Hello my lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! This is blog post number 684, and I am so excited to share a truly dazzling adventure with you all today. This month, Magic Meg and I took a little jaunt back to 1717, landing right in the heart of Georgian England. Oh, it was positively splendid!
My heart, as always, was pounding with a little nervous flutter as we galloped through time on Magic Meg's glistening, pink mane. She's the most beautiful, sparkly Shire horse you'll ever meet with golden hooves and a tail so long it sweeps the ground. Just like a true princess, you know. 😉 And me? I'm still obsessed with my fabulous pink tutu. Pink is, of course, the most darling shade, and it adds a touch of magic to every era we visit!
Our destination this time was the glorious royal court of King George I. And guess what, darlings? They were having a dance! Now, I must confess, I do enjoy a little royal intrigue, and the spectacle of a Georgian Court ball is like stepping straight into a Jane Austen novel - the silks, the whispers, the scandal… It's truly delightful.
Now, for the ballet, we had quite the delightful experience. Back in those days, the ballet was actually more about dancing in the theatre alongside operas, plays, and a sprinkle of entertainment between acts. It was really just one aspect of the whole show, so to speak. No separate performances, no dedicated ballet companies - just the glorious art of dance weaved into the fabric of everyday theatre.
We got to see a stunning 'Masque' by the incomparable Jean-Baptiste Lully - the true pioneer of opera in the French court. A 'Masque' was like a dramatic, theatrical piece involving all kinds of visual elements like gorgeous costumes and dancing. But honestly, my darling readers, I'm not entirely convinced they quite understood the power of pure ballet back then!
But enough about the history books for a moment. Let’s talk about style. The gentlemen in 1717 had some fantastic fashion going on. Think breeches, knee-length stockings, wigs, and some incredibly flamboyant waistcoats - just gorgeous! The ladies had such beautiful silks, lovely gowns, and lots of intricate hairstyles with ribbons and feathers.
Now, about me, my dear fashionistas. Let me tell you, I was a little star. The locals simply adored my pink tutu and my gleaming, sparkly shoes. They all thought it was so original, so utterly fabulous. I even had a chat with one of the royal ladies – oh, she was an absolute peach! - and she was simply mesmerised by my leather rucksack which was filled to the brim with all sorts of little treasures. You should see the hand-drawn sketches I got of dancers in their original costumes - absolutely enchanting! My rucksack also houses beautiful stories from every era. Stories like this, ones we can learn and celebrate together. I even managed to acquire a beautiful porcelain doll with a tutu. Don’t you think that’s just adorable?
Honestly, darling readers, if you were with me that night at that dazzling ball, you'd have been swept away by the glamour, the music, and the dancing! All of this incredible beauty just screamed to me "pink tutu".
But I couldn't stay too long, of course, because I’m off on a new adventure each month. Time travel isn't easy - even for a fashionable ballet blogger. I love every minute of it. Oh! Speaking of new adventures… my next trip is to 1902 to a beautiful ballet in Paris. Can you guess where? 🤫 Well, I must go and start packing my pink tutu and glittering ballet shoes, so I can tell you all about it next time.
Until next month, dear ones. Happy dancing!
Love and tutus,
Emma
