Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, ready to whisk you away on another exciting adventure! This month, we’re venturing back to the year 1691, a year bursting with elegance, beauty, and, of course, ballet! Get ready to pack your sparkly slippers, darling, because we’re going to have a ball!
July the 7th, 1691: The sun is shining brightly as Magic Meg, my fabulous pink-sparkling Shire horse, paws impatiently at the cobblestone courtyard of my Derbyshire home. Her golden hooves glimmer, and her white mane and tail dance in the breeze, a magnificent contrast to the soft pink of her coat. We’re on a mission!
Today, we’re journeying to Paris. Now, Paris has always been a city that pulsates with style and elegance, and it’s where ballet was really starting to make its mark in this time period! Oh, and did I mention they love fashion? That’s something I’m truly passionate about, so a visit to Paris in the late 17th century is a dream come true.
It was on this day in 1691 that a certain ballet company was forming, oh, but I can't say just yet! Let’s say, they were just a little bit Royal. Giggles This is just the kind of exciting glimpse into history I live for.
I strap my leather rucksack, stuffed with notebooks, shimmering fabric swatches and an embroidered fan I snagged from a charming market stall in 17th century London, onto Magic Meg's back and take the reins, my pink tutu rustling softly as we step through the shimmering portal and land, with a gentle puff of air, in the heart of Paris.
A Parisian Whirlwind of Ballet & Beauty:
The cobbled streets of Paris are buzzing with life! We’re right in the centre, where grand, towering buildings seem to stretch towards the clear blue sky. Men in fine velvet suits, ladies with elaborate powdered wigs and sweeping gowns...it’s like stepping onto a page from a beautiful novel.
Our destination: The Opéra Garnier! Not exactly the Opéra Garnier as we know it, but still, the Royal Opera of the time! I have heard whisperings about this new company – their aim is to create the most graceful and spectacular performance Paris has ever seen, a dance that’s unlike anything else in Europe.
We arrive just in time to see a few ballerinas warming up outside the magnificent entrance. Dressed in delicate pastel satin shoes and dresses, they execute perfectly executed steps with grace and precision.
I watch in awe. What an inspiring vision! And as I catch a glimpse of the stage inside, oh, it’s the stuff of fairytales! Elaborate backdrops, a sparkling stage, and glittering costumes! You could almost hear the music even through the thick wooden door.
I can’t believe it, darling! I am witnessing ballet history in the making! Imagine what it must have been like to be there for that first grand performance, to see the magic come to life before your very eyes! My heart beats faster, a little flurry of excitement taking hold!
Catching up with Madame Camargo:
The day unfolds with a dizzying pace, and before I know it, we are standing in the dazzling salons of a magnificent, historic mansion, where a young woman with brilliant emerald green eyes and a mischievous glint about her is awaiting us. The great Mademoiselle Camargo! A whirlwind of laughter and quick, agile movements.
“I can see you have good taste, dear lady,” she says with a charming smile, noticing my bright pink tutu, “a dancer after my own heart!” We share a delicious French tea and chat about everything: fashion, choreography, and of course, the Royal Ballet Company’s upcoming premiere. She reveals, with a hint of mischievous glee, the secrets of the innovative new dance form, “I’m thinking of changing the way the ballet is performed.”
“Changing it?” I say, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes, dear, and how do you think I will do it?”
I am dying to hear her grand plans, but my lips are zipped, secrets of ballet are precious, darlings. And we are going to save these for the blog!
We bid a fond farewell to this amazing, brilliant woman, and, oh darling, I know she is a woman who will go on to change ballet history, mark my words. And with a grateful nod to her, I’ve collected an incredible story to share with all of you.
The Pink Tutu Touch
Of course, the journey doesn’t stop there, darlings. We had to explore, don’t you know? A delicious stop at a pastry shop to indulge in macaroons, an afternoon spent in the beautiful gardens of the Tuileries where I spied a little girl in a rosy-pink dress, who with a mischievous glint in her eyes told me, with a solemn and dramatic bow, she would someday be a ballerina. Her eyes, filled with dreams! She reminded me so much of myself! And don't get me started on the Parisian shops. All I can say is, it’s almost impossible not to be seduced by the incredible hats, shoes, and fabrics, just as bright and bold as my tutu.
The Legacy of 1691:
As our journey comes to an end, Magic Meg carries us back to Derbyshire, the beautiful green English countryside spread out before us.
1691 may have been a quieter year for some, but for ballet it was the start of a brilliant chapter. We've been on the frontlines of dance history, dear darlings. We’ve seen the start of something truly beautiful – the development of an incredible ballet company, the vision of a pioneering dancer and the growing love for this unique and inspiring form of art. Who knew, back then, what an incredible influence this tiny spark would have on the world!
And who knows what beautiful discoveries our future adventures in ballet history might bring? I hope you’re ready for more of these fabulous ballet journeys, and remember: spread the pink tutu love, dear darlings, and I’ll see you next month on pink-tutu.com, with more enchanting ballet stories to share!
