Hello darlings! Emma here, ready to whisk you away to another fabulous time in ballet history! November has always been my favourite month, full of cosy evenings at the ballet and the crisp autumn air nipping at your nose as you stroll home, tutus swishing. But today, we're going back, back, back to the 11th November 1698! Buckle up, itâs going to be a truly enchanting journey!
As always, my trusty steed Magic Meg, a shimmering pink Shire horse with a white mane and tail that glitters like spun sugar, is all saddled up and ready for the ride. Iâve got my signature pink tutu and my favourite ruby red lipstick, perfect for a dash of sparkle even in 17th-century Paris.
My trusty leather rucksack, crammed with vintage ballet posters and beautifully crafted tulle from various eras, is on my back, ready to collect some delightful stories and perhaps a few more feathers and ribbons to embellish my current tutu. After all, one can never have too much sparkle!
1698 - A Dance through History
On this particular day, letâs see, weâre in Paris, right in the heart of the Palace of Versailles. It was the height of the French courtâs infatuation with Italian-style ballet! Back then, they were in a bit of a dance craze, not quite the modern, free-flowing ballet we see today, but oh so elegant, still steeped in those regal, graceful, aristocratic steps! Think extravagant costumes, ornate settings, and stories packed with romance and grandeur.
What Was the Royal Court Enjoying?
Well, this time around, King Louis XIV had been putting on an exceptional performance of a ballet-opera. Yes, darling, you heard that right, ballet-opera! It's a magical blend of singing, acting, and yes, fabulous dancing! He called it âL'Amour Vainqueurâ - Love Conquered. And of course, being a self-proclaimed âSun Kingâ, he played Apollo, the god of the Sun! The stories I hear about his talent â ahem, narcissism aside - he really did captivate the whole court. You could say he was the BeyoncĂ© of his time â a superstar on the world stage!
The whole thing was very extravagant. The palace was buzzing, and everyone was decked out in silks and lace, showing off the very latest fashion. It reminded me a lot of a modern red-carpet gala, except with wigs instead of extensions. Now that would make an excellent post! The hair! My heart flutters with excitement just imagining a world of wigs and powdered curls. Imagine a ballet with hair like that - wouldnât it be exquisite?
A Little Trip to the Opera House
Itâs never all about grand performances, so, naturally, I had to take a stroll through Paris. I am, after all, a total fashion enthusiast. So, Meg and I went to a famous Parisian opĂ©ra house â âLa Salle des Machinesâ. Just imagine a ballroom with an entire stage filled with incredible mechanical effects! A grand stage for grand dreams.
What struck me about this theatre is that its main space was used for grand ballets like âL'Amour Vainqueurâ but also for circus shows. Circus? Imagine, combining ballets and circus! Imagine how fun that would be to choreograph, so much freedom, so much room for artistic expression. ImagineâŠshudders excitedly..tutus on trapeze artists and acrobatic ballet performances.
And the theatre itself? Absolutely charming! Think vaulted ceilings with a huge, glittering chandelier dangling in the centre and, believe it or not, room for an audience of 8,000 people! Wow, talk about an unforgettable night at the ballet! It was much more than a building - it was a symbol of entertainment, artistry, and, for a ballet enthusiast like myself, pure magic.
My Ballet Adventures: Inspiration for the Pink Tutu Project
On this trip, I've found inspiration for a brand new Tutu Tuesday, all about ballet fashion history, which, by the way, will go live on pink-tutu.com next week! I managed to snag a tiny piece of a gorgeous velvet costume from a forgotten box backstage at the âSalle des Machinesâ. The colour, darling, just divine! Deep jewel tones, perfect for a midnight performance in our upcoming winter ballet season! You will love the stories I will tell you about ballet fashions throughout time. And I am certain youâll see it on my Tutu Tuesday, which will be packed full of fabulous historical ballet fashions from head to toe, and maybe even a sneak peek of how I incorporated it into my new Tutu collection! You will have to tune in next week.
Iâm off to add these beautiful discoveries to my Tutu Time Travels collection and maybe whip up a few new tutu sketches before my next big time trip! I'll be sure to show them to you next time too. And be sure to visit my website - www.pink-tutu.com - to discover even more pink tutu fun and adventures from around the world! Until then, be sure to wear your pink tutu, embrace the love of ballet, and remember, the worldâs a much more fabulous place in a tutu. Until next month, darlings!
