Hello, darlings! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! This month, I'm whisking us away to the glorious year of 1707, specifically to June 6th, for a delightful peek into the world of ballet in the reign of Queen Anne.
As always, I'm equipped with my trusty rucksack (filled to the brim with fascinating ballet memorabilia from my journeys) and my pink shimmering, utterly divine, steed: Magic Meg! This month, however, we're heading on a particularly special journey. Not only are we stepping back in time to witness some incredible ballet history, but it's also a very special date indeed. Itās the birthday of ...drumroll ... His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne!
You might be thinking, āWhat does Prince George's birthday have to do with ballet, Emma?ā Well, my dears, the answer, as you will discover, is absolutely everything!
As you know, my mission in life, apart from bringing you the latest and greatest from the ballet world, is to convince the world to wear a pink tutu. Now, Iām not going to go as far as to say Prince George, this birthday boy of ours, ever rocked a pink tutu, but he did have a love for ballet that would surely make even a die-hard tutu enthusiast smile!
Now, imagine the buzz in the air as you arrive at St. Jamesās Palace in London on this particular 6th of June in 1707. Every courtly soul is bedecked in their most extravagant finery. Itās a scene of elegance, intrigue, and ā you guessed it! ā ballet! This is a celebration fit for a prince, and you can be sure that dance plays a vital role. Itās considered āa key elementā to every royal occasion back in those times, and trust me, I know it is. There are tales aplenty in my bag of memories about royal weddings and births, christenings, royal birthdays, all culminating in a grand display of ballet for the delight of the audience.
You wouldnāt expect any less from Prince George! Now, let's not think for a moment that he's only there to witness some pretty footwork. This royal prince was known as a real enthusiast, not just of watching ballet, but in fostering it, sponsoring ballet dancers, and truly contributing to the scene. He, in a way, paved the way for balletās increasing popularity across the continent, especially in France and Italy! So there we have it: Prince George is a bona fide ballet patron! He also supported artists in other areas like the opera and even paid the French painter Louis de Laguerre to produce some portraits of himself! The king of a multi-talented art appreciation!
The stage lights up, the music begins, and suddenly the courtly ballet performance starts! You might wonder, "what sort of dance were they watching?". The choreography might sound strange to our 21st century ears. I am talking about the most elaborate ballets - a blend of storytelling through dance that we could only imagine today.
There are the ballets d'apparat with magnificent settings, dazzling costumes and plenty of royal splendour, that were, let's be honest, nothing short of spectacular and meant to wow the audiences with their opulence and artistry! You know my dear ones, I wouldn't expect anything less of royalty! Next, we have ballet de cour ā this kind of ballet wasn't about story as much as creating graceful and elegant patterns on stage with some very specific costumes, and an array of steps from the traditional dances of the court and country.
Imagine, darlings, watching these dancers twirl in elegant robes amid the backdrop of a magnificent, ornate palace. It's simply spellbinding! And what could be more fitting to commemorate Prince Georgeās birthday?
To fully appreciate the scene, imagine yourself a part of this very royal party. Can you picture it? The exquisite royal costumes of the court, the ornate surroundings of the palace, the deliciousness of the cuisine (yes, darling, there was more to it than just pastries, I was surprised!) and, above all, the beauty of the dance itself ā a ballet performance with genuine artistry and grace, telling a story, capturing emotion and, ultimately, enchanting the hearts and souls of the court. What more could you want? Well, perhaps a little bit of ballet history from our beloved Emma to top things off!
Speaking of history, I couldn't leave without touching upon the incredible advancement of ballet in this era. There are some key developments to be highlighted and we can see why these dances captivated a royal prince. There was a huge move towards developing theatrical ballet and as you know, I love a good dramatic scene - what with all those exquisite costumes, special effects and stunning dancing, I had a good time learning all about the early forms of professional theatrical ballets!
Now, back to the celebrations! I can almost hear the joyful music of the dancing, as it drifts into the night under the summer sky, creating a magic spell over St. Jamesās Palace, marking the celebration of Prince Georgeās birthday. You bet I'm there, darlings, living every minute of this fabulous experience! But this time, it is more than just about being there. We can learn from history!
This event is a prime example of how even a royal prince could play a significant role in ballet, promoting its art form and beauty through generous patronage and encouraging the evolution of ballet into something truly enchanting, a little more exciting, theatrical and grander! We all love a little grandeur. Donāt we, darlings? I certainly do. But don't think this is just a historical footnote. This tale tells us a great deal about ballet, as a genre, about the significance of its history and evolution - about the people, about the impact of a prince. Let's not forget those delicious pastries!
And as always, dear readers, I encourage you to share your thoughts, your experiences with ballet, and why your heart belongs to pink tutus!
Stay fabulous, stay sparkly and keep wearing those pink tutus, darlings!
Until next month, Emma
