Hello, darlings! Itâs Emma here, back with another exciting adventure in time! This month, my magical steed, Meg (the most gorgeous pink-sparkling Shire with golden hooves and a white mane and tail - how divine is she, by the way?) and I are heading all the way back to 1756, to 3rd March to be precise. Oh, the costumes, the dancing, the stories! Buckle up, lovelies, itâs about to get spectacularly pink!
Now, you all know how much I adore ballet fashion, right? Itâs simply a delight to be swept away by the elegance and the grace of the dancers, not to mention the sheer spectacle of the costumes and stage designs! Thatâs why this month I'm focusing on the exciting world of ballet in 1756.
Hold onto your tutus, my dears, because the 1750s was a time of great change and transformation for the world of ballet. The âBallet dâAction,â as it was known then, began its reign! You know, those dramatic ballets with narratives and compelling characters? Absolutely captivating! Imagine ballet stories, filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping scenes, all set to beautiful music. Imagine, if you will, the swirling fabrics of the ladiesâ skirts, their pointed shoes⌠The sheer, heart-stopping beauty!
Right now, my lovely little ballet time machine is already speeding us through the skies, towards this remarkable year, 1756. Megâs hooves are drumming the air with excitement, and I can almost hear the beautiful sounds of the "Ballet dâAction" already! Oh, the music, the costumes⌠I simply canât wait to be there.
Whatâs on in the world of ballet in 1756?
Well, dears, in Paris, there was this rather amazing man named Jean-Georges Noverre! Heâs widely considered the father of "Ballet d'Action"! He's like the king of creating stories and narratives within ballet! Iâve been studying all his incredible work for my last blog, but I simply adore what he brought to the ballet world. And he even wrote a whole book called "Lettres sur la danse"! Imagine! It was about the art of dancing â what could be more fabulous? It made a big splash across the European stage, introducing these incredible, elaborate dance stories that took the stage by storm. I simply had to be there to witness this artistic revolution!
Speaking of the stage, Paris is quite a whirlwind of activity, my darlings. In 1756, Parisâ âOpĂŠraâ was bursting with life! You see, it was the Royal Opera and the dance scenes in those French operas were captivating everyone! Think incredible singers, costumes more sumptuous than you could ever imagine, and oh-my-gosh, those dazzling choreography routines⌠simply divine!
A Glimpse of Parisian life:
And while weâre on the subject of Paris, let me share with you my Parisian shopping adventure:
The âLingerie Ă la Françaiseâ shops: Darling, you won't believe the variety of lace, silk, and tulle. Itâs pure paradise, all fluttering around you! Imagine beautiful, intricately stitched and layered gowns and the soft, flowing silk garments. Oh, and those satin shoes - they are so perfectly beautiful, I had to indulge in several pairs! I must confess I splurged on some pink silk gloves and ribbons and matching earrings â how utterly delightful. Paris is just bursting with inspiration!
âParfumerieâ delights: My dears, the scent of lilies and bergamot that swirls through the air is just intoxicating! And those intricate glass vials filled with amber and rose scents â it's just divine! Iâve added some enchanting little rose scent sachets to my collection, and I even managed to find some tiny antique lace hand-held fans that would be perfect with a delicate silk gown! The Parisians know their fashion and beauty secrets! And that brings us to the real star of the show⌠the French âRobe Ă la Françaiseâ! Oh, I had to snag some samples for my next design project⌠I just can't help myself.
âBibliothèque Nationaleâ: Of course, no journey into the past would be complete without a visit to âBibliothèque Nationaleâ, my darlings! A symphony of paper and scent â what a beautiful haven of knowledge and art. I simply adore collecting stories of dance from every period, from its humble beginnings, and Iâve collected several historical dance volumes today! I found a rare print from 1755 that shows dancers from the âRoyal Swedish Balletâ, dressed in the most opulent, beautiful silk costumes - a rare and valuable find.
Now, dears, this might be a surprise, but the dancers back then werenât all wearing tutus⌠It was a period of elegant and elaborate garments⌠think, layers and layers of fabric! Just think how divine all the shimmering gowns must have been on stage, not to mention those charming petticoats, with their billowing layers⌠Imagine them waltzing gracefully in those luxurious fabrics! What a dreamy world we live in, with the art of dance.
And while we're in France, I have a rather curious story to share.
A Little Ballet Mishap:
It was in a Parisian square, bustling with vendors selling flowers, cheeses and delicious croissants, you see. As I was sipping on a frothy cappuccino, watching the performers practicing in the sun â oh, it was all so magical, dears! Meg was calmly munching on some clover nearby, as peaceful as you could ever imagine. When all of a sudden, a man, clearly a dancing instructor, went bounding across the square in a swirl of purple silks and ribbons - rather alarming to say the least! His fancy footwork caught him by surprise and with a swift and comical trip and tumble, he landed quite dramatically on the ground right beside Meg! He gasped for air, looking rather bewildered by the incident, but thankfully unharmed.
"What are you doing?!" The bewildered gentleman barked out, rather fiercely I might add, at the startled horse who was nonchalantly munching on the clover â now completely oblivious to the mayhem she had inadvertently caused.
"She just seemed hungry", I chirped in politely, hoping to distract the flustered gentleman and bring him back from his panic-stricken state. âIs that, perhaps, âLe Grand JetĂŠâ? Or maybe the âarabesqueâ? It really looks like he could be the King of the stage!
âOf course! Why would it not be, you dimwit!?â The poor fellow stormed on as though I had offended him most gravely! My dears, some things never seem to change across the centuries. Some people are simply far too easily upset. Meg just rolled her eyes at this unfortunate gentleman! And now she has a new nickname âMeg â the Dance Destroyerâ! How wonderfully ironic is that, darling?
* Ballet Through Time â Connecting Us*
As the day drew to a close, and the stars began to shimmer in the velvet night sky, I began to understand that ballet is a form of storytelling that truly connects us all across the ages!
I know some of you dear ladies might be tempted to think that wearing a pink tutu is only a fleeting fancy, a whimsical act, perhaps, a childish dream, but just think of it: The joy it can bring! Imagine, a swirling, pink vortex, bringing together families, inspiring creativity and building confidence in children. Just think of the fun you could have if you let your inner pink tutu flourish!
Donât be afraid, lovelies, to dream big! And dare I suggest you let those dancing spirits fly! Who knows what adventures lie in store, perhaps it will inspire you to try that dancing class you have always thought about taking? I dare you to try on a pink tutu this weekend and go for it! And don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for all your fabulous fashion inspiration. Let's all celebrate the enchanting power of dance, together.
Sending lots of pink love and glittery wishes your way!
Until next month!
Emma x
