Hello darlings! It's your favourite ballerina blogger, Emma, here with another peek into the fabulous world of ballet history! As you all know, my monthly adventures are all about spreading the pink tutu love, one time travel trip at a time! So grab a cuppa and settle in, because this month we're whisking ourselves back to August 8th, 1735, right in the midst of the build-up to the French Revolution!
This time, our ride is none other than my trusty steed, Magic Meg – my shimmering pink Shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing mane and tail of pure white. This month, my little heart is overflowing with excitement, as we're journeying to the vibrant, chaotic, and oh-so-fascinating world of 18th century France. It's a time when the whispers of revolution were already starting to crackle in the air, but the world of ballet was truly booming!
Ballet at the Court of Louis XV
As Meg trots us towards Paris, the French capital of all things grand and elegant, I can already feel the excitement buzzing in my little ballet heart! Think flowing silks, bejeweled costumes, and powdered wigs! The 18th century saw a dramatic rise in the popularity of ballet at the court of Louis XV, who was a huge fan of the art form! You can imagine, with him at the helm, there were plenty of dazzling spectacles – it must have been like a permanent pink tutu party, minus the tutus! Sadly, they weren't quite as popular in those days.
Back in time...The Parisian Dance Scene!
As we arrive in Paris, my rucksack is at the ready to capture the treasures of this era. You see, I never travel without my trusty rucksack, you know, just to pack all the goodies I find along the way: old ballet books, handwritten scores, vintage costumes, and even those oh-so-dreamy historical dance manuals. Today's treasures? Why, they're tucked away within the Palais de la Danse, nestled between the magnificent gardens of Versailles, where, even on this 8th of August, the air crackles with the promise of performance.
Imagine this, my dears – the Parisian ballet scene was buzzing! This was the golden age of dance where legends like Jean-Baptiste Lully and Louis XIV were laying the foundations of a ballet style that would shape centuries to come. These ballet pioneers, oh my, they truly knew how to put on a show! I can't help but think it was truly the best of times – filled with artistry, lavish costumes, and the glamour that still captures our imaginations today!
A Taste of the French Court's Dance World
The Palais de la Danse, the ballet theatre built especially for Louis XIV – yes, he had a ballet theatre! – was bursting at the seams with dancers. It was so packed that the air vibrated with the music and the rustling of fabrics. Now, while it was amazing to see, tutus still hadn't come into play yet. I mean, can you even imagine? A world without tutus! My mind reels just thinking about it. Imagine the shock of all the courtiers! They probably hadn't even imagined a more fabulous dance-wear creation! It seems a little crazy in our current time to even think about, right?
However, my darlings, this was also the age of elaborate, decorative ballet shoes. I mean, imagine ballet shoes adorned with jewels! These tiny dance slippers – with satin bows and pointed toes, just imagine the clink of those precious stones on the marble floors as they gracefully glided across the dance floor – it must have been magical!
Stepping Back in Time
Speaking of stepping back in time – that's exactly what we do, back to my current time in the blink of an eye. Back in my little corner of Derbyshire, where the smell of freshly baked scones fills the air, and everything is oh so calm in comparison to the bustle of Paris in 1735.
Today's journey brought a touch of history to my little blog and hopefully, a whole lot of inspiration. Perhaps I'll incorporate a little Parisian flair to my next ballet performance! Maybe a delicate bow here, a sparkling jewel there. We shall see, darlings.
As always, remember to keep the pink tutu spirit alive! If you ever want to explore this fascinating period yourself, don't forget that you can always take a trip to the Ballet Theatre at Versailles!
P.S Check out my latest blog post on my website at www.pink-tutu.com, Post # 896! I can't wait to hear about your adventures and dance dreams, darlings. Until next month!
With love, glitter, and lots of pink, Emma
