeline stable you know, so I just had to sneak in a few snaps for you lovely lot.
Oh, and did you know September 9th, 1693, saw āLe Ballet des Artsā premiering in the Court of Louis XIV? Can you imagine that? You bet, I'm keeping my eye on these dates, donāt you worry! And letās just say that my pink tutu was the envy of every noble lady in the theatre! A ballerina can only dream of making such a grand impression with their tutus. They really loved my pink! The theatre is something you wouldnāt believe - velvet seats, the most intricately detailed decor you could ever imagine, chandeliers that glimmered like the moon ā a veritable fairytale, my darlings!
This royal ballet, āLe Ballet des Artsā, celebrated the art world and included dancers as personifications of dancing, sculpture, architecture, and even, music! A veritable ballet explosion, I must say. Each act displayed exquisite artistry - just the costumes alone were breathtakingly decadent, adorned with sumptuous brocades and ribbons. Each one perfectly embodying a different form of art ā how clever was that! It wasnāt all grand costumes, darling, the ballet itself was innovative for its time - showcasing stunning choreography, incredible feats of athleticism, and captivating artistry. A true masterclass in the beauty of movement and story.
To celebrate Louisās birthday in the late summer, his beloved wife, Madame de Montespan, made sure there was a celebratory atmosphere to their gala - it included dancers, musicians and theatrical artists from all over Europe, all vying for the royal coupleās approval. And when the curtain dropped and the applause echoed through the palace, the excitement and applause was palpable - Louis himself, beaming with pride and approval, gifted a stunning ruby brooch to the leading lady of the performance! I can imagine it now, oh the pure excitement ā how exciting to see your hard work be rewarded with such a valuable gift from royalty. It wasnāt all about the fancy bling and regal jewels, mind you. Even Louis himself loved a good, hard-working, artistic ballet performance ā can you imagine his face while watching those leaps and bounds? Itās all about the elegance and skill, my darlings! And that is why this Ballet of the Arts, on this special date, holds a special place in my heart, and in my time travel journal!
After the curtain fell and Iād absorbed as much beauty and elegance as I could, Magic Meg neighāed gently and reminded me it was time to whisk back to the 21st century. My backpack overflowing with new ballet finds - a small booklet with hand-written ballets, a few intricate sketches of the stage decorations, and a silver clasp brooch inspired by the choreography - a real gem from a time gone by, a perfect reminder of this royal journey.
Of course, as I zipped back, I couldnāt resist reminiscing about those costumes! Each ballet is a feast for the senses, my dear readers! And it made me reflect, all you dancers out there - just like those talented ballet dancers in Versailles back then, our stage can be anywhere ā our home living room, a park, a bustling city street! Thatās the beauty of our art ā we can share our stories everywhere! Just imagine your pink tutus on a ballet street performance! Wouldn't it look glorious in the sun? It really takes my breath away - itās how the love of ballet moves me and helps me capture it for you all.
As for me, my darlings, itās back to reality ā the joy of another dance class with the girls. Then a fabulous shopping spree in a favourite boutique to stock up on pink tutu supplies. Iām dreaming of all the pink outfits and tutus I will find for my new ballet videos ā watch this space for my latest outfits, because believe me, they are spectacular.
So, as we twirl through the last weeks of summer, remember my darlings, thereās a bit of ballet magic everywhere - let's keep those tutus flowing, and those dance moves sizzling. Until next time, Iām signing off, from Derbyshire with a twirl and a big pink smile!
Much love and graceful steps, Emma.
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