Hello my lovelies, welcome to Pink-Tutu.com, and Happy June!
Today is a rather special date for us tutu enthusiasts, as it marks our fifth trip into the time-spinning world of ballet history! I’m Emma, your time-travelling ballerina, and it’s always such a delight to share these wonderful experiences with you. It’s my absolute mission to make pink tutus fashionable across the centuries and inspire you to twirl your worries away. It’s all thanks to you, my dear readers, that I can keep this pink ballet passion alive. Every visit to a ballet class or performance, every ballet book bought and every like on my blog brings me closer to fulfilling my dream – to see the world, one pink tutu at a time.
Today’s date is extra special, marking my 582nd post here on Pink-Tutu.com! 🎉 I’m bursting to tell you all about my adventures in June 1709! Oh, and do you know what? I've discovered something incredible that might even change the way we see ballet today... But, I’ll tell you more about that later! First, let’s dive into the fabulous world of fashion and ballet as it existed back then.
It’s time to grab your favourite pink tutu, adjust your satin shoes, and jump onto my pink shimmering, magnificent Magic Meg – the most gorgeous Shire horse you ever did see. With her flowing white mane, golden hooves and glistening pink coat, she’s quite the showstopper! I'll never be able to thank her enough for all our time travelling adventures. Let’s set off on a time travelling gallop to June 6th, 1709!
A Whirl Through TimeThe world was a very different place back then. It was all about elegance, sophistication and... lace! The gentlemen were decked out in powdered wigs and elaborate coats, while ladies swished around in corseted gowns. However, fashion was still evolving. Imagine me and Magic Meg arriving in London, riding through the busy streets, our pink accents a little out of place compared to the muted colours of the day. We stop at a grand town house with ornate detailing and walk inside. It is buzzing with life, and everyone looks incredibly formal.
In the courtyard, there's a makeshift stage being prepared for a private performance, possibly a "Ballet de cour" - a theatrical and musical form popular with the aristocracy at the time. The ladies are all sitting elegantly, their fans rustling with the tempo of conversation and anticipation for the performance.
There are no pink tutus to be seen. Instead, the dancers wear gowns with stiff and voluminous skirts – just like the ones I admire in old paintings of 18th century ballerinas! Can you imagine having to dance in that amount of fabric? Goodness, I'm sure even the lightest skip would leave them out of breath. But, that doesn’t stop the energy of the dancers as they glide and twirl in their flamboyant costumes! And I have to confess, watching them in action makes me realise that maybe my "less is more" approach to the ballet skirt may be a bit of a newfangled notion! Who knows? Perhaps I'll be trying out a more dramatic style of tutu in the future... I might need a bit more fabric and less pink for that, however!
Oh, speaking of style – imagine my delight when I bumped into the amazing Mrs. Arabella Churchill at a theatre on the Strand. As a well-known socialite of the day and rumoured muse for one of London’s most influential theatre directors, Mrs. Churchill certainly knew her fashion! The beauty of her garments, and the sheer volume of material they seemed to consist of, gave me so many ideas! Perhaps, some of her techniques and fabrics might help with the more flamboyant tutu design I mentioned. Hmm. This might be an interesting design direction for a future Pink Tutu collection. Pink can definitely stand up to these more dramatic styles, don't you think?
But back to June 6th, 1709. That night, I found myself amongst the guests, seated in a plush box. A dazzling chandelier bathed the whole room in soft light as the "Ballet de Cour" unfolded. The story – I learned it was "Pygmalion", an old favourite with a touch of romance - involved mythical creatures and grand passions. The dancers, dressed in a tapestry of fabrics from purple, blue, crimson, yellow and even gold, performed with grace and charisma, leaving the audience in awe!
It wasn’t quite like our modern-day ballets. They were less concerned with intricate footwork and more focused on sweeping movements and expressions, almost as if every movement were a conversation on the stage. They still performed on wooden stages with an uneven surface and had to overcome quite a bit of instability, making me appreciate how much progress the world of ballet has seen in its technical developments since. Oh! It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. I watched an unfortunate fall during the “Grand Entree”. Perhaps an unsteady shoe was the culprit! The gentleman quickly got up, regaining composure with remarkable swiftness. This gentleman certainly was used to performing in these less forgiving settings. The performance went on, as graceful and entertaining as ever.
### My Little Ballet Treasure
Now, it was in this beautiful venue where I unearthed the real hidden gem, the true piece that made this trip so unforgettable. Hidden deep within my leather satchel (because, as you know, I like to carry souvenirs from my trips!), I found a small book with an exquisitely hand-drawn illustration. I picked it up – oh! what joy I felt at the sight of the dancers' outfits! These hand-drawn designs were incredibly intricate and whimsical – oh, and pink had snuck in there too, as a highlight for the dancers' beautiful silk and satin robes! But the real discovery came from the inscription in the book's preface.
* “An introduction to dance instruction, dedicated to my esteemed pupil, Madam Elizabeth. “ - A.B.
And with a whoosh! Magic Meg was back to the Derbyshire fells! Now you must understand this inscription – it's not just some lovely handwriting. It’s evidence that in 1709, in the midst of a changing world, someone believed enough in dance to not only give personal tuition to Madam Elizabeth, but to leave behind this precious document to inspire those who would follow her steps. Isn't that fabulous? It really speaks to the heart of dance being about something far greater than the spectacle! It’s an art form which inspires a person’s spirit, teaches them how to express themselves, and maybe, just maybe, allows them to reach their potential in a way they couldn’t imagine before they took the first step!
Well, as always, I could spend ages on this one, my dears! It’s been a magical trip to June 6th, 1709, one that brought so many fabulous insights and a whole load of inspiration! But remember, it’s your enthusiasm for pink tutus that makes all this happen! I’ll keep looking back and, more importantly, I’ll continue looking forward with even greater anticipation and passion for the dance! Remember, you don’t need a time machine to be inspired by the wonder and joy of ballet!
So, do tell me about your favourite ballet-related memories.
Love, Emma
*P.S: I’m planning my next ballet-themed blog about an epic discovery in a ballet book. Make sure to subscribe to Pink-Tutu.com to catch the scoop! *
