Hello lovelies! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, and today we're galloping back to the 1760s - oh the excitement! October 10th, 1760, and guess what?! My sparkly shire steed, Magic Meg, and I are landing right in the middle of the Paris Opera House, just as a new ballet is opening. Imagine, my darlings, the atmosphere: a cacophony of powdered wigs, rustling silk gowns, and oh-so-enchanting whispers of scandal! I've even got my trusty leather rucksack slung across my back, ready to collect all the juicy tidbits of ballet history and fashion!
This, my dears, was the era of ballet transitioning into the art form we know today. Yes, they had dancing before, of course, but it was far more stately and formal. The early 1700s saw the birth of true ballet as we know it. The Italian dance master Jean-Georges Noverre, nicknamed "the Shakespeare of Dance", was busy shaking things up - no more rigid, mythological plots, he was introducing innovative stories and characters into ballet. He wanted his dances to tell real stories, you know, to grab your heartstrings and give you goosebumps. The very same emotions we all crave when we go to see a beautiful performance.
And guess what my loves, October 10th, 1760, is the date of one of these groundbreaking ballets. The 'Troupe de la Reine' (which translates to "The Queen's Troupe", in case you didn't know) were staging the magnificent "Psyche". And let me tell you, it was groundbreaking in more ways than one! It was all about love, tragedy, and redemption, not your stuffy Greek mythology. Oh, and guess what?! Psyche herself - the central character in the ballet - is meant to be gracefully wearing a shimmering costume resembling a flowing tunic - just a hint of the majestic tulle skirt that we will see on stage in decades to come!
It's like fate has led us here, my loves! Maybe it's the magic of my pink tutu or maybe it's simply the thrill of history repeating itself, but we're on the brink of something momentous. The "Psyche" ballet was just one small step - but a step on the path to revolution. This was a ballet full of drama, a ballet where love and desire are given centre stage! Could this be a sneak peek at the balletic movement that will influence ballet for centuries? Could this be the birth of what will soon become the pink tutu?
And what about this grand opera house, the stage for this revolutionary ballet?! Well, the Paris Opera House wasn't always the iconic palace we see today. The ballet would have been taking place in the very first opera house on this site - a theatre built way back in 1671 by King Louis XIV, himself! He was quite a dapper gentleman - in fact, I hear he was obsessed with elegance and the finer things. I even read he would spend hours meticulously picking out his own fashion choices! Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by the opulence of his world, my dears?!
You wouldn't believe the gossip I heard, my loves! Everyone's speculating about what Madame Pompadour, Louis XV's favourite mistress, wears to the theatre - oh, the excitement! Imagine, her court, with their intricate costumes and jewels... The 18th-century French aristocracy knew a thing or two about sartorial elegance. Now, this doesn't mean their attire wasn't influenced by our favourite fabric! Even though tulle itself had just come onto the scene and had yet to conquer the fashion world, it is already finding a way into fashion with every layer of ruffles on their beautiful outfits. Who knew this amazing material was a pioneer in its own right?
Oh, and the dance steps, my lovelies! So precise, so elegant - almost like watching silk unraveling, and oh, the emotions that they express. But it was all a bit more stately back then, don't you think? And yes, ladies, they would have been wearing pointe shoes. Only a little different from ours, made out of leather, a bit bulkier perhaps - a far cry from our delicate and featherlight ballet footwear - but imagine! Those elegant steps taking flight with such finesse. It gives me shivers down my spine, a sensation as lovely as the swirling skirts of the dancers.
So there you have it, lovelies, a glimpse of 10th October 1760, the day we get a tiny but potent peek at ballet's magnificent evolution! And, of course, no pink-tutu time-travelling adventure is complete without a look at what's on in the world of ballet today.
Let's hop back to 2023!
Oh, my dears, are you ready for a whirlwind of ballerinas? Here are a few events I've been itching to tell you about:
The Royal Ballet is performing "Giselle" at the Royal Opera House. My loves, you HAVE to see "Giselle". It's such a romantic classic about a young peasant girl. It is heartbreaking and full of passionate longing. Even though it’s based in a time far different from ours, we all connect to the story of innocent love and heartbreak Don't forget your pink tutus, darling!
The English National Ballet has been showcasing the enchanting "Cinderella". What could be more whimsical than the story of a glass slipper and a prince? If you have a family member, child or grandchild you need to introduce to the world of ballet - look no further. This delightful ballet will capture every young dreamer's imagination. Oh, and remember my little dears, it is never too young to start a pink tutu collection!
In New York City, the New York City Ballet is hosting the much anticipated "Sleeping Beauty."
Now this is truly a masterpiece, lovelies. If you are in New York this ballet is an absolute must. "Sleeping Beauty" is all about magic, fairies, and love, of course, and there are so many exquisite tutu creations. The costumes for this one alone are worth the trip. Oh, and how I dream to visit New York City! Imagine walking through the bustling streets with my sparkling shire and then seeing "Sleeping Beauty", and ending with an iconic NYC hot dog on the way back home... Wouldn't it be glorious?
So there you have it, my loves, a little taste of the 1760s and some must-see events for today's ballerina. My next pink tutu journey? I'm still deciding, so stay tuned, darling! And if you've missed my previous blogs about my exciting time travel adventures in dance - head over to www.pink-tutu.com and check them out, I am adding a new one every month! But until then, be sure to embrace all the pink in your life, and most importantly... never, ever stop dancing!
