Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where time is just another pirouette and every month is a chance to waltz through history in a flurry of pink tulle. Today, we're venturing back to September 9th, 1682, a time when the grand dance halls of Europe were in full bloom!
My dear Magic Meg, my trusty pink sparkling shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail like a spun cloud, pawed patiently as I prepared for my grand adventure. The air was crisp and the sun was just starting to dip behind the Derbyshire hills, casting a gentle glow on my beautiful pink tutu. My leather rucksack was strapped snugly onto my back, ready to be filled with ballet treasures from this bygone era.
Now, I know what you're thinking - ballet in 1682? Well, darling, it wasn't quite the elegant world we know and adore today. Think more courtly dances, gracious minuets, and stately gavottes. The grand ballrooms were a sight to behold, filled with courtiers in extravagant attire, but the dancing, although graceful, wouldn't have included our famous arabesques or fouetté turns.
My time machine, of course, was my own talent and Magic Meg. I've been performing at ballet events, and you can't believe the joy of getting to bring back ballet history and share it with you lovely lot! My first stop in 1682? Naturally, the glittering Court of Louis XIV, the Sun King! I knew that September 9th, 1682 was a particularly special date because King Louis had decided to bestow the title of "Madame" on his illegitimate daughter, Mademoiselle de Blois! She was 14 at the time, and what a ball there must have been to celebrate her elevation! Imagine, a court in full dress with the grandest music and swirling waltzes, a feast for the senses!
Unfortunately, this little royal lady didn't quite take to ballet. It's true! My research revealed that Mademoiselle de Blois was far more interested in a simple courtly minuet than the graceful steps we would recognise as "ballet". Her interest lay in riding, fencing, and even hunting - much more like the Queen in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland! It's amazing how people's interests change through the ages, wouldn't you say?
Whilst exploring this era, I had a simply wonderful encounter with the Italian composer, Marc’Antonio Cesti! You might know him from his grand opera productions, filled with dance and exquisite melodies. I was in complete awe as I met him in a small theatre in Paris, which was, of course, beautifully decorated in an array of pinks and gold! I had to wear my most fashionable pink tutu, naturally. Cesti's operas are so elegant and captivating, the music he composed for the dance was pure magic.
As I wandered through Paris, I came across the most charming ballet studio. The studio, as you might expect, didn't boast our wonderful modern barre and the graceful stretch, but there was a very special sense of history and movement as the ballet students practised a graceful choreography that seemed more like the movements of birds in flight. It felt rather whimsical! Of course, the costumes were more elegant silks and beautiful brocades and velvet, quite stunning in comparison to our beautiful, modern leotards, tights, and tutus. But we all love our modern tights, right, ladies? They're perfect for barre!
And then, darling, I stumbled upon something completely unexpected - a hidden world of Parisian street performers! In a beautiful open space surrounded by colourful stalls, I found a troupe of young street dancers performing incredible displays of acrobatic strength and feats of dexterity, all done to the rhythm of their own delightful music and chants. Imagine! The dance they created had to have taken them hours to rehearse! Their movements were as smooth and precise as those you'd find in our elegant ballet companies today. I managed to grab a small dance pamphlet for my collection, and after leaving a tip for their talent in a small pink silk bag (I have a very special collection of ballet purses I bring back to every era!), Magic Meg and I were off to our next time travel adventure!
I hope you've enjoyed our little journey back to 1682. Until next time, keep twirling!
Love,
Emma
Pink Tutu Fashion Tip of the Month:
Embrace the elegance of the past! Don your most extravagant silk skirt or even add a bit of shimmer to your tutu by tying on some luxurious satin ribbon for a hint of 17th-century style! Remember, darling, a bit of elegance never hurts! Don't forget, keep an eye out for more Pink Tutu Time Travel stories! There's a whole world of ballet out there, and with a little time travel and lots of pink, it's all waiting for us!
