Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel! I'm Emma, your guide to the fabulous world of ballet history. It's the 9th of September, 1777 today and, as usual, I'm ready for some dazzling ballet adventure! Let's just say, it wouldn't be Pink Tutu Time Travel if I wasn't wearing the most glorious shade of pink, a full length tulle tutu, of course! Today's pink is a little more peachy, though, you know, for a hint of autumn. And, wouldn't you know it, I'm even feeling a slight touch of nostalgia, looking back at those stunning, carefree summer days - you simply must pop over to my previous post, darling! Anyway, this time around, I'm here to tell you all about what happened in the ballet world on the 9th of September, 1777, and, trust me, there's some delightful ballet history in the making.
You wouldn't believe how incredibly exciting my trip was! We galloped through time on my beautiful shire horse, Magic Meg, who was a perfect shade of sparkling pink with golden hooves and a dazzling mane and tail! Oh, Magic Meg truly is a sight to behold. My rucksack, filled with beautiful bits of history I found along the way - little bits of lace, theatre posters, even a hand-stitched dance shoe (can you believe it!) - is still practically bursting with wonders.
And here’s a secret: did you know ballet was undergoing a complete revolution back in 1777? The French, the innovators in ballet, were on the verge of something fantastic! Their ballets started taking on this beautiful dramatic story-telling structure - can you believe, before this it was pretty much just dances to show off skill!
Well, in the French ballet world of 1777, the dance floor was buzzing with new movements and elegant steps, a whirlwind of artistic expressions. It felt as if the air itself was sparkling with inspiration and energy, as those fabulous dancers danced and pranced through the most graceful routines. I simply couldn't resist snapping some photographs and soaking it all up, darling. The grace, the fluidity of movement, the way the dancers spun their way through the stories… it was simply a sight to behold.
Remember, my darlings, this was still a long time before those stunning pointe shoes! The French dancers still used 'demi-pointe' shoes, which were pretty elegant, I think, for that era. But they had to be so incredibly strong to dance those intricate steps without using pointe shoes.
Of course, no good time-travelling trip would be complete without visiting a ballet school! And guess what, this one was in Paris – imagine a building so charming, with cobblestone courtyards and ivy climbing up the walls – and within its walls, they taught young ladies and gentlemen how to move with elegance and grace. I popped in to witness a few lessons and oh my, the sheer precision and dedication in the dance room - it was quite a treat, to say the least! They danced so beautifully, you'd think they were all born to do this!
What I really liked though was the sheer joy they had when learning their moves. It truly felt as if this wasn’t just a performance or even just skill – it was an expression of passion and joy for this form of art. The laughter and the smiles were truly infectious! And, of course, the instructors - what a fantastic, fun-loving, friendly bunch. I had to remind myself that they’d be absolutely shocked to see me in my pink tutu – no tutus at all in 1777 – but we all agreed it was absolutely splendid. It was wonderful watching the way they encouraged and nurtured the love of dancing in each one of their pupils. The beauty and grace they instilled in these youngsters made me positively blush, darling!
Now, imagine this, in 1777, these brilliant ballet dancers didn't just appear in the grand theatres - oh no, they took to the streets, dancing with the local people. The streets bustled with energy as locals would spontaneously dance alongside the professionals. You wouldn't believe the delight in everyone's faces! What a joyous time that must have been, with everyone embracing the grace of dance, the love of ballet and celebrating the art. I had to capture this extraordinary spectacle with my camera – of course, you can't just carry a camera in time-travel, but there are ways... you'll see my photos online soon.
You wouldn't believe the magnificent costumes they wore too, so elegant, so chic, made with the finest fabrics! And all adorned with the most exquisite beading and embellishments. It’s incredible to see the dedication to artistry and style back then. It makes me want to create some ballet outfits that would match the costumes back in 1777. Do you think that will work? Let me know what you think on our social channels, darling.
Remember those absolutely magnificent French theatres with their ornate, sparkling interiors? I popped into one, of course. The elegant decor and the warm atmosphere felt like magic, my darlings. And guess what – on that evening, a grand performance of a brand-new ballet was happening!
I watched, spellbound, as the dancers swirled and glided through stories. Oh, to experience the pure joy and magic that flowed through the entire room. It was pure exhilaration – it’s a reminder that the essence of ballet has been there all along.
There were a lot of other grand ballets going on, right around this time, across Europe. A great number of cities across Europe hosted dazzling ballet events - Berlin, Vienna, Naples... They really were a ballet-obsessed world! Oh my! The world of ballet is truly extraordinary, isn't it? A fabulous, elegant spectacle with so much history to discover. It simply warms the cockles of my heart, my dears. We need to be sharing that love with everyone, and, as usual, it starts with the Pink Tutu!
Well, darling, it's time for me to get going! Until next month, I'll be spreading the Pink Tutu message – do you have a pink tutu waiting for you in your closet? If not, my dears, maybe this little trip has inspired you to wear it proudly. But don't worry, there are lots of pink tutu designs around these days – if you like. Or perhaps a vibrant blue, orange, or yellow might tempt you. A vibrant colour that captures your soul, that's the most important thing – but I really hope you're considering a gorgeous pink, perhaps a raspberry, maybe a soft blush pink! Just promise to post a picture on Pink Tutu Time Travel social media with the hashtag #PinkTutuPower! And don't forget, you can catch up with me on our website – www.pink-tutu.com – for photos, ballet-fashion ideas, new time travel destinations, all the lovely ballet updates you could wish for, and who knows, maybe even a few ballet surprises too!
Until next month darlings, Happy Tutu-ing!
