Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of ballet history and fashionable escapades. Today, we're whisking ourselves back to the 1st January 1699, a truly fascinating time in ballet history, marking the dawn of the 18th century! This month, I’ve travelled back to Europe with my trusty steed, Magic Meg (she’s sparkling pink, by the way!), to delve into the world of ballet, just as the first blush of this new century unfolded.
Before we begin our journey, don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more delightful posts like this!
A New Year, A New Century in Dance:
1699 was a time of immense change and growth for ballet. The glorious era of Louis XIV’s court ballet in France was starting to wind down, replaced by the rise of a more formal, less extravagant style. Imagine ballet moving away from intricate dances performed in grand costumes with theatrical, mythical stories to something simpler, more elegant, and focused on steps.
I, of course, travelled back to France. There were exciting changes taking place within ballet classes and on the grand Parisian stage, a time when some truly dazzling talent was coming to the forefront. Imagine – the rise of a new kind of star in the ballet world!
As I walked the streets of Paris, decked out in a pretty pink tutu, a beautiful new costume I found during my travels, I witnessed the evolution taking place right before my very eyes. You see, ballet was becoming a true profession, evolving into a graceful and delicate dance with beautiful movements that took incredible technique and artistry.
The Changing Dance
While 1699 marks a time of transformation for the ballet, the basics remain the same. There were still the iconic pirouettes and graceful leaps. However, they became much more streamlined, precise, and focused on elegance. And yes, darlings, this brought forth the iconic, sophisticated style that many of us have grown to love in classical ballet today.
I'm even hearing tales of the "Grand Pas de Deux"! This dramatic, lyrical piece would revolutionise the world of ballet with its romantic storytelling and passionate interplay between the lead dancers. Oh, imagine how beautiful it must have been to see two dancers intertwining and storytelling with their movements. I would love to time travel to 1699 to see one of these. Now that would be something truly spectacular.
I collected my favourite story about a Grand Pas de Deux to go in my ballet rucksack, all covered in beautiful embroidered ballet slippers. As I filled the rucksack, Magic Meg patiently waited for me. My pink sparkling Shires horse always so understanding and graceful.
My Pink Tutu Diary – France in 1699:
During my trip to Paris, I learned so much about what made this time period such a revolutionary one in dance. The most prominent figures in this shift? Louis XIV, of course! And one incredible dancer, Michel de la Barre, who served as a tutor to the young King, brought a focus on clarity and refinement to his choreography.
You can feel the shift from the exuberant, extravagant era of court ballet into a new style that emphasized technical finesse. In fact, a lot of the classic ballets that are performed even today, like Giselle, La Sylphide and Swan Lake all stemmed from this beautiful, focused approach to choreography and ballet movement! How incredible to think of this fascinating connection between our history and what we see performed today.
And for the ladies, a most fashionable detail: the dance outfits. Oh my goodness! We have ballet in France to thank for the invention of the iconic, delicate ballet slippers. Think delicate silk, dainty ribbons and delicate lace tied over the feet, adding to the femininity and the delicacy of the art form. These little slipper designs influenced shoes in France for a while. There was a trend in slippers made from delicate, light silk fabric with ribbons!
From the Ballet Stage to the Dance Floor:
Ballet in this era was not only performed on grand stages but also danced within royal courts, amongst aristocratic circles. Think of dancing waltzes and minuet-inspired steps all beautifully woven into the grand soirées of high society. Oh, darlings! What I wouldn't do to time-travel to one of those soirees. Imagine being surrounded by such graceful movement and fashion! And yes, it was also on these occasions that the French introduced more modern features like pointe shoes, although, I don't believe the ladies were up on their tippy toes for very long at that stage!
Of course, as you know, I have been a strong advocate of encouraging people to try ballet! If you’re inspired by these little stories from the 17th Century – why not put on your own pink tutu and give it a whirl? Maybe you could even start a dance class at your local school! Let's spread the love for ballet across the world!
Onward and Upward:
So, there we have it! My 1st January 1699 journey, where the beautiful dance form of ballet was transforming itself into something new, a more elegant, expressive, and sophisticated form of art! Now, I need to plan my next pink tutu adventures.
As always, you can catch more of my pink tutu journey and all my fabulous fashion finds on my blog www.pink-tutu.com. This is number 457 for you lovely lot! I'll be posting a new blog once a month, so do keep coming back! And do keep those pink tutus shining!
