Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet, fashion, and of course, a touch of magical time travel! This month, we're whisking ourselves back to 1748, a time when the world was abuzz with the latest dances, and the French court was setting the stage for some seriously elegant performances.
As always, my trusty steed, the dazzling Magic Meg, was saddled and ready for our adventure. Can you believe it? She's the most magnificent pink-sparkled Shire you'll ever lay eyes on – with golden hooves, a white mane flowing like silk, and an air of majestic grace. I must say, she quite blends in with my wardrobe!
Anyway, we touched down in the bustling heart of Paris, and wouldn’t you know it, there was an absolutely delightful ballet on at the Opera! We snuck ourselves a little peek from the back, just like the most clandestine ballet enthusiasts of the time would, and what we saw was absolutely splendid! It was "La Princesse d’Ecosse," a stunning ballet composed by the brilliant Jean-Philippe Rameau. He was the hottest name in Parisian musical theatre, and his creations were an explosion of passion and elegance. Just the sort of show that calls for a pink tutu, don't you think?
Speaking of elegant, just imagine the beautiful ladies dancing their hearts out in this performance. Forget tight, fitted tutus - the style was all about long, billowing skirts, delicately layered and gracefully sweeping the stage. Can you picture it? Such a glorious spectacle, almost impossible not to feel yourself twirling right along with them! And speaking of tutus…
Let me tell you, I've managed to sneak a few delightful treasures into my leather rucksack on our trip. It's full of the most divine vintage ballet items from the period, perfect for inspiration! I discovered some exquisitely embroidered ballet slippers in the most gorgeous shades of ivory and gold. Absolutely divine! And, imagine my delight when I stumbled across an old ballet notebook with drawings of tutus! These tutus had no form we would recognise now, but their airy design is just charming. And who knows? Maybe I’ll add one to the next ballet show I create for fundraising - after all, every pink tutu counts!
But enough about my little treasure trove! It's high time we explore the world of ballet in 1748. The Parisian ballet scene was absolutely booming – from grand ballets like "La Princesse d’Ecosse" to more intimate "ballet de cour" performances in the court of Louis XV. Talk about fabulous! Ballet was the art of the moment, and you couldn't turn a corner without stumbling upon an intriguing new performance or ballet spectacle.
One of my favourite tidbits about this era is how fashion played a major role in the ballet. Imagine this: The elegant gentlemen wore silk breeches and colourful waistcoats, whilst the ladies donned beautiful dresses with wide panniers - quite like the designs of Marie Antoinette's era. Talk about dramatic! And just wait until I share pictures of these fantastic costumes with you on my next post! It's the perfect inspiration for any budding ballerina wanting to step up their costume game.
Imagine for a moment, darlings, if everyone were to dance in a pink tutu. What a sight that would be! Perhaps one day the pink tutu revolution will truly sweep the globe.
Until next month, keep twirling, keep exploring, and of course, keep wearing those pink tutus!
All the best, Emma
P.S. You can follow our ballet adventures every month on Pink-Tutu.com!
