Hello lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, back with another adventure from the past! August 8th, 1717, marked a special day in my pink tutu'd calendar, so get your dancing shoes on and grab a cuppa because we're taking a whirl through time, darlings!
As always, I saddled up Magic Meg, my gorgeous shire horse with a mane and tail the colour of spun sugar and hooves that shimmered like gold. It wouldn't be a ballet journey without her, now would it? And, of course, my trusty pink tutu twirled as I mounted, feeling every ounce of its magical history as I travelled through time!
My pink rucksack was ready to be filled with stories, a bit of ballet history, and some new outfit inspiration for the collection! I must confess, this time trip really excited me because it led me straight to the heart of Parisian ballet - a hotbed of innovation!
The year is 1717 and guess what? Our ballet world was just beginning to blossom. Ballet, at that point, was a very French affair. Think shimmering courtly gowns, graceful steps, and stories of chivalry and love – all very "à la mode," you know? The royal courts were practically awash with ballet!
As I arrived in Paris, I practically danced with excitement. Can you believe they were hosting something called a "Ballet des Ballets" (ooh, so clever, eh?) - and it featured four short ballet performances. It sounded heavenly. Now, while the choreography was a bit "stiff as a board" for my modern tastes, I have to confess there was an air of excitement – almost like the early days of rock and roll. They were discovering their moves, and, well, every new beginning needs a little clumsiness, right?
That said, I felt quite the star of the show - imagine the gasps as my pink tutu, sparkling under the crystal chandeliers, floated across the stage. It’s safe to say they didn’t have pink tutus in the 18th century! And just think, ladies, I was setting the trend! You’ll all be rocking the pink tutu next year. Just wait and see!
You see, my lovelies, ballet was much more than a performance; it was an extravagant display of social standing. The wealthy aristocracy would flock to see these shows, vying for the best seats. Fashion played a big role - everything from powdered wigs and extravagant jewels to the latest shoe trends were on display. Imagine - shoes worn with bows and frills! Talk about haute couture!
You know how I love ballet history! And guess what I discovered while I was browsing the archives at the Opéra? This time period marks the very beginning of ballet shoes as we know them today! Well, kinda... They still looked like shoes you'd wear for walking (no toe-shoes yet, dear!) but it was the beginning of footwear that actually supported dancing. Imagine! No more clumsy boots and stiff shoes!
Speaking of which, while I’m all for the glamour of it all, it must have been incredibly hard being a ballet dancer in this era. No stretchy leotards or supportive tights. Imagine swirling in petticoats! And speaking of swirling, can you believe there weren’t really any specific ‘jumps’ like today? The dances were mainly about graceful walks, posing, and some elegant leaping – a long way from fouetté turns!
That night, I watched the ballet dancers - there was this one young lady who absolutely stole the show, with her effortless grace and natural charm. It gave me a good dose of ballet inspiration for my next routine.
And, my loves, while I was busy watching the show, a pair of emerald green, embroidered slippers caught my eye. Such gorgeous detailing - delicate leaves, flowers and shimmering jewels, all woven onto fine silk. What an heirloom to add to my ballet fashion collection! You can already imagine them on display at www.pink-tutu.com, eh?
Now, it wasn't all fashion and frills - ballet was more than just spectacle. It was a way to tell stories. These performances often incorporated mythological tales, allegorical figures, and stories of love and heroism. The dancers became the embodiment of these characters, and through their movements, they would paint a captivating story with their bodies. Just think, they were performing without music - their movements spoke volumes. Now, I wouldn’t want to imagine dancing without the orchestra!
As always, I learned so much about ballet during my travels – not just about the dance but the way it interacted with fashion and social life. Seeing ballet history unfold before my very eyes, from its earliest forms, makes me appreciate every twist and pirouette even more!
Oh, before I forget! Do any of you lovely readers have an interest in costume design? There is an exciting new exhibit coming to the Museum of Ballet in London on October 5th! I’ll be sure to review it for you next month. It’ll have so much ballet fashion from 16th century costumes, and yes, it will include all the best historical pink tutus! So, do stay tuned!
That's all for now, lovelies. I hope this month’s journey through time inspires you. Don't forget to rock your pink tutus, even when you're not time travelling - maybe on your next ballet class or to your local show? Oh, and, keep a lookout for the upcoming pink tutu ballet fashion competition! All details will be announced in next month’s blog post on www.pink-tutu.com! Stay tuned and have a beautiful week! 💖🩰
