Hello darlings!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where pink tutus reign supreme, and time travel adventures are the order of the day. I'm Emma, your ever-so-slightly bonkers, tutu-loving, time-travelling friend from the Peak District. Today, we're taking a leap back to the 3rd of March, 1694 - a truly fascinating time to be alive, even if it does mean I have to pack my hot water bottle!
Now, you might be thinking, "1694? What could be so exciting about that year, Emma?". Well, darling, hold on to your tiaras, because 1694 is jam-packed with fabulous ballet happenings. Let me spill the tea!
I rode through the shimmering air on Magic Meg, my darling pink, sparkling Shire horse. Her golden hooves tapped a merry rhythm against the moonbeams, her mane and tail like billowing clouds of white silk, a perfect contrast to her pink, iridescent coat. I adjusted the pink satin ribbon on her bridle - "A little sparkle never hurts, darling!" I declared to her, before hopping on, my pink, twirly tutu, ruffled by the cool air. My leather rucksack, brimming with a new batch of antique ballet slippers and an aged manuscript on court dance, settled comfortably on my back.
We landed right in front of the magnificent Versailles Palace, nestled among a grove of ancient trees. And oh, my, what a spectacle unfolded before me! This, my darlings, was the heart of the French ballet scene, where Louis XIV was holding court, and court dance, a magnificent mix of balletic and social dances, reigned supreme.
Fancy French Foxtrots
Stepping into the grand hall, the atmosphere shimmered with luxurious fabrics and lively music. I found myself transported into a vibrant tableau of exquisite gowns and intricate embroidery, a visual feast that only a fashion-loving girl like me could appreciate. Court dancers, the ultimate fashion icons of the day, moved with an effortless grace and controlled exuberance, each pirouette and pose captivating my gaze. Their costumes, with their elegant bodices, frilled collars and shimmering ribbons, were an explosion of colours and textures - much more extravagant than the simpler ballet wear we have today, with its emphasis on movement.
I caught a whisper of conversation from two noblewomen, giggling about the latest Parisian shoe trend, "Pointed toes for dancing? The height of elegance, my dear!." My own dance shoes, tucked away in my rucksack, suddenly felt far too practical, almost boring!
The Master of Moves - Monsieur Beauchamp
The music swelled, a captivating melody that had everyone in the hall twirling, dipping, and bobbing with sheer delight. My gaze found Monsieur Pierre Beauchamp, the King's dance master, leading with the same captivating grace and skill that he would be famous for in ballet history. The King's favourite, Beauchamp would later publish the first known book of ballet choreography. How thrilling to witness the man who set the very foundation of the ballet form we all know and love! My trusty notepad and pen - never too far away! - eagerly absorbed every movement and pose, capturing a precious glimpse into this elegant world.
Pink is in, but Purple is King!
As the grand night unfolded, a slight frown settled upon my lips. Even though the Court Dance scene was abuzz with excitement, with dancers swishing their skirts in flamboyant moves and elaborate costumes, a faint pang of disappointment whispered in my ear. You see, darlings, my absolute favourite colour in the world is pink, and pink, sadly, was not at all the colour of the day! The gowns, the wigs, the jewellery… everything glittered with vibrant blues, emeralds, and deep, jewel-toned purples. I did spot the occasional hint of rosy blush in some of the floral embellishments but alas! This world had a distinctly purple hue!
My own little pink corner
Fear not, darlings, as soon as the day was done, I set about making things a bit more…pink, shall we say. With Magic Meg standing patiently at my side, we flew through the night to a bustling English marketplace nearby, It wasn't hard to find a local draper to sell me yards and yards of shimmering pink silk, enough to make the grandest tutu in history.
Once back at the Palace, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I created a spectacle that rivalled the night's court dance - my own magnificent ballet performance, clad in the brightest, fluffiest pink tutu I could find! It was more a whimsical flourish of pure joy, and a splash of colour to this very royal occasion, and quite frankly, darling, my own special contribution to the story of 1694.
I love Ballet... but where are the shoes?
Oh, by the way, while I was in the realm of 1694, one thing struck me rather hard. While they were dancing like dreamers in this grand and elegant way, I was very shocked to see what they wore on their feet. I did spot some leather slippers, but alas! not a pointe shoe or even a modern dance shoe in sight. Even I could see the lack of footwear was impacting the beautiful court dances. The dancers, despite the incredible skill and finesse they brought to their art, seemed somehow held back by those simple leather shoes. No leaping and soaring like we see today. Imagine the things they could accomplish, those ballerinas of the 17th century, if they had access to our more technical, flexible dance footwear!
I made a mental note of this to write into my history book... as soon as we land back in Derbyshire, darling.
Onward to the Future
So my lovelies, another brilliant journey through time complete. What will be the next date on my Pink Tutu calendar?
Only time will tell… And when I say time, darling, I do mean it!
**Emma X**
*Please share with your friends, and let me know your favourite tutu colour in the comments!*
Don't forget to check back every month for more time travel tales at www.pink-tutu.com!
About the Pink Tutu Blogger
Emma, the writer and performer behind the Pink Tutu Time Travels blog, has dedicated her life to ballet in every sense of the word. From derbyshire, she is an enthusiastic performer, avid collector of all things ballet (her home is full of shoes, books, and more) and most importantly a champion of her favourite colour in the whole wide world - PINK.
Her life's goal is simple : to get every single person to wear a pink tutu - and of course to learn about all the fascinating corners of ballet history! She supports her love of time travel by performing at various dance venues, earning enough for the occasional horse and carriage ( and other essentials like glitter!)
Do you have a dream of wearing a pink tutu?
