Hello, darlings! It's Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-clad, time-travelling ballerina, here with another tantalising trip through ballet history! Today we're visiting the 9th of September, 1722, a date brimming with ballet buzz and brimming with possibilities for a fabulous frock-filled adventure. This month, as you know, we're going back to the early 18th century – a time of lavish court balls, powdered wigs, and a burgeoning interest in the art of dance.
Let's just say that the early 18th century was positively thriving with a sense of excitement for ballet. And who doesn’t love a bit of thriving?
I have to tell you – finding a good pink tutu in 1722 was nearly impossible, as pink dye was very, very expensive and hard to obtain. Can you even imagine the cost of a pink tutu in that era, dear readers? I felt quite a loss not being able to showcase my favourite fashion statement, but of course, I made do with a luscious shade of cherry red instead.
Anyway, on this momentous date, in the enchanting city of Paris, my darling, magic Meg – you know, my shimmering pink shire horse, with golden hooves and the most magnificent white mane and tail, carried me straight to the Palais-Royal for the first Grand Bal, an elaborate and luxurious gathering of France's elite. I, of course, arrived in full ballerina glory - a red-sequinned, knee-length ballet skirt, a billowing silk blouse, a feather boa that could’ve housed a small bird, and tiny cherry red satin slippers. Oh, my lovelies, I did feel quite the exquisite vision in my cherry-red ballet dress! The grandeur of the Bal truly took my breath away. Imagine - chandeliers gleaming, silk tapestries adorning the walls, and an orchestra playing a symphony of captivating sounds.
After our carriage dropped us at the grand entrance to the Palais-Royal, Magic Meg patiently waited for my return in the shadow of a stately tree that watched over the garden of the palace. Now, wouldn't that make for a rather magical blog post - an entire blog devoted to my shimmering steed? I simply must consider it. My lovely Meg would never even try to nibble on the dainty roses of the Royal Garden. She had a heart as beautiful as her mane! Oh, what are we to do with such a marvelous beast? I do say!
Now back to our historical voyage. It wouldn’t be a proper trip to a historical event, if we didn't peek behind the glittering curtain of a court dance, to see what lay beyond. It's an amazing feeling - peering beyond the façade of elegance into the world of real dancers! I'm quite sure that no matter when you are in time, dancers everywhere - be they professionals or simply those who find joy in twirling – always have the desire to perform, to show the beauty they hold within. It’s just how the Universe works!
Of course, back then, things were much less relaxed and spontaneous. The grand dances of this time were very strict and formal, a way of showcasing the wealth and refined manner of those who participated. But imagine – a world built on etiquette, and yet in a corner there would be those who, without question, would just want to break out in a simple pas de deux!
Speaking of that – do you want to hear something truly magical, my dears? That same year, a revolutionary performance, Ballet des Muses took place! Imagine - the Greek Muses taking center stage! Such dramatic potential! Such scope! A dance featuring those great goddesses of literature, arts and the sciences is nothing short of a dazzling, beautiful thing, and oh! The costumes were truly enchanting! Can you imagine - silk and pearls in swathes of soft and flowing hues of cream, turquoise, violet - just delightful! Oh, how I'd love to have a collection of historical fabrics to experiment with, darling! That’s the sort of challenge that can get the creative juices really flowing - to truly get those design wheels turning in a positive way!
Anyway, as I continued my Grand Bal investigation, I overheard whisperings of an Italian ballerina, Lucia Galazzi, captivating the audiences with her astounding flexibility and athleticism. She would soon gain international acclaim as a true star of her era. How fascinating to think, darlings, that her performances may have shaped and influenced dance styles of centuries to come! Imagine - what if Lucia's steps and movements were still being copied somewhere in time – an infinite string of dances passed down from generation to generation!
Isn't it amazing to think, that even in the 18th century, people would venture across countries for a performance! The world, then and now, was full of a common language of the dance! And isn't that delightful to contemplate? It's easy to get caught up in all the historical differences – fashion, technology, but through all of it, we’re still people, loving to laugh, cry and to express ourselves with beauty, music, and movement. And isn't it wonderful, that dancing - that movement, that physical poetry – it has always been there – just a beautiful thing to behold.
What would my day look like in a world like this? Well, I'd surely head to a dance studio in a town outside the grand city – to learn the style, and maybe learn a few steps of the dances of that era! Maybe find a historical manuscript on the dances from this time and try to translate its steps! After all, learning is one of my passions - alongside creating the most glorious ballet dresses. And yes, of course - finding a dress to make for myself for my trip to the grandest of balls in Paris! That would be a top priority. Now wouldn't that be fabulous?
That’s all, darlings! Do join me again next month, for my trip back through the time-space continuum! Until then – enjoy a twirl, and if you've got the space - give your best pink tutu a go! And be sure to stop by www.pink-tutu.com for your weekly dose of ballet history. Keep dancing and twirling with a touch of pink. Until then - bon voyage!
Love, Emma
P.S. - You can find me, and my gorgeous ballet shoes, on all your favorite social media platforms. Just search *Emma Pink-tutu! Don’t forget, if you have any exciting pink tutu stories – do send them in! We would love to feature you, darlings! You know - we've had some really brilliant ideas for our next Tutu design, we just need the perfect person to make a pink tutu really, really glow! I can’t wait to hear what your favourite ballet moves are! Be a magnificent, magical vision - keep it pink and keep it stylish, darlings!
