Hey darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another thrilling adventure for www.pink-tutu.com. It's been a whirlwind month – what with Christmas coming, and all the glorious performances and ballet rehearsals filling up my calendar – but I wouldn't have it any other way. The thrill of the dance and the magic of time travel make every single moment sparkle like a perfectly polished shoe! ✨
This month, however, takes us back to the year 1787. Fancy that, the French Revolution was still a couple of years away, and the sun was shining in the luxurious gardens of Versailles! Did I tell you how much I LOVE history? Sometimes it’s nice to step back in time, especially to a time where dance was revered and the ladies all dressed in the most exquisitely structured gowns. This is where my fabulous friend Meg came in handy…
My gorgeous shire horse, Meg, with her sparkly pink coat, white mane, and gold-tipped hooves (the ultimate in glamorous horse travel, I think you’ll agree!), trotted me straight into the centre of all the pomp and ceremony of 18th-century France. Imagine the beautiful flower gardens, the gilded palaces, and the opulence that flowed through the court! Just a bit more fancy than my usual routine of classes at the Derbyshire dance academy, darling! 😂
Speaking of glamour, this was the height of fashion for ballet – think powdered wigs and beautiful pannier dresses for the ladies. Thankfully, my pink tutu looked right at home in the court, even if it caused a bit of a stir! The men wore beautiful knee breeches and silk stockings, and their powdered hair was almost as tall as my crown! Did you know that powdered hair was all the rage back then? Apparently, they used to mix it with real chalk and flour. Not exactly the hair products we use today, but hey, it worked!
The big event happening on this date was the Royal Ballet, showcasing an incredibly beautiful ballet. Can you imagine performing in front of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette? It must have been terrifying, but I imagine, also terribly thrilling. Just thinking about all those curious eyes fixed on my every move fills me with excitement. But as usual, I just tucked a couple of pieces into my rucksack (and of course I gave Magic Meg a sugar cube!) to share with all of you, darlings. Today we’re going to be delving into the beautiful world of French ballet during the late 18th century. Buckle up and let's time travel to some seriously elegant performances!
A French Ballet in 1787
On December 12, 1787, the French Royal Ballet graced the stage of the opulent Palais Garnier in Paris with a spectacular performance of "Le Carnaval de Venise." This performance was the brainchild of the famed choreographer Jean-Georges Noverre, a master of storytelling and a revolutionary in the art of ballet.
Noverre wasn't about intricate footwork alone, though those were dazzling in their own right. Instead, he wanted his ballet to express emotions, and "Le Carnaval de Venise" became his triumph, a captivating ballet telling the story of the Carnival in Venice through the power of dance. The Venetian masks! The opulent costumes! And the beauty of the ballet, a true marriage of elegance and storytelling, just as I love it!
You could almost hear the laughter and whispers of the crowd! There were whispers, of course. Gossip and rumour abound in any age and the dancers had to contend with as many social trials as they had ballet steps to master. Imagine having a front row seat at the heart of that society, to see all those amazing outfits and movements on display!
It wasn't always a glamorous life, mind you. Dancers were considered artisans, not just artists, and many trained for long, hard hours, even before their formal performance training. I can tell you it took quite a lot of work just to learn a simple arabesque!
But just like we admire dancers today, the 18th century embraced these artists as performers worthy of both accolades and applause.
In 1787, this specific production saw the stars of the French Royal Ballet – Marie Allard and the legendary Maxime Gardel – leading the dance. I can't even imagine the level of elegance, the mastery of steps and poses these dancers must have embodied.
One of my favourite things about the 18th century was how expressive ballet became during this era. These stories through movement! They're incredibly fascinating, like the costumes are characters, almost like modern street ballet, a sort of street theatre but with more feathers and sparkles!
Just picture, ladies, the grand theatre lit by flickering candles, the murmur of the crowd, and the rhythmic taps of dancers on the floor. They moved like the rustling leaves in the autumn wind, with grace and tenderness. It must have been utterly captivating, not to mention the fabulous dresses – full, dramatic skirts that flowed like waves – and I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few secret pinches of glitter too! ✨
The performance of "Le Carnaval de Venise" is what really inspired me this month – a wonderful time travel adventure, and, like every time travel, so full of exciting stories! I just imagine the stories I could tell, to watch that ballet myself!
And for you lovelies at home, the joy of "Le Carnaval de Venise" has come full circle to inspire ballet performances around the world to this day! There’s something quite wonderful about being able to trace history, the way dancers have embraced the spirit of Noverre, to bring those original pieces to life even in today's world!
But I haven't forgotten about fashion!
And to keep in tune with the luxurious world of Versailles and 18th-century French fashion, I even had to find myself a beautiful, historical ensemble. My heart just fluttered as I found a lovely silk dress. Not quite a pannier but so perfectly beautiful in its flow. It's all about being comfortable while being fabulously fashionable, darling! It certainly helped me slip into that period of time in a smooth and glamorous way! 😉
Of course, I can't possibly leave a place without adding a few ballet treasures to my rucksack – this time it's some beautiful historical ballet manuscripts and some incredibly intricate jewellery – perfect to go with my silk dress, n’est-ce pas? I have a feeling it might even be time to commission some vintage ballet jewellery to be made – a new accessory to match my ballet wardrobe, and all this beautiful history!
And with this wonderful ballet time travel, we reach the end of another monthly adventure. But remember, darling, there’s always something wonderful to look forward to here on the pink-tutu.com blog. Stay tuned next month for another ballet time-travelling adventure – I have something simply dazzling in store for you!
Love,
Emma 💖
P.S. Don’t forget to head over to my online store to shop for some exquisite vintage ballet costumes! It’s where I’m always picking up something wonderful and a fantastic place to start building your own tutu wardrobe! And be sure to follow my social media channels for all the latest ballet adventures, and maybe even a sneaky peek behind the scenes!
