Hello, darling darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-traveller, and welcome to another edition of Pink Tutu Travels! Today, we're waltzing back to the 17th century, to the heart of the reign of that dashing king, William III. Can you believe it's February already? How the months just whizz by!
This time, we're travelling not just through time but through the very air! Magic Meg, my beloved pink sparkly Shire horse with those golden hooves and that magnificent white mane and tail, is ready to take us to the glittering heart of London, where the world of ballet is still quite new. You see, darling, in 1696, ballet wasn't quite the elegant art form we know and love today. Imagine: no tutus, no pointed shoes, no dramatic leaps, just costumes of the era and, well, something closer to court dancing.
The English were captivated by French dances, with Louis XIV, the "Sun King" being their main muse. The King, like so many others, had succumbed to the spell of the French court ballet. You know I can't resist a little history lesson. The French were obsessed with ballets that told stories, each character representing a virtue, or perhaps even an important figure in the King's life. Can you imagine that - ballet as propaganda?!
A Peek at Parisian Flair: We arrived in London in a flurry of snowflakes and were whisked away to the elegant Covent Garden theatre. Imagine my delight! The playbills were fluttering with tales of 'French Dancing Masters', the hottest ticket in town. Apparently, London was abuzz with chatter about a certain Monsieur Pécour. His reputation for graceful dancing and charming artistry had captivated the fashionable crowds. I bet the theatre was just teeming with the cream of society – the dandies and the ladies, their eyes gleaming at the thought of Parisian elegance, something to mimic and perhaps learn. I tucked a newspaper article on the subject, a true souvenir of this trip, into my leather rucksack for later.
A Dance of a Bygone Era: My, oh, my, that Covent Garden stage! A vibrant canvas of scarlet and gold, where performers strutted, perhaps even strutted to a French lute. I bet it was an eclectic mix - graceful movements intermingled with the stomping, energetic steps of the English country dance, the jig. A colourful spectacle it must have been. Can you imagine a show back then? I could just picture a ballet set about King William III himself! Perhaps a courtly romance about how he charmed our Mary, our glorious Queen.
Tutus on the Horizon?: And though tutus weren't quite a reality yet, those courtly ladies certainly made a splash with their dazzling fashions. Their gowns – a cascade of satin and lace, jewels that sparkled like the stars. Their wigs were piled high, elaborate affairs of powdered curls and ribbons.
I can see it in my mind's eye, darling - that little, innocent step from courtly dances to graceful ballets that we know today, from these ornate, powdered, bejeweled affairs to the sparkling tutus we now hold so dear. We have a long, fascinating journey to make, don't we, dear reader? A journey through history, filled with breathtaking beauty and stories waiting to be told.
Let's get back to pink! Of course, I never leave a town without some inspiration for my wardrobe. Covent Garden, despite its lack of ballet in our modern sense, was a whirlwind of fashion, I couldn't resist grabbing a piece of velvet ribbon for my next pink tutu, something that will bring a splash of vibrant color to this historical time. It is, after all, the best way to capture a piece of history!
That's it for today, darling darlings! Remember, visit Pink-Tutu.com and join me in my next time-traveling adventure! Until then, embrace the joy of dance, let your imagination soar, and let's continue to spread the magic of pink tutus all over the world. Don't forget, even the biggest dreams can take flight. Let's make everyone's dreams come true. One pink tutu at a time!
**Lots of love and twirls,
Emma x**
