Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! Your resident ballerina blogger is back, ready to whisk you off on another delightful adventure through the captivating world of ballet history.
This month, my pink tutu and I are time-travelling all the way back to February 1701! That’s right, we’re setting our time machine, Magic Meg, the pink-sparkling shire horse with the golden hooves and flowing mane, for an era brimming with grandeur, elegance and of course, the beginning of ballet as we know it.
As always, I'm so thrilled you're joining me on this journey. Buckle up, grab a cup of pink lemonade, and get ready to dance!
1701: Where the Dance of Life Begins
My lovely Derbyshire roots mean I’ve always been fascinated by the early 1700s, especially as it coincided with the rise of a new dance form. I was so excited to get ready to go and I must have tried on six different pink tutus, as I wanted to choose the perfect one for this historic journey.
The leather rucksack, filled with all my time travelling ballet essentials, was ready to be packed with whatever treasures and stories awaited me. I have to tell you that my leather bag is so full of interesting treasures that I'm considering opening my own time-travelled vintage ballet boutique. The stories I have from my journeys will need to be put down on paper as well! So that's next on my agenda, getting a quill and parchment and starting a journal!
After a bit of a whirl around the stables with Magic Meg, I said goodbye to Derbyshire, and we arrived in the heart of Europe, the place where the seed of the ballet that we know and love today was sown.
Imagine a time where ballet, though elegant and beautiful, was much more elaborate and heavily reliant on storytelling, a form known as ballet d'action. It's as if theatre and ballet got together and created a whirlwind of dramatic movement!
And I just had to see the first of the French ballets, performed for the nobility at Versailles Palace, and what did they wear but le ballet (yes that’s it) – a ballet which I have to say had me spinning like a top.
What Was Trending on the 2nd of February, 1701
But before I dive into the vibrant stories of French ballet, let’s take a moment to appreciate how the dance world was developing around the globe in 1701:
The Rise of a Style Ballet was burgeoning into the style that we know and love today - elegant and graceful. This was particularly evident in the French Court Ballet, which showcased theatrical dances based on intricate storytelling, exquisite costumes and stunning sets. I have to tell you the stories were truly spectacular. The way they incorporated themes from classical mythology to religious narratives was nothing short of mesmerising!
The Royal Stage: The Royal Academy of Dance was established in London by the famous playwright, poet and playwright John Dryden! I'm told the Royal Academy has had a strong legacy throughout the history of dance and theatre! That’s something I’d love to find out about – just think of the amazing stories I’ll uncover on the London streets!
Ballet's Journey Beyond: As my time travelled tutu travels through history, I am seeing that ballet was gradually making its way across Europe, and I’ve already found the Spanish Ballet at the Court of Spain, and who’s going to take me for a spin there next? It's the magic meg!
Now, my dear readers, you might be thinking - what kind of costumes were ballet dancers rocking in 1701? It is true to say that their dresses were definitely not quite as pink and whimsical as the fluffy tulle that I adore today! The costumes back then were very elaborate! Think extravagant silks and heavy embroidery, even elaborate hats! Now that I’ve seen them for myself, I can’t imagine dancers today coping with them as I did. We would have a hard time doing pirouettes and jumps in them! They must have been very strong, though maybe their performance skills were as elegant as ours today?
This ballet wardrobe would, I suspect, become the basis of many ballet designs throughout time and who am I kidding it’s something I might want to give a try with my own tutus!
I love learning about the past. It reminds us how ballet has evolved throughout the centuries! A world that has taken us from the magnificent and ornate styles to today's sleek tutus!
So next month we are setting sail for another fantastic dance adventure, so stay tuned and make sure to wear your prettiest pink tutus – you never know who might notice your beautiful spirit in the swirling depths of time!
Until next time, Emma xo
Don't forget to check out Emma's ballet time-travel blog on www.pink-tutu.com every month for a new and exciting dance adventure!
