Oh darlings, you wouldn't believe where I've been this month! This time, Magic Meg and I galloped back to the year 1694, to a time before even the term 'ballet' was common! My pink tutu practically vibrated with excitement as I imagined what kind of dances I might discover in this historic year!
April the 4th in 1694? A Wednesday! Now, I know you might think it would be pretty quiet on a random Wednesday in history, but trust me, the ballet world was already alive and kicking back then, even if it didn't look quite like our modern world of twirls and leaps.
Stepping off Magic Meg in the bustling streets of London (yes, we went there again!), I quickly spied some rather fancy carriages heading towards the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It was still early days for the theatre and their main entertainment was courtly masque dances, rather like a full-blown ballroom party featuring intricate choreography. Can you imagine? An actual masque party! It would have been absolutely divine, with its luxurious costumes and graceful steps, perhaps a hint of playful rivalry and an abundance of smiles, a spectacle to rival any modern gala!
Being a complete ballet historian geek, I whipped out my notebook and made a note to try and research this masque trend, even if it wouldn't necessarily be a 'ballet' like we know it today, the dancing heritage was already taking root!
Of course, my mission, the one that makes my heart leap faster than a fouetté, was to spread the joy of the pink tutu! So, I took the plunge, stepped inside the theatre and… oh, what a sight! Imagine it - the first thing you see upon entering is a magnificent set - intricate details of fantastical scenes painted on velvet curtains, an elegant stage adorned with plush velvet cushions. The ladies of the court all dressed in silk and lace, fanning themselves with beautiful feathers, and a scattering of powdered wigs on gentlemen. It was a kaleidoscope of colourful glamour!
I'd love to say that I bravely stepped on stage, tutu flashing, to wow them with my contemporary pirouettes and grand jetés. But, let's be honest, they'd probably have thought I was a bit odd - a crazy woman in pink who might be trying to seduce the Queen with my dance moves! But even if I couldn't dance, I had my fabulous tutu on display, and, believe me, those fashionable ladies were not shy about asking where I got it from! I explained, in a most charming fashion, of course, that in my own time (who knows what future centuries might bring?), the pink tutu was a staple! The ladies giggled and said they wouldn't dream of wearing pink but were enchanted by the delicate lace and silk that flowed around my little dancer’s feet. It was just the right amount of persuasion to begin a pink revolution!
The performance that evening was indeed full of grand gestures, but a far cry from a contemporary performance. Think more of slow, courtly steps and flowing, elegant movements, with plenty of fancy footwork thrown in for good measure! I was utterly transfixed by the dance’s stately beauty. It may have been all about form, but the skill on display was nothing to sniff at.
While this trip to the 17th century didn’t lead me to a whole host of 'ballets' as we know them, it was a fantastic journey into the beginnings of dance as entertainment. The stage, the performers, the costumes, and the music all combined to make a real spectacle, and even without the grand allegro, there was no lack of technical skill and artistic grace on display. The ladies even started talking about wanting their own "pink things," which is a great start to my aim of a world in pink tutus!
But my adventure wasn’t confined to the theatre! I also snuck a peek into some dance classes – not proper 'ballet' as we know it today, but the precursors to what would later develop into more familiar forms. It’s crazy to think how much those early movements evolved into our beloved ballet techniques. The way dancers moved with grace and purpose – they clearly had the seeds of that elegance within them. Who knows what a modern ballerina in a pink tutu would make of this, hmm?
Anyway, back to Magic Meg and me! I collected some beautiful old dance records and notebooks in my backpack – so much history hidden in these delicate paper scraps! I’ve even got my sights set on creating my own "masque dance" collection, complete with exquisite period dresses and even more stunning pink tutus, naturally! It would be the perfect way to bridge the gap between the ancient dances of history and the modern art of ballet! Who knows, perhaps one day we’ll see a pink tutu at the ballet’s most famous address, the Paris Opéra. I certainly wouldn’t be against seeing that happen!
Oh, and just in case you missed it – I managed to get my little hooves into some magnificent gowns at the fashionable shops! My ballet wardrobe has never been so fabulous. Next time you're scrolling through www.pink-tutu.com, be sure to check out the latest pictures. I’m definitely not missing the chance to bring a little bit of historical glam to the blog.
Till next month, darlings! Remember, a pink tutu always makes the world a more fabulous place!
