Hello, darlings! It’s Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-clad time traveller, and welcome back to my monthly dose of ballet history. This month, we're jetting back to 9th September 1707 – a date with a dash of regal flair and a touch of tragedy, perfect for a pink tutu enthusiast like myself.
This time, I’m riding my magical Meg, the most beautiful Shire horse you could imagine - with her glistening pink coat, gold hooves and a flowing white mane and tail, she’s the envy of every horse in every time period! Meg knows our destination today – the Court of Queen Anne. It’s a very important time to be travelling as this very day marks the passing of Queen Anne’s dear husband, Prince George of Denmark.
Oh, the heartache! It’s times like these that I feel the most sorry for the lovely Queen, though I’m sure her courtiers will rally around her in this moment of grief.
Now, before we get bogged down in royal mourning, let’s delve into the world of ballet back in 1707.
This year was a time of change and development in the dance world. Ballet was slowly moving away from its strictly courtly roots and venturing out to reach a broader audience.
Of course, the elite were still huge fans of ballet, so Queen Anne's court was likely buzzing with ballet performances - imagine all those exquisite costumes, swirling petticoats, and, I’m sure, a sprinkle of pink! I’m picturing ladies in gorgeous frocks, some with hints of the coming “Rococo” style that we’ll be exploring next month! The gentlemen, of course, looking quite dashing in their powdered wigs and fine fabrics.
Even with Queen Anne's sadness, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them all attending the latest theatrical productions. Ballet was quite a rage at the time - you see, ballet had only recently emerged as a stage art and it was capturing the attention of all the trend-setting socialites! Back then, you couldn't walk the streets of London, Paris, or even Dresden without hearing of the latest ballets!
On my travels through the annals of ballet history, I have discovered some amazing pieces from 1707 - one of my absolute favorites is The Loves of Mars and Venus, by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Lully was such an innovative and influential composer - it's his ballets that I would happily sit down to enjoy at Queen Anne's court! Can you imagine those vibrant costumes, the graceful movements, the music? It would have been a true spectacle!
Now, I’m so intrigued by those amazing costumes, I’ve actually started to think about recreating some of them for a dance performance! Maybe, just maybe, we’ll be taking a peek at these styles in future posts! Imagine, a modern ballet with a hint of the past - it would be a masterpiece! Don't worry though, I wouldn't stray too far from my pink tutu! That's just not something I would do!
On the topic of fashion, and since it's the time of Queen Anne’s sad mourning, I must also mention that 1707 saw a move away from vibrant colours – and sadly it meant less pink for my pink-loving heart! Of course, black was the preferred shade during this period. But hey, every decade has its colour palette, and thankfully black really shows off a sparkling pink tutu! It makes you look even more dazzling!
With my love for pink tutus, the stories I collect during my time travel, and my monthly ballet performances that allow me to continue to traverse history – my pink-tutu-loving heart is so filled! It’s a life truly filled with beautiful costumes, captivating dances, and an everlasting love for the world of ballet!
I'm signing off now, darlings. Make sure to catch the next instalment of Pink Tutu Time Travels next month, where we’ll explore a completely different era in ballet! Don't forget to follow www.pink-tutu.com to make sure you don't miss an update.
Until then, stay sparkly and twirl-tastic!
Yours,
Emma
