Post number 395 on www.pink-tutu.com
Hello my gorgeous fellow tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your pinkest time travelling ballerina, back with another exciting journey into ballet history. This month, we're swirling our way to Paris, 1693. Buckle up, my dears, because we're about to meet the father of French ballet - Monsieur Pierre Beauchamp!
You may be thinking, "Paris, 1693? That's awfully early for ballet, Emma!" But you'd be wrong, darling! Ballet was certainly in its infancy, but it was bubbling away, waiting for a true revolutionary to set the stage. Enter Monsieur Beauchamp, the ballet master at the Académie Royale de Danse - the first academy for ballet, by the way!
You can imagine me, whirling down a Parisian cobbled street in my sparkly pink tutu, clutching my trusty leather rucksack and guiding my beloved steed, Magic Meg, through the hustle and bustle of the city. Meg's pink shimmering coat gleams with every hoof beat, while her golden hooves are practically blinding. My mane of curls, tied with a delicate pink ribbon, twirls and bounces as we explore the sights, sounds, and - most importantly - the ballet of Paris in 1693.
That day in history - November 11th, 1693, to be precise - Monsieur Beauchamp introduced a groundbreaking ballet called "Le Triomphe de l'Amour," translated as the "Triumph of Love".
Can you imagine a name more fitting for the art form we all adore?
I have a feeling this performance was an explosion of romantic and dramatic gestures - you know, the kind that really get those goosebumps going! The music was played by instruments we might recognise today, like the lute and the violin, all in a stunningly beautiful theatrical space that was practically dripping with opulence!
Monsieur Beauchamp himself danced in this ballet, you know. Just think of the excitement and energy in the air as he glided across the stage in a richly coloured costume, perhaps adorned with feathers or gems, all illuminated by candlelight. Now THAT’S a picture I want to paint, don’t you think?
Sadly, no visual documentation of the ballet survives, but we can glean its beauty and innovation from the written records, a treasure I was lucky enough to add to my rucksack collection. I'm also sure this ballet inspired some magnificent drawings or even sketches which will only add to our understanding of early ballet's elegance.
Now, let's travel back to our own time, back to that pink world where everyone dreams in tutus. What have you found, darling, in your own ballet history searches?
Tell me, which date would you like to time travel to next? I'd love to hear your ideas, and together, let's make this whole world pink with passion for the exquisite artistry of ballet!
Until next month, stay twirling and remember - everyone can be a ballerina in their heart, with the power of a pink tutu and a dream.
Bisous, Emma xx
And with a flourish of pink, Emma and Meg gallop into the mists of time, leaving behind a trail of sparkling magic and the echoing sounds of ballet's enduring history. If you are inspired to embark on your own ballet journey, why not share it with us? Visit www.pink-tutu.com today to explore more of ballet's vibrant world and join our growing community of pink-tutu loving time travellers.
