Greetings, my darlings! Emma here, back with another instalment from my trusty old pink-tutu clad travels through the enchanting realm of ballet history. It’s March the 3rd, 1710 today and believe me, darling, the fashion scene is a-sparkle, and there’s some juicy gossip to share about the dawn of a tutu-tastic era!
My trusty steed, the magnificent Magic Meg – a shimmering pink Shire horse with a mane and tail of pure white and those glorious golden hooves, neighs a gentle reminder that it’s time to pack my rucksack, my darling – oh, the treasures I find in this magical pink tutu of mine, don’t you just love it! You simply can’t go time travelling without the perfect pink tulle tutu – it adds a certain je ne sais quoi, you know!
Now, onto the gossip. As I trotted through the bustling London streets on Magic Meg, (the shops are filled with lovely lace and satins and the butchers all wore those glorious leather aprons - oh darling, the fashion! I may need to take a break soon to go on a little shopping trip!), I heard a most intriguing rumour at a gathering of London’s elite – whispers of a certain "Monsieur de Noverre" and his plans to stage a new ballet in the not too distant future.
Now, Monsieur de Noverre is quite the fashion icon in his own right, he’s one of the movers and shakers of the Parisian ballet world, a leading light! This talk of a new ballet - imagine the fashion darling! Just imagine the spectacle, the drama, the romance! (And, just to give you a bit of a glimpse of just how glamorous it all was – did I mention I have a new pair of ballet shoes – these are made by a Mr. Louis XIV! They're stunning!).
This news of Noverre’s upcoming production filled me with so much excitement. The late 1600s were an exciting period for ballet, a real shift away from those rather grand, stately court dances towards something more graceful, elegant and expressive - a ballet form we can all identify with today – a world of beautiful dance full of drama and passion! I just adore those dramatic entrances, all that graceful leaping and the captivating artistry of a performance, darling, I could get lost in it forever!
Speaking of the era, it was fascinating to catch a glimpse of the ballet world – it was like seeing the seeds of our modern ballets, those grand pas de bourrée steps that the ballerinas take, the dramatic costumes and those wonderful sweeping movements. There was something quite beautiful about the era's embrace of elaborate and theatrical pieces like “La Griselidis" with its mythical storylines and fantastical characters.
While on the subject of captivating costumes – this era is seeing the “Robe à la Francaise” all the rage in the world of ballet and everyday life. And, do you know, dearie, the men in that period are really getting into their fancy shoes! It's truly a thing of beauty - those gorgeous buckled shoes are divine! I even managed to secure a lovely example for my little collection at the back in my rucksack. Oh darling, my treasure chest is starting to get quite a bit full and overflowing with amazing memories – I think a new treasure chest is definitely in order!
But the highlight of the trip had to be my trip to the famous Opera of Paris! That's where, amidst the elegant Parisian circles of fashion and society, the true seeds of the ballet world are being sown. It’s almost as if the beautiful Parisian ballets are breathing a whole new life into this form. I even spotted a new form of dance, ‘the ballets à la Française’, with the ballerina's costumes evoking an ethereal and dramatic sense. You simply can't help but get swept up in all of the magic, those exquisite moves, the delicate steps – it’s truly enthralling!
After the enchanting performance, my time in this magical period was sadly drawing to a close. As Magic Meg trotted through the night streets of London – yes, it seems a horse can be quite a spectacle in 1710! It is good job they have a lot of good pubs to stop in for a bite to eat, (it was all pie and mash for me that night - the tastebuds don't have quite the same sophisticated range as we have today - so I always take a whole heap of chocolate in my bag - my goodness, there’s nothing like indulging in some exquisite dark chocolate for me! )
One last glimpse of the vibrant 1710 fashion world, and we were off back to my own little Derbyshire home. My pink tutu had served me well again, just like it always does! The journey back through time left me full of admiration for the spirit of dance that bloomed during this time - and of course, the sheer fashion extravagance. Who would have thought that 1710, a time before even the birth of the tutu we know and love today, was brewing up such an explosion of artistry and elegance?
Oh my darlings, there's more history to unearth – so until next time, stay tuned for more ballet adventures in the world of pink-tutu!
The Adventures Continue!
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