Hello, Darlings! Emma here, back with another fabulous instalment of my Pink-Tutu Time Travels. January always feels like the perfect time to get cosy and indulge in a good bit of ballet history, don't you think? Especially with all the exciting, glitzy galas kicking off the year in the world of ballet, well, it's practically obligatory to dive into the archives. So buckle up, my lovely tutu-loving lot, because today, we're waltzing our way to Paris in the year 1759!
Itâs always a treat when we get to step into Parisian ballet. Such an air of glamour, sophistication, and just pure theatre magic. I bet they loved their ballrooms then, donât you think? Iâm envisioning opulent chandeliers dripping with crystal, mirrored walls reflecting swirling gowns, and the scent of lavender and sugared almonds filling the air.
You know how much I adore a good tutu (that goes without saying!) Well, Paris was the place to be if you were after a dramatic show of feather-light tulle. I was particularly excited to discover a very grand, but very pink costume made for one of the most popular ballerinas at the time, Marie-Madeleine Guimard. She was a bit of a scandal in her day â can you imagine? â a woman of the stage who refused to be controlled by men, an independent artist who defied all the typical constraints of the era. Talk about a role model!
You see, the ladies of the time often wore heavy, layered petticoats underneath their "jupe" (as they called it) for extra volume. Not exactly ideal for the soaring leaps and graceful movements ballerinas required! But luckily, the 18th century saw the evolution of "the pannier" â a structure designed specifically to support the wider form of the skirt and free up the movement. Oh, the delights! Imagine gliding around in a light and airy, frothy tutu like that! Now that's what I call a proper pirouette!
The ballet scene itself was in a bit of a state of change during this period. Imagine all the excitement! A little bit of new-found liberty mixed with classic elegance, and the spirit of reform permeated everything, from the costume design to the choreography itself. It was a thrilling time for the art, one filled with bold experimentations that would later pave the way for the ballet we know and love today.
Oh, my goodness, you'll never believe who I met! My darling Meg, you won't be surprised to hear she found her own magical time-traveling pathway. It was at one of those charming old Parisian cafĂ©s, I simply couldnât resist indulging in a little bit of cafĂ© au lait, with a pain au chocolat and oh so delicate croissant, as I listened to some gossipy whispers about this exciting performance coming up at the Palais-Royal... It was for *Jean-Georges Noverre's "La fĂȘte de Hymen". * The perfect time to take in some of Noverre's groundbreaking work. Noverre, the innovator, who was always trying to move the art of dance forward! I found out it's a grand dance celebrating love and the importance of expressing the narrative of a story through the ballet itself! You can bet I got to see it â Meg galloped off as fast as lightning with a quick "voilĂ !" and "off we go"! I knew that the costumes for the show were said to be quite theatrical and daring - think dramatic, almost Grecian draped gowns that floated and fluttered. Of course, it wasnât all about the costumes, but you know me, the whole âpictureâ is everything for a Pink Tutu lover.
Here's the interesting bit! Remember how I was talking about the costumes in Noverre's âLa FĂȘte de Hymenâ? The style wasn't actually about long, swishing gowns... but those gowns are exactly what captured the ballet-lover's imaginations then â and what we still remember today. So interesting, donât you think? History is so full of funny stories â like our memory doesnât always remember it quite accurately. How intriguing.
You know I always manage to gather a treasure trove of things for my ballet archive when I travel. Well, this trip to the past was exceptional.
In my pink-studded leather rucksack, youâll find:
- A beautiful vintage theatre poster advertising Noverreâs âLa FĂȘte de Hymenâ - just look at those dancing figures in flowing robes and sparkling garlands!
- A pamphlet written by Jean-Georges Noverre with the revolutionary theory of how dance can express powerful emotion â an important building block for modern dance.
- A hand-painted miniature of Marie-Madeleine Guimard. So enchanting, with those captivating bright blue eyes.
- A pair of beautiful ballet slippers from the time period. Imagine a whole world where they didnât yet know that softness and delicate movement is what makes ballet slippers so exceptional!
Oh! And another exciting discovery! The lovely owner of a Parisian tea shop had this magnificent antique French doll â all draped in beautiful silken fabrics in those lovely light, pale pink tones, which I am going to find a new home for... Maybe even a tiny pink tutu! You're probably thinking I'm just like Alice in Wonderland, hopping into rabbit holes of time â I suppose itâs the way my mind works. I just love discovering the origins of everything ballet â the costumes, the people who created the steps and stories!
We all know that every little detail in a dance and every little detail in the fashion, has played a huge role in what makes ballet the beautiful spectacle it is today! It just inspires me!
Okay, Iâve got to be off! Iâve got my sights on an âEn pointeâ fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC!
Until next time, sweethearts! Don't forget to wear your pink tutu!â
