Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and twirly! It's your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be back with you all today.
This month's journey took us back to January 1st, 1691! Imagine - no social media, no iPhones, and probably the most shocking thing in the world was a pair of fancy trousers. Gasp! Of course, this also meant no pink tutus to be found… what a travesty, right? 😉 But as any good time traveller knows, where there's a will, there's a way to spread the love of the pink tutu, even if it's just through sharing the dream!
I landed in the beautiful town of Derby (which is just down the road from my little corner of Derbyshire!) on the back of my faithful steed, Magic Meg. Now, if you haven't met Magic Meg yet, she's a dazzling, pink-sparkling Shire with hooves of pure gold and a flowing mane and tail like a cascade of snowy clouds. The only thing that rivals her beauty? Her patience. Honestly, trying to find parking in the middle ages was far more chaotic than a modern-day London tube station! Luckily, I had Meg, so we just parked up on a pretty meadow, overlooking the charming village with its half-timbered houses and cosy, crackling fires.
But let's get down to business. Ballet history, anyone? While 1691 was a long time before the tutu craze caught fire (blame you, Marie Camargo!), there was definitely plenty of dance going on. Think medieval dancing, full of energy and passion, with lots of grand gestures and intricate footwork. No grand plies here, dear readers, but trust me, it would be wild to see these dances live! I have to admit, a lot of what we know about dancing back then comes from illustrations and writings – but even these tell such fascinating stories.
There was one fascinating detail I learned, that has actually shaped the entire way I understand this period - people in this era, especially wealthy folks, loved balls! These balls were elaborate gatherings where everyone from dukes and duchesses to country gentry would dance the night away.
Imagine - sparkling gowns, feathered hats, powdered wigs, the elegant clink of silver and the music of a string orchestra. And, of course, lots and lots of dancing!
Although, the moves would be different, naturally. It wouldn't be anything like the elegant ballet movements I'm used to seeing at Sadler's Wells. No delicate balances or complex fouette turns - instead, think more vigorous, full of life, and joyous! In my bag, I have a drawing of these balls I’m hoping to paint up soon!
As a modern-day dancer, I find these old dance practices fascinating! Think about it – all the moves were very dramatic, quite expressive – almost as if every gesture tells a story, almost as though people wanted to show off their moves to their very best, perhaps to impress a certain someone…
After wandering around Derby (where they called it 'Derbye' – see, time travel is SO fun because it’s not all boring history – we get a taste of real-world life in another time!), I decided it was time for a change of scenery. I slipped on my backpack - filled with sketches, maps, old playbills, and even a few antique buttons I found in a flea market - and climbed onto Magic Meg's back.
Now, while 1691 might not have been filled with ballerina costumes, I knew the story wasn't complete until I found some fashion inspiration.
Thankfully, just outside of Derby, I spotted a traveling fair! The smells were heavenly - baking bread, roasted meats, spices – ahhh! Of course, with a travelling fair came a crowd, but the fashion was so inspiring. What I found amazing was all the vibrant colours of clothing! Think velvet, brocades, rich embroidery - everything glittering and gleaming, not to mention a symphony of fabrics, all in those bright, gorgeous, contrasting colours. Imagine a bright green waistcoat, red trousers, and a feathered hat in sunshine yellow - that’s just a taste of what we found there! And it inspired me to think that the joy of colour is really timeless! Who needs a tutu when you have a perfectly embellished outfit to wow the crowd with? 😉
Of course, even amidst all the hustle and bustle of the market, I managed to pick up a couple of vintage lace trims and an incredible button shaped like a rosebud - I can just imagine using them to create my next Tutu masterpiece!
All in all, a fabulous trip through time! 1691 was a fascinating peek into the history of dancing. And even if they weren’t twirling in tutus, the energy and joy they poured into their dance is truly inspiring! This is, after all, what makes the history of ballet so rich. And remember - my favourite time-travel tradition - we end every month’s blog with an invitation to join my pink tutu time travel journey. For the month of February, let’s all wear a pink bow, maybe even tie a pink ribbon on our hair – it’s all about the joy of colour, just like I saw in that fair, isn’t it?
Catch you next month, and let’s keep those tutus twirling!
xx
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
