Hello fellow ballet enthusiasts! Emma here, ready to whisk you off on another enchanting journey through the glittering world of ballet! Itâs time to pull on your most fabulous pink tutus, darling, because weâre taking a trip back in time â all the way to February 2nd, 1729!
I know what youâre thinking - 1729?! Isn't that before ballet even existed in the way we know it today? Well, youâd be surprised! Thatâs the magic of time travel - we discover so many intriguing historical connections to the ballet world, even if things were just taking their first little pirouette.
As always, my trusty steed, Magic Meg â the most splendid pink shire horse with hooves like gold and a mane and tail like spun silk - is ready to whisk us back. (Honestly, her colour-coordinated shimmering is simply the most marvellous sight!).
This month, my pink leather rucksack is already bulging with excitement, as I've spotted some incredible nuggets of ballet history just waiting to be explored.
So, back to 1729...
February 2nd, 1729 wasn't a particularly eventful day in ballet history... unless you count the day to day routines of choreographers and dancers working in a flurry of tutus (though let's face it, these tutus probably looked nothing like the gorgeous frilly pink wonders we know and love today! Perhaps more akin to a simple linen skirt...).
Instead, our journey leads us to an extraordinary glimpse of life on the stage just a few years earlier, in the early 1720s, as ballet started to bloom into something truly extraordinary. It's here in the Parisian opera houses and grand theaters, that dance was gradually finding its feet â excuse the pun! - transforming from purely decorative entertainment into a more structured art form with elaborate stories, daring costumes, and incredibly intricate movements.
Can you imagine? The excitement must have been electric! Watching dancers gracing the stage with elegance, grace, and sheer athleticism, and their passion for the art â surely that must have been pure magic!
I like to picture these early performances in the 1720s, filled with so much promise and new life. I imagine ladies in vibrant, silky costumes adorned with ribbons and lace, dancing alongside their partners, showcasing feats of strength and athleticism we still admire today. They may have worn simple skirts, but even without the big poufy tulle weâre used to, I bet they felt fabulous!
And just picture this! A little snippet of a scene... the dancers weave through a swirling, fantastical spectacle of colour and movement, accompanied by the dramatic orchestral sounds. We may not have witnessed it in the flesh, but you can just feel the raw passion and raw excitement as they effortlessly danced through complex movements. These pioneering ballerinas were carving the way for all of us. How amazing it is to look back at those moments that planted the seed for all we enjoy in ballet today.
It's in these early moments, folks, where ballet really started to sparkle and enchant the world with its grace and passion, that my passion for ballet truly flourishes. Itâs all the little stories and snippets from these times that I treasure the most.
Of course, even without balletic marvels taking centre stage, it wouldnât be a pink-tutu-tastic journey if I didnât sprinkle a bit of 18th century fashion inspiration your way, wouldnât it?
Fashion in 1729 was all about symmetry, grace, and that "ooh-la-la" air of Parisian grandeur, with elaborate details, ribbons, and panniers for ladies (oh those voluminous, glorious gowns! almost as enchanting as our pink tutus! ). I'm certain, if the ballet performances in that era didnât involve magnificent costumes, they were undoubtedly filled with lavish fashion, all the more inspiring when seen in elegant salons and glamorous society balls.
As we gallivant through history, my mind conjures pictures of those glamorous nights, ladies in the grand salons of the 18th century â think Madame de Pompadour and the Queen Marie Antoinette, or their equivalent â twirling with grace and elegance, maybe even trying out a little "pas de bourrĂ©e" as they danced the night away! Perhaps these aristocratic women even dreamed of taking to the stage!
Just picture yourself there in 1729. Wouldnât that be simply divine?!
And imagine - if only you had a time machine like mine. What would you be wearing, my pink tutu tribe? Wouldnât those flowing skirts be fabulous under a dazzlingly pink tutu?
My friends, Iâm dying to know. Leave your fashion musings in the comments section! And letâs chat about what it could have been like for our pink tutu fashion dreams back in 1729 â we can daydream and create our own âwhat ifsâ together, just like we create our time travel journeys through history.
And of course, no post about 1729 is complete without a quick update about my very own ballet exploits...
Last weekend I watched the most wonderful performance of âSwan Lakeâ â the elegance and ethereal nature of Odette and Odileâs performances made my heart skip a beat! (Even better when performed with my most prized tutu... pink of course!). Oh, I simply cannot get enough of ballet!
I'm working up to my next performance as well... my heart is aflutter as I prepare my next choreographed performance - something I've dreamt of ever since my childhood in Derbyshire, England (that green countryside does a great job of nourishing my dreams, wouldn't you say?). And this time, the choreography will feature, of course... you guessed it â a truly show stopping pink tutu â my current favourite, the one that twirls like a swirling cloud. I even bought myself some gorgeous shoes for the performance... ballet shoes, not that kind of shoe though! You know... Oh, this is getting me so excited.
I canât wait to show you what I've been working on and I know, after that pink-tutu performance, everyone will want to join in the movement of spreading joy in pink tutus all across the world! And of course, Magic Meg will be there by my side.
So remember, my dear pink-tutu loving friends â no matter what year we travel to, the magic of ballet transcends time! Itâs a universal language, bringing together cultures, connecting generations with the exquisite power of movement, artistry, and pure, passionate grace.
I'll see you next month on www.pink-tutu.com with another delightful trip through ballet time! Until then, may your steps be graceful, and your dreams filled with shimmering pink tutus!
Love always, Emma
