Hello fellow ballet enthusiasts! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-traveller. It's time for another monthly adventure! And this month, we're headed to 1705 – can you believe it? Over three hundred years ago! Get your pink tutus ready because it's going to be a grand one, filled with Parisian royalty, courtly elegance, and, of course, the magic of dance.
It's hard to believe it's only a few weeks since I was pirouetting through the 18th-century Parisian salons in a cloud of powdered wigs and silk. But my pink-tutu-wearing heart couldn't resist another journey through history, this time landing us squarely in the middle of the court of Louis XV. Now, 1705 was just a year before this monarch, the 'beloved' Louis XV, was born, so picture this: bustling Paris, full of chatty Parisians with pom-poms adorning their elaborate hairstyles. The atmosphere is buzzing, with elegant carriages filled with gentlemen and ladies in flowing robes and lace trimmings, all heading for some lavish event, perhaps a court ball or an opera performance.
Speaking of events, the dance world was definitely getting en pointe back then! In 1705, Monsieur Noverre, who became famous as the "father of ballet d’action,” was just a budding young choreographer! He had already started choreographing at the court of King Philip V of Spain in Madrid and by 1705 had been brought to Paris to lead his own dance academy.
Imagine all the exquisite movements these choreographers would be exploring, a world where dance went hand in hand with history! While the graceful movements of the French court dance might not be the ballet we know today, it was a critical part of their social life. The dance became so intertwined with theatre that ballet quickly began to shift, and it's this very shift, this exciting turning point, that my pink-tutu-loving self just can't get enough of.
It wouldn't be long, though, until ballet began its glorious evolution. It wasn't long after my visit to the court of Louis XV that we started seeing the emergence of new choreography techniques that took the world by storm – yes, I'm talking about ballet steps like the "five basic positions" (imagine the grand leaps and beautiful footwork!)
But my trip through time wasn't all about history – it's all about those delicious ballet-themed delights! As I explore each era, my ballet-themed backpack gets filled with incredible snippets of information – everything from historical facts and little known tidbits about ballet in those days, to drawings, old handbills, and, you guessed it – fabric samples of glorious pink costumes! Oh, how I dream of dancing on a French stage, wearing one of those exquisite pink gowns that shimmered with silk and embroidery. The possibilities are just endless when it comes to finding a perfect pink tutu to represent each time period!
This month, I discovered an amazing little gem hidden inside an antique bookshop – a beautifully illustrated manuscript that depicts dance positions. What's more, it was complete with diagrams of costumes! Now, these were very different from modern-day tutus, and this led me down a fascinating rabbit hole exploring the evolution of ballet wear, the fabric choices, and the history of tutu-wearing itself!
Oh, and speaking of exciting find-its! I have this gorgeous little piece of French lace to share with you! This is just the kind of lace that they used for adornment in ballet performances back in the 18th century, and you can totally picture yourself wearing it in a gorgeous pink tutu – can't you?!
This is all making me just bustling to tell you more. But for now, I have to put it aside, as it's nearly time for my performance tonight. As I've told you all, funding all this time-travelling is done through the magic of ballet. You can find me performing at the Derbyshire Town Hall Theatre, showcasing everything I have learned on my time-travelling journeys, and, of course, wearing the perfect pink tutu, no less. My goal is to continue bringing ballet to life by taking you, my beloved pink tutu followers, on incredible voyages through time – I want every single person in the world to embrace the magic of wearing a pink tutu!
Until next month, fellow dance enthusiasts, let's continue to explore the world of ballet with the help of magic Meg, my beautiful pink shire horse! It's been lovely spending this time with you – remember to subscribe to my Pink Tutu blog so you never miss an exciting journey! I can't wait to share the sparkling stories of next month's Pink Tutu Time Travel Adventure!
See you soon, and happy pirouettes to you!
