Hello darlings! Welcome back to another adventure in Pink Tutu Time Travels, your one-stop shop for all things ballet history and fashion. This month, I'm whisking us back to December 12th, 1777, to the heart of French courtly life. Buckle your pink shoes, we're about to waltz through a whirl of powdered wigs, elaborate gowns, and of course, the ballet!
This is blog post number 1404 for you, my dear readers, and my time machine is ready to go, with Magic Meg all spruced up in her pink sparkly harness. We've packed the saddlebags with my favourite pink tutu, just in case, and my trusty leather rucksack for collecting some historic ballet gems.
Before we head off to the dazzling halls of the French court, let's take a peek at the global dance scene in 1777. The Italian ballet world was a hive of activity, with the Teatro alla Scala in Milan a centre for creative brilliance. Over in London, the King's Theatre was captivating audiences with lavish ballets. Remember my dears, ballet was an all-encompassing experience back then – a mix of music, theatre, and spectacular spectacle!
My Parisian adventure took me straight into the heart of the French court, the Palais des Tuileries, to be precise. The 12th of December, 1777, was a Tuesday, and the royal family were hosting a grand ball, as they were wont to do! But what was truly exciting was the news that I overheard buzzing around the court, drumroll a ballet was to take place!
And guess what, my lovely readers? It was not just any ballet! The King's Theatre in London was on a European tour and would grace the Parisian court with their performance, "Les Amours de Thetis et Peleus." Now, imagine a French court, awash in elegant silks and satins, with chandeliers glittering, and amidst all the finery, the graceful leaps and elegant steps of the King's Theatre ballet dancers. Swoon.
This particular ballet was a real charmer, a mix of romantic storytelling, beautiful choreography, and stunning costumes. And don’t forget the tutus, darling! This era in ballet fashion was all about elaborate and intricate costumes, layers of silk, glittering jewels, and feathered headdresses, it truly was the Rococo age of ballet.
And, while my own time-travelling tutus are more pink than Rococo, there is still a wonderful similarity - that love of drama and extravagance. As I watched the performers twirl and pirouette, I could picture the crowds gasping, awestruck, as if they’d never seen a dancer before. What a dream!
Now, you might be wondering, what did our Parisian dance world look like? In 1777, France was still reeling from the repercussions of Louis XV’s death, leaving the 20-year-old Louis XVI in charge. There was a sense of intrigue and suspense swirling around the court. The queen, Marie Antoinette, was well known for her love of lavish courtly balls, which were often lavishly embellished with elaborate dances and entertainment, including ballet.
Back in London, a little bird told me that a brand new ballet company was formed at Covent Garden Theatre, which brought so many amazing opportunities for dancers and audiences. That's just incredible to imagine, how that would have inspired dancers and artists in 1777.
You might ask, why is December 12th, 1777 so important, Emma? Well, my dear readers, it’s all about finding a connection to the past and appreciating the evolution of the ballet.
As I always say, a love for the present needs to understand and cherish the past, because history inspires us, enriches our knowledge, and opens doors to possibilities we wouldn't have imagined. And this date, December 12th, 1777, reminds me just that.
What did I collect in my rucksack for this adventure, I hear you ask? I got my hands on a delightful book about Parisian dance, "Les Amours de Thetis et Peleus." A real find, especially for you history enthusiasts, because this particular production played a part in popularising ballet throughout France. And that, my dears, is history in the making!
And of course, no pink tutu time travel adventure would be complete without some lovely pink additions. I found a little silk ribbon – the perfect pink shade – with a beautiful delicate rose printed on it. This little ribbon would be lovely added to my favourite pink tutu. It would go so beautifully with the dainty pink sparkle around my ballet shoes, I can’t wait to show you.
To round up our journey through the past, here's a ballet bonbon for you. A little quote I discovered in my French court escapades. The French believed in expressing emotions and ideas through movement and posture. Just listen to this lovely sentiment, *“The Dance is a silent language that everyone can understand." * How very true, I'm sure we'll all agree!
Remember, you can keep up with all my latest adventures on our website, www.pink-tutu.com, and follow me on all your favourite social media platforms for a little bit of ballet magic every day.
I shall be heading off now to Derbyshire to work on my next ballet performance. I need all the sparkle and joy I can get, for after all, every performance brings me closer to achieving my dream of a world where everyone dances in a pink tutu!
Until next time, darling, keep those shoes on and those tutus twirling.
XOXO,
Emma
