Hello my darlings,
Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel! August is a special month for me. Not only is it my birth month, but it’s the month when my absolute favourite time travelling adventure took place – back to the year 1754. Today’s post is dedicated to the 8th August, 1754. Let’s dive into a dazzling day in French ballet history!
It’s time for the blog post which is so incredibly exciting, I can hardly even think straight, which for me, is a miracle. So this week I’m whisked back on my trusty Meg (who looks resplendent in her brand new pink glitter saddle, might I add, which sparkles in the August sun – can you imagine, it looks even more fabulous than usual, it’s simply to die for!) and she’s flying me back to Paris – to a glorious moment in ballet history, to the Palace of Versailles. Oh my! Can you believe this?!
We gallop through time – that’s the thing, I forget how quickly it’s possible to traverse the past - and Meg trots around the palace of Louis XV as I gather up stories about the incredible ballet being performed at Versailles, my leather rucksack filled with snippets of costume and design inspiration for a new line of ballet wear, that’s what my mind is already working on as we ride around the streets of Versailles, past magnificent buildings – simply glorious! I really cannot wait to showcase what I discover at Pink Tutu London, if I could only just fast-forward my time travel, it’s agony having to wait so long!
Anyway, my journey took me to the Court of Louis XV, to witness the splendour and magnificence of ballet in the 18th century. I can’t even begin to tell you how stunning it was. As a dancer and a fashion enthusiast, it was a complete dream come true. Louis XV loved ballet. In fact, ballet performances were part of the courtly routine – it was the perfect way to express grace and social status! You should’ve seen the exquisite costumes and the elegant choreography! It felt as though the very palace was dancing to the rhythm of the ballets presented here.
This week’s performance was about something called the “ballet d’action”, this is a special kind of ballet, with dancing and dramatic stories performed by skilled dancers. Think elegant steps and swirling tutus, alongside engaging stories about mythical beings, characters, love, and war – sounds divine doesn't it? The ballets were beautifully intricate, each step carefully rehearsed and designed to make each movement look flawless, as if it was as natural as breathing – it made me feel like my own moves needed serious improvement. It was so inspiring, watching these expert dancers in action! I'm actually really thinking of having a lesson, I feel like I should at least attempt to be as beautiful and strong as these ballerinas!
There’s always such a huge, extravagant emphasis on elaborate costumes in court performances like this. Each ballet in Louis XV's court was designed for drama, passion, and even a bit of gossip! I always take a peek behind the scenes, it is, after all, where the real fun lies! Imagine! Layers and layers of satins, shimmering sequins, feathered headpieces – what a fantastic world to explore. The ballerinas were a true embodiment of beauty and grace, and their attire simply accentuated that beauty and femininity in the most enchanting way. The sheer elegance, the layers, and the sheer volume of everything was simply spectacular! In fact, their beauty is absolutely the best part!
On 8th August, 1754, the dance was “Les Fêtes de l’Amour et de Bacchus” by Jean-Philippe Rameau. And yes, dear readers, I even saw a little sneak peek behind the scenes into the dressmaking room – which I found absolutely delightful.
Let me tell you about these dressmakers. It was absolutely the best part of my visit, what a world of hidden talent - these beautiful creations for a king's ballet, they weren’t afraid of a little sparkle, or using the most glorious pink fabrics!
After meeting these incredible women, I was positively beaming. We, of course, had an extensive, lengthy, very detailed and deep chat, of course, and the women, after watching me shimmy and shake (which always makes the locals chuckle, it is so lovely when we all speak the same language – and when it comes to a love of dance – we do!), were very, very encouraging of my pink tutu - a most lovely, flattering comment if ever I heard one! They gave me permission to borrow a length of luxurious silk in a truly remarkable shade of pink, with threads of shimmering silver and pearls woven into it - something rather spectacular. As for the other fabrics - imagine beautiful, opulent velvet and brocade – gorgeous! Absolutely wonderful.
We chatted about our mutual love of pink! Of course I regaled them with my story – we shared some gossip about ballet history. I love being able to share the future with those who have come before. My favourite question is “what are your favourite shoes?” and all they could talk about was “slippers” - something I find so utterly charming! So I decided to leave behind a copy of my ballet travelogue from the 21st Century to help keep their inspiration up-to-date, we had a little giggle as I did a spin on my little toes as I showed them how to work it in this pink tutu – and how to show off the slippers – and we giggled and they laughed – and what could be a nicer moment for me than being invited to participate in some of these grand shows! Maybe a pink tutu performance by me will inspire them all. After all, why should just ballerinas wear a pink tutu, the world’s meant to have it – and I will spread the joy – one performance at a time. Now that's my motto!
In case you’re thinking of following in my pink tutued footsteps, you can get yourself over to Paris to visit the Palace of Versailles and see its grandeur. And to make things a little more exciting – just as it would be in the 18th century, you can watch ballets at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, in a lovely part of Paris. A great idea if you’re looking for something extra special!
And remember - just as we need our dancers – our world is still full of beautiful women – let's all follow our dreams and our passion for dance – we can all bring the passion back – dance and a pink tutu is your ticket to a happier, prettier and even more magical world, all for the love of ballet!
See you next time!
Your devoted pink-tutu blogger
Emma
