Oh, hello darlings! Emma here, and let me tell you, this month's time travel adventure was positively divine! As always, my darling Meg (that's Magic Meg, you know, my magnificent pink, shimmering Shire horse with those glorious golden hooves!), was raring to go. She practically leapt out of the stables, and with a flick of her white mane and tail, we were whisked back to 1694, the 10th of October to be exact. This time, we were headed for a truly special encounter… with the very first Royal Ballet!
I'm always delighted to go back in time, to delve into the origins of ballet – the foundation of everything I adore. 1694? Now that was a truly pivotal year!
It all began with a most impressive sight – the vast, majestic courtyard of Versailles Palace, glistening under the golden Parisian sunshine. And standing amidst the opulence and grandeur, was King Louis XIV himself! Now, as we all know, Louis XIV, the Sun King, was known for his love of dance and theatre. You just have to see the beautiful ballet costumes depicted in portraits of the era! He had his own dancing company, and they were renowned for their skill and elegance. This wasn't just any ballet though, this was something quite special.
That day, in Versailles, the "Ballet Royal" was celebrating the marriage of one of the King's favourite dancers, Mademoiselle de Lafontaine. It was an extravagant affair. You can just picture it: ornate costumes shimmering, elaborate wigs, sparkling jewellery, the très chic crowd dressed in their finest, and, of course, the air buzzing with excitement.
Just like we have today, there was an amazing 'ballet-mania' amongst the Parisian elite. Even with just a smidge less chasséing on the cobbled streets (but darling, the gossip, it raged just as much, trust me!).
Oh, the outfits! Can you imagine the dresses in those times? I just loved the big, billowing sleeves and the heavy, layered skirts! I just knew I had to make note of these styles in my journal for a future, pink-tastic tutu-tastic recreation. Let's face it, I just love my tutus – all sizes, shapes, and colours! I even brought my own beautiful pink tutu along with me (can't resist a chance to show off, you know!), and, bless her heart, Meg even tried to wear a little pink ribbon on her mane – très adorable, even if a tad impractical!
As the Ballet Royal took to the stage, my breath was taken away. I imagined how the ladies in their ornate skirts and gigantesque hoop skirts were getting their twirls in – sheer brilliance!
The show itself? Pure theatre! Each dancer a virtuoso, and the choreography - it was a blend of delicate grace and flamboyant extravagance. The French certainly knew how to make an entrance and a dramatic exit – something that just screams "We're here to be seen!" Now, if we just tweaked a few of those steps and costumes to our more modern way of moving, wouldn't it just be divine?
Oh, how I longed to twirl alongside those wonderful dancers! But, of course, being a sensible, proper time traveller (after all, Meg is a Shire and wouldn’t quite manage a pas de deux) I kept my twirls for the streets and my notes for my travel journal, keeping this visit a quiet, magical affair. It wouldn't do for little ol' me to start causing a ruckus amongst these aristocratic dandies, would it?
And after the Ballet, what’s a time travel trip without some souvenir hunting? Now, I don't know if I'm revealing too much (but, hey, darling, we're all friends here!), but it's a little known fact about time travellers – we all adore an antique treasure or two. A quaint little antique shop in the heart of the old city yielded a little velvet ballet pouch from that era, adorned with the finest embroidery of tiny ballet shoes! You just can’t find things like that on Etsy – although, perhaps I should try to start a little 'pink tutu' antique line…. a vintage collection that blends those past eras and the tutu. Oh darling, the possibilities!
Then, it was time to bid farewell to this magical glimpse into the past. Magic Meg whisked us back to Derbyshire, with just a slight chill in the autumn air and that gorgeous pink hue just setting over the hills.
Back in the real world, the very real pink hues of the setting sun inspired a flurry of blog ideas and creative visions. This trip had me thinking – I absolutely must bring back some of those elegant, swirling gowns of that period. How fab would they be with a little pink twist? Imagine – billowing, cascading fabrics in the softest of pink, worn with a playful little pink tutu for a whimsical evening out? And how fantastic would a full ballet recital be in those gorgeous styles – all pink tutus of course! Oh, darlings, it just sparkles!
Until next time, darling! Stay radiant and keep dreaming, you gorgeous pink-tutu-loving, time-travelling-obsessed lot!
*Oh! Don’t forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more pink-tastic goodness. *
