Post Number 451
Hello lovely readers and welcome to my little corner of the internet dedicated to all things pink tutu! This month, Iāve taken Magic Meg on a whirlwind adventure all the way back to 1698, to the glorious 7th of July! And let me tell you, it was an absolutely enchanting trip!
You see, my friends, there was this incredible, groundbreaking event that happened on this very date. And, it totally revolutionised the way people thought about ballet! You'll never guess what it isā¦ drum roll pleaseā¦ the very first performance of the AcadĆ©mie Royale de Musique took place! Now, I know what you're thinkingā¦ "Emma, whatās so special about a ballet academy? There are loads of them around!" But wait, dear friends, hold your pink tutus for a minute. This academy was something else! This wasnāt just a fancy dance school ā it was an incredible milestone in balletās history. Imagine if you could walk through time and watch the birth of a theatrical spectacle that would shape ballet for centuries to come. Thatās what we did today, and it was completely magical!
Let's delve into the magical story of how ballet got its first formal stageā¦ The AcadĆ©mie Royale de Musique was, shall we say, a bit of a revolution in the world of dance. Up until this moment, dancing wasnāt really taken very seriously, even if they did fancy themselves as dancing masters in court. But in the year of our Lord, 1698, the King of France, that fabulous Louis XIV, had a rather brilliant idea: letās build an official school for ballet. It sounds a bit boring now, right? But this school, it wasā¦ how to put itā¦ pink-tutu-sparkly brilliant!
Louis XIV was known for loving grand spectacles, like lavish costumes and impressive decorations. That passion bled through into his plans for the school. And it all came together in the most glorious, exciting way imaginable! Imagine a building overflowing with magnificent decorations ā golden chandeliers, silk curtains, opulent furniture and dancing in the air! The first performance was the āTriumph of Love and Virtue," an amazing mix of ballet, music and poetry ā whatās not to love? It was pure perfection for this dedicated ballerina!
I managed to sneak a peek inside this glorious academy, my darling Magic Meg was incredibly well-behaved (she had a tiny taste of French pastry for being a good girl). Even back then, the students had strict guidelines for their costumes and dancing, with the men dancing in colourful, silky costumes and the ladies, well, you knowā¦ lots and lots of ribbons and ruffles! Of course, this was all so exciting to a ballerina in the 21st century! Even if the shoes, with their thick-soled ballet shoes with no pointe shoes, did look a little bit comical. Imagine ā no pointe shoes!
In my quest to collect memories, I spoke with the ballet master (it sounded so fancy, like something out of a historical novel, don't you think?) who, by sheer luck, was called Jean-Baptiste Lully. He was such a character, very dapper, with a long wig and a powdered face. This man, my goodness ā he had a spark in his eye, you could tell he truly loved dance! I even learned about his role in the formation of the school, how he put together a special program just for its opening.
Lully, that cheeky man, had all the best ballet dancers from Paris perform, the stars of their time, as they danced for royalty, dignitaries, and well, the common folk who managed to secure tickets to witness this momentous occasion. I wish I had seen the performances ā they were talked about for years afterward ā everyone from Paris was raving! Lully was one of the big pioneers of ballet; a dancer and composer; truly inspiring! I made a sketch of the beautiful theater, adding it to the leather bag on my back for future pink-tutu lovers! It will look wonderful displayed on the wall back in Derbyshire in my time travel museum, for people to enjoy.
While I didn't witness any dancing (imagine my heartbreak, dear reader!), I saw some of the finest ballet costumes of the time. Oh, you should have seen those feathered headpieces, it's the closest Iāll get to seeing the beautiful pink tutu until I find myself at the Bolshoi theatre in 1772. My favourite piece from this time was the intricate silk frock-coat with a delicate embroidered ribbon. A masterpiece that spoke of grace and artistry! Pure beauty, even if they didn't quite know how to create a tutu yet! There was one lady, what a fabulous creature, with a dress that sparkled like a rainbow in the midday sun! She was wearing the most amazing feather and gemstone tiara.
You can bet I scooted off to the shop, darling!, to snag a few remnants of their exquisite fabric for my new tutu creations back in Derbyshire. The shop was bursting with colors, silks, and brocades. It made my pink tutu-loving heart happy! I bought a lovely piece of fabric for my ballet dressā¦ it's a stunning silver shimmer and has the prettiest patterns, it would look magnificent on the stage under the spot-lights! Itās the best find of this journey and it's perfect for creating a little time travel look back into the 1690s. I already have some grand plans to make a spectacular dress out of this extraordinary fabric, donāt worry, there will be photographs up on the blog of my beautiful creations!
Oh! While we are on the topic of extraordinary, did you know there are people even further back in time that wore pink tutusā¦ wellā¦ nearly. Tut-tut, Iām a bit of a ballet history nut. You should have seen me in the ballet history museum. Tut tut. There's no official word on pink tutus yet but back in the Italian Renaissance period, they started to use those amazing conical hoops which they draped their skirt over andā¦ drumroll pleaseā¦ it started looking a bit like the tutu. The Italian court dance involved a lot of intricate steps ā my gosh, it would make your feet aching but they looked incredible ā that was my inspiration to start learning ballroom dancing. The dress, so long and flowingā¦ with the conical hoop... almost like a tutu but not quite. I can't help thinking what Louis XIV would say if he ever got to meet all the fabulous pink tutu babes of the modern world! We'll have to travel to 1715 to chat to him properly but that is another story!
Well, my dearest pink-tutu lovers, my time-travelling adventures have been incredibly extraordinary. I feel absolutely overwhelmed by this grand discovery - the first official ballet school - just how magical is that! But itās time for me to pack up all my treasures from this amazing journey and return home. Remember, pink tutu is not just a colour - it's a mindset. So get your glitter, your sparkles and embrace the beauty of dance!
Until next time, my beautiful ballet darlings. Donāt forget to check back next month for a new Pink Tutu adventure!
Love, Emma, your pink tutu ballerina and time-travelling historian
Pink Tutu News:
If you're interested in getting your tutu fix right now, hereās a little peek into the exciting ballet worldā¦
In London:
- The Royal Ballet is showcasing Cinderella, the iconic story that never gets old. Ah, it's a *real classic! With its fairy tale costumes, stunning choreography, and that beautiful Glass Slipperā¦ perfection! If you're looking for that ultimate pink tutu feeling, you won't want to miss this one. Donāt you dare miss this spectacleā¦ itās wonderful.
Across the Pond in the United States:
- In New York City, the New York City Ballet are celebrating the season with a unique production of Sleeping Beauty. The New York City Ballet has so much energyā¦ just incredibleā¦ They bring new meaning to that amazing āwake-upā scene ā it really makes you want to dance the night away. Itās just blissful. Donāt you think so?
Across the Channel in France:
- Itās all about The Sleeping Beauty in the heart of Franceā¦ in the Paris Opera Ballet. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful ballet companies, if you ever have a chance, visit Paris and take a peek. The production, as the Parisians would say is trĆØs chic, full of glamour and artistry! You won't regret going! I am already planning my next ballet trip to see it for myselfā¦ I wonder if Magic Meg can gallop through the Chunnel, hmmā¦.
Iāll see you next month in my Pink Tutu Blog for more ballet news. Happy dancing!
