Hello darlings! Emma here, back from another delightful adventure through time! This month, my trusty steed Magic Meg, a glorious pink shire with a white mane and tail that sparkles like a thousand tiny stars, whisked me all the way to Paris! And guess what? I'm here to tell you about ballet back in 1712, a very important date for dance lovers everywhere. It's the very year that the famed Académie Royale de Danse was founded! So exciting!
Oh, before I forget, I'm going to pop a little reminder here: If you haven't already, hop onto my website www.pink-tutu.com and check out all my past adventures, especially my favourite pink tutu outfit inspiration board! I love seeing you all rock your tutus!
Now back to Paris! I have to say, the 18th century had a real sense of grandeur. Can you imagine having the chance to learn dance from the likes of renowned teachers like Claude Ballon, Pierre Beauchamp and Louis Pécour? These masters were the driving force behind the French style of ballet which would dominate the stage for many decades! Just being in the same room as them would have given me butterflies in my stomach and my toes tapping to the rhythm of a perfect pirouette!
And speaking of toes, wouldn’t you adore these delightful "sabots", the original ballet shoes, hand-crafted with their elegant curves and simple, yet exquisite design? A real touch of elegance to a ballerina’s attire! My backpack, a beautifully weathered leather design that’s perfect for travelling through time, is overflowing with delightful sketches and descriptions of these historical footwear!
While in Paris, I saw a delightful performance in the sumptuous Theatre de l'Opéra, a stunning space for any ballet aficionado. The stage lights danced like fairies around the performers in a magical whirl of ribbons, silk, and feathers - oh, my, such delicate choreography! Imagine how stunning that performance must have been. I just had to add a beautiful sketch from the show into my backpack for my own ballet inspiration! I might even attempt a recreation myself for my next time travel. I imagine wearing my blush pink tutu would look simply fabulous amongst all that history and wonder!
So many amazing performances were presented during those early years! We are so fortunate to be able to glimpse into the beauty and innovation that was unfolding at the dawn of ballet! There were even famous divertissements, dances woven into theatrical productions, making the experience even more rich and rewarding. Oh! I simply love it all! The more I learn, the more I’m drawn to the captivating power of the past! It all inspires me to bring my own love of the art form, with all its elegance and expressive artistry, to my own contemporary performances!
Do you want to know something truly exciting? Back in Derbyshire, England, ballet is beginning to stir. Just imagine, families would gather in elegant spaces and gather for performances on these enchanting stages! You could even see dances in private homes, the stage filled with graceful dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that would surely have given me my own dose of pink envy! It sounds like the perfect scenario, doesn't it?
If you haven’t already, join me next month for another trip back in time - a voyage full of elegant dance, graceful history and a sprinkle of pink magic, of course! Do make sure to visit my website at www.pink-tutu.com to browse my ballet history blogs. And don’t forget, my lovelies, that all it takes is a sprinkle of magic and a leap of faith to follow your ballet dreams. Maybe, someday, you'll join me on a trip to a glamorous dance ball back in time - you never know! Until then, keep shining, keep dancing, and keep on wearing those dazzling tutus!
