Hello my lovely ballet-loving bunnies! It's Emma, your time-traveling tutu enthusiast, and I'm thrilled to share another magical journey with you! This month, I’m whizzing back to 1st January 1709 – imagine that! Can you picture a world without Swan Lake or The Nutcracker? Gasp!
As always, Magic Meg, my fabulous pink-sparkling Shire horse with the golden hooves and mane like spun moonlight, was patiently waiting for me, chomping on a sugar cube (which I know she shouldn’t have, but who can resist those big, brown, pleading eyes!). We saddled up and I strapped on my trusty leather rucksack, ready to gather ballet bits and bobs from the past!
Now, 1709 was a bit of a quieter time for ballet, darling. No grand productions or flamboyant costumes – think more of court dances and aristocratic gatherings. The focus was on elegant movements and refined etiquette, which, I'm sure you'll agree, can still be very pretty to watch! Imagine it – ladies in their finest gowns and gentlemen in powdered wigs, all swirling across a wooden floor to the soft music of a harpsichord. Swoon!
One particularly exciting tidbit I found tucked away in my research is that Louis XIV, the "Sun King", was still king of France. A big lover of dance himself, he was famous for establishing the first professional dance academies, bringing ballet closer to the common people! (Of course, common people back then wore very different things compared to our dazzling tutus… giggles).
Speaking of outfits, I did stumble across an interesting fact: ballet shoes back then were crafted from fine leather! And guess what? No pointe shoes! Ballet dancers would simply dance on the balls of their feet, creating graceful, elegant steps – sounds tiring, but probably saved them from those gnarly bunions that plagued generations of later pointe shoes-wearing ballerinas.
Though 1709 lacked those grand ballets we cherish today, I have to admit, I really enjoyed watching the "bourrées" and "pas-de-basques" - the little steps and simple gestures - they hold such elegant grace and refined poise! Maybe it was the atmosphere, or maybe the thought of all the grand, beautiful ballets that would unfold in centuries to come, but the air felt full of hopeful potential!
Now, of course, my travels would be nothing without some lovely fashion! You might be surprised to find that the colours in fashion back then were muted, a far cry from our shimmering pinks! However, ladies, imagine a world where we were free from the tyranny of denim jeans! Yes, ladies! They were wearing gowns, in vibrant hues of gold, silk, velvet and even satin. And I, for one, wouldn't mind a little bit of that silk touching my skin. Dreamy sigh!
So, you see, even back then, there was an unspoken elegance in every movement, in every pose, a kind of magic woven into the very fabric of dance and style!
On my way back to Derbyshire, I popped into London for some pre-Victorian ballet-inspired shopping, of course! The selection of fabrics at Liberty is stunning – they even had a Pink & Silver Velvet Ribbon! It's already wrapped around my tutu. You have to be able to sparkle even back in 1709!
For those of you wanting to catch a live ballet performance – my biggest piece of advice is always check your local theatre. They’re constantly searching for new talent and staging new shows. Plus, a trip to the theatre is a fantastic way to meet your fellow tutu enthusiasts! Speaking of theatre, The Royal Opera House, my absolute favorite, is staging “Romeo and Juliet” this month – I’ll be there, front row, in a gloriously pink tutu naturally, of course! It will have delicate silver and gold sparkles - perfectly coordinated to my Pink & Silver Velvet Ribbon. Sniffs excitedly I'm going to need another pink tutu! But the best news, I found an exciting new boutique shop that’s opened just around the corner from my flat – full of gorgeous tulle, ribbon and glitter! They're just dying for my business. So I may just indulge myself in a little splurge of a tutu - for my special trip back in time to 1709! Sniff, sniff, I'm feeling faint I cannot wait!
Until next month, my dearest ballet lovers! May your dance be full of joy, your twirls full of life and your tutus be as pink and sparkly as your dreams!
Your dearest Emma, www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Don’t forget to check back next month for another ballet-tastic adventure, and don't forget to share your own experiences in the comments section. If you have a story, you can send your letter and an address and we will get back to you, I'd love to hear your ballet experiences!
