Bonjour mes amies! It’s Emma here, your Pink Tutu Time Traveller, bringing you the latest from the world of ballet and its glorious history. Welcome to Post Number 985 on the www.pink-tutu.com blog. You can probably tell that I'm absolutely beaming right now! Today we're galloping through time, all the way to 1743. Yep, that’s right! You read it correctly, we're embarking on another fabulous journey aboard Magic Meg, my darling pink, sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a magnificent white mane and tail, to delve into the exciting world of ballet history. This time we’re in Paris, where we will experience a ballet that's going down in history!
So, strap in! I’ve got my trusty leather rucksack ready to capture every amazing ballet story I encounter.
From the Heart of Derbyshire… To ParisIt’s been a busy month here in Derbyshire! I’ve been dazzling the locals with a spectacular performance, a new routine inspired by my Parisian adventures (can you guess the theme? Wink wink). The tickets sold out weeks ago, and, you’ll never believe this, everyone even requested the pink tutus! What an absolute delight! My income from this performance will keep me travelling for months and will definitely fund more exquisite tutus for future ballet extravaganzas. But of course, I always try to match the colours of my tutus with my current time-travel destination!
Tonight, however, we’re swapping Derbyshire's beautiful rolling hills for the breathtakingly vibrant boulevards of Paris, and that means one thing… A spectacular pink tutu ensemble in lace, ruffles and silk to match the city’s fashion!
Magic Meg whinnied in excitement, ready for a sprint into the past, so, up I went on my fabulous steed. This Parisian visit, I knew was going to be special, and I was so right! Today we will witness an historic ballet at the Académie Royale de Musique, a pivotal moment for dance. It’s January 1st 1743! The year of… drum roll please...** “Le Festin de l’Amour”!
The Festin de l'Amour: A ballet with a story that everyone would understand. A simple, but very impactful storyline and amazing, expressive, choreography, all by the renowned master Jean-Georges Noverre! He was revolutionary, pushing boundaries and inspiring his era. And this performance, with a mix of comedy and grand gesture was groundbreaking! This performance would have an immense influence on ballet as we know it today. I already see how, in a few years, the revolutionary Noverre would transform this very piece and add even more story and movement to the classical tradition we know today.
What was Le Festin de l’Amour all about? A classic! A group of lovely fairies, an mischievous cupid with arrows for fun and an alluring nymph, Psyche! The dance moves would be stunning – and the most stylish costumes too! Can you imagine it? The Parisian society decked in luxury, beautiful ladies in ballgowns, the fashionable men in fine attire and those powdered wigs, all gathering to celebrate love in such a magnificent ballet.
But my friends, let’s remember: we are here to bring the spirit of ballet into the future! Can you picture everyone wearing pink tutus in 1743? Even those powdered wigs could have a splash of pink! You see? Pink tutus work everywhere and every when! And they make me, and hopefully everyone, feel more alive, don’t they? And isn’t that the point? Spreading love and happiness through the beauty of dance, from 1743 to 2024… and beyond.
Paris… From Past to Present!The energy in Paris that evening was amazing – and the performance breathtaking. The theatre was stunning! I almost wished that I had brought a notepad and quill. All that exquisite detail… every elegant detail!
Paris is a ballet lover's paradise, don’t you think? It's the birthplace of so many legendary ballet artists. We all remember names like Marius Petipa and Mikhail Fokine, don’t we? Even the great, legendary Serge Diaghilev! I remember going back to that vibrant era…the beautiful sets and costumes in that groundbreaking company called the Ballets Russes, the stories – all so inspiring and a wonderful reflection of the world in a beautifully artistic way. And that brings me to the present… how ballet is constantly evolving and changing!
Pink Tutu… Future VisionAs I rode Magic Meg home tonight, I saw, once again, the wonder of time travel!
One thing I love most about this extraordinary adventure, this amazing, time-travel journey of a Pink Tutu Time Traveler – is that I’ve been fortunate enough to see ballet evolve throughout the ages.
In every age – whether the grandeur of the Paris Opera, the dazzling, creative flair of the Ballets Russes or the vibrant energy of modern contemporary dance in today’s London – we can see the same thing – passion and an unending spirit to celebrate love and humanity through the language of dance, of grace, of style.
The world is changing, but one thing will always be true – the magic of the pink tutu remains eternal!
From 1743 and onwards, my dear friends, remember, every step is a new adventure, every tutu is a statement. Let’s keep dancing our hearts out and make ballet a worldwide, joyful, and exciting experience for everyone.
Don’t forget – next month I’ll be bringing you the latest stories from the fascinating world of ballet in another incredible post. It’s time for my dreams to start taking shape... and a new era… the era of pink tutus!
Love from me… and my beautiful, pink sparkling Magic Meg!
P.S – Until next month… if you are ever in Paris, make sure you visit the Musée National de la Danse (the National Museum of Dance)! They even have a room dedicated to Jean-Georges Noverre, the revolutionary master behind Le Festin de l’Amour.
And as always, don't forget to head to www.pink-tutu.com, leave me a comment below and keep spreading that beautiful ballet magic!
