Oh darling, are you ready for this one?! Buckle up, my darlings, because we're going way back. Like, way, way back, in fact, because today, we're jetting to July 1791. It was a gorgeous month in France. It's hard to believe now, with all the chaos to come, but in July 1791, there was such a sense of anticipation and wonder in the air. The Bastille had just fallen, and the world was changing - so fast!
A Magical Ride On Meg
My dear Meg, my pink sparkling Shire with the golden hooves, she loved this journey. Now, imagine a horse who literally shines. Seriously! This pink shimmer surrounds her, she practically glitters, even more than usual when she was galloping with such excitement to the heart of France. That’s right, this trip was all about that country's cultural heartbeat. I mean, ballet!
The French Ballet: 1791
It's easy to get swept up in all the excitement of the grandes performances happening all over Europe back then - the incredible opera houses, the vibrant courts...but, this month? There's a sense of anticipation building, because this is the year before the Paris Opera Ballet was renamed!
We know, darlings, that the Paris Opera Ballet has been a ballet staple since its inception in 1669, with the magnificent Jean-Baptiste Lully at the helm. (You can read all about it in my post number 765 if you want the real story! 😉)
Well, just imagine what might be happening on this date - that fabulous July 7th - as the very fabric of Europe starts to change. Would it be a lively performance at the Grand Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique, as the opera house was then known? Was it one of those extraordinary productions with the renowned dancers of the day? Perhaps it was something quieter, a new choreographer's vision?
We just have to imagine, darlings! No one, it seems, recorded the performance details for this specific day, at least not that I could find! But that makes this trip even more special.
What Did Emma Bring Back in Her Bag?
My leather rucksack, I tell you, it was bursting this time! Filled with little fragments of ballet history - I always try to find something unique to each era. A worn programme, maybe, with some delightful detail of that night's performance, or even a faded, forgotten sketch of the grand dancers - the incredible Mademoiselle Guimard, maybe, who graced those very stages. Maybe I even brought back a whisper of the fragrance of powder and flowers! You can't deny, the stories we bring back are precious, like little jewels I collect along the way.
Let's Chat Pink Tutues!
Now, picture this: the French aristocracy, with its opulent costumes and luxurious jewels. You know I'm thinking pink. That's where ballet fashion truly started - right here! Let's think for a moment: What do you imagine Mademoiselle Guimard, one of the most famous dancers of this time, might have worn on that 7th July?
A silk bodice, I think, draped with satin ribbons, and perhaps a beautiful feathered headdress. Imagine! She might have graced those Paris stages in the first true ballet tutu: those iconic romantic designs which were just beginning to appear! I just love to dream about such beauty, my lovelies. The elegance, the flow, the incredible shapes... the first glimpse of that iconic ballet look. How fantastic, do you think?
Inspiration and Beauty
So there you have it, my darlings, my trip through time on the 7th of July in 1791! As we think about this extraordinary year of change, the Paris Opera Ballet stands firm - a symbol of true artistry and a reflection of those times. You can feel how they would have reacted to this pivotal moment in their lives, feeling their spirit resonating through their art. That is what we take away, isn't it? That sense of history, that incredible power of ballet that continues to inspire us today.
As I sit back in Derbyshire and watch my pink-tutu collection ripple gently in the sunlight, I feel that excitement too. I can feel that spark of creativity burning. It reminds me of our very own journey. We too are creating history with each performance, with each moment we share our passion.
As always, my lovelies, keep those tutus twirling! Let’s make the world pink, one ballet step at a time.
