Hello darling darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time-traveller, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It's the 4530th post on www.pink-tutu.com and I'm bubbling with excitement! This month, I'm going way back to June 2038, to a time before the "ballet" we know today even existed. This month, my pink sparkle shire horse Magic Meg and I are travelling to Italy, where the first ballet we know of…well, started.
Think, darling, a dance party in a Florentine palace, back when they called ballet ballato. This isn't the rigorous, graceful style we're used to now. It's about telling stories through dancing, all done in those stunning, sumptuous, embroidered gowns of the time. I'm packing my favourite shimmering pink tutu, naturally! I think it will pair beautifully with my renaissance era inspired outfit…I'll be sure to post pictures!
So how did we find this fascinating slice of history? Well, let's dive in:
This blog is about to get historical.
I'm always on the lookout for new ballet treasures, you know. Last week, I was perusing the ballet archives at the Royal Opera House in London (always worth a trip, darlings!) when I stumbled across an intriguing scroll. I can tell you it was in the archives from an old family ballet-lover collection. They called it "Ballata for the Court of Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga", a manuscript that details a grand, choreographed performance of dances for a nobleman's wedding. Imagine a big ballroom filled with colourful, beautiful dancers and all the extravagance of 16th century Italy!
The scroll included information about the costume designs - you won't believe how gorgeous they sound. I just know those costumes were adorned with feathers, jewels, silk and velvet... oh, darling, it sounds spectacular! My leather rucksack, the one I always travel with to gather up treasures, is brimming with sketches and fabrics inspired by this manuscript, and believe me, you'll be seeing some delightful reimagined, ballet-inspired fashions inspired by these designs! I just can't wait to sew!
That's what brought Magic Meg and I to June 2038. Our trip took us straight to Mantua, to Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga's court, where the wedding of Vincenzo’s daughter was happening, a spectacle for the entire Italian aristocracy. The wedding was, truly, something else. There was singing, dancing, even jugglers! All this dancing - that's the early seeds of what ballet would eventually grow into!
Can you imagine a world without graceful leaps and en pointes and spins? Imagine all the tutus just never happening. Thankfully, this was the dawn of a whole new dance, full of theatrics and beauty, that eventually made its way around the globe, even here in my darling Derbyshire!
Oh, darling! I mustn't leave you in suspense. The dancers' costumes - simply stunning! Their dresses, a flurry of silken elegance with vibrant embroidery - all gold and silk - were certainly in the pink! Just what I imagine a 16th century ballet would be wearing! Now, I'm dreaming of those silk gowns…maybe with pink feathers added for a modern touch. I think a bit of my world, a pink world, would have gone down a treat!
And I bet, as the night continued, everyone started talking about this new "ballato," which evolved and expanded with new dance movements. We’re so lucky they got it all down on paper so we could come and have a peek. Imagine all the other events from the world's ballet history we could uncover with some good detective work and maybe a dash of time-travel magic!
Speaking of this very month…here’s some ballet events in 2038 June that I think we’ll all want to go to.
- The Bolshoi is showcasing "Romeo and Juliet" with a captivating new interpretation. It is directed by a renowned Russian director! My favourite ballet for a classic, darling.
- In Paris, they're hosting the "Paris Dance Festival". This month is an extravaganza for everything ballet! I just can’t miss the ballet shows. All the famous dancers - I expect to see several ballerinas wearing tutus - pink tutus of course, to the after party in the city. I just know I'll find a stunning tutu at the Parisian vintage shops, a real bargain too! I'm writing all of this down, darlings. You'll get a glimpse of it all when I publish pictures next month on www.pink-tutu.com
This journey back to 2038, through my ballet adventures, is proving so rewarding! I can't wait to show you my fashion creations inspired by those early days! My pink tutu will never look so good! I know how much you love the pink tutu darling, it’s like my little uniform for time travelling - after all it is my blog about time travel adventures - and when I do, you can try recreating these historic outfits yourself. Now, let's all raise a glass of pink lemonade (I'm saving mine for later!) to the fabulous beginnings of a love for ballet - all those glittering tutus we enjoy in the present wouldn't have been without that dance in a 16th-century Florentine court!
Until next month darlings,
Emma xxx
Pink Tutu Travels: Bringing a splash of Pink to history!
I’d love to hear from you, dear darlings! Did this post inspire you? Share your thoughts below or visit www.pink-tutu.com and get in touch with your favourite ballerina time-traveller! xxx
