Let's Dance
As well as soap making, I love dancing, so here are the stories behind some of the soaps inspired by a ballet, a dance, a character from a ballet...
LA BAYADERE
The ballet La Bayadère was originally staged by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus, at the Bolshoi theatre in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1877. The scene from the ballet known as The Kingdom of the Shades, has become one of the most celebrated pieces in all of classical ballet. The ballet is set in a land of Brahmins and Rajahs, so for a soap is rich in Himlayan salt, it is perfect.
CENDRILLON
Cinderella needs no introduction, she cleans as well as this soap does!
The ballet choreographed to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, tells the well loved fairy tale of Cinderella
DULCINEA
The fictitious love of Don Quixote whom he searches for in the ballet of the same name.
A soft and gentle soap to match the sweet and gentle girl of his dreams
LA SYLPHIDE
This is one of the world's oldest surviving ballets. Originally choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, for his daughter Marie, it introduced the first ever tutu. The great Danish ballet master Bournonville's 1836 version however, is the only version known to have survived.
For a ballet staged in the woods, I needed a soap that transports you to there with its cent and colours
PAVANE
The decorous sweeep of the pavane has its origins in Italy and is a slow courtly dance common in Europe during the 16th century. The musical form survived past the 16th century and many famous composers have tackled this musical style.
The lavender perfume and stately blue colour of the soap remind me of a pavane.
POLKA
The polka is originally a Czech dance and genre of dance music familiar throughout all of Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the nineteenth century in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. The polka remains a popular folk music genre in many European and American countries, and is performed by many folk artists.
For a lively and colourful dance here is a brightly coloured soap, with an uplifting fragrance.
RIGAUDON
The rigaudon is a French baroque dance which originated as a sprightly 17th-century French folk dance for couples.
Today the rigaudon is a central part of Quebec's musical tradition.
Quebec rings with nature and simplicity, two characteristics of this soap.
SAMBA
Samba , also known as Carioca Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance. It combines the folk traditions of West Africa and Brazil and has become an emblematic dans and musical style of Rio de Janeiro and its famous carnival.
Cocoa butter and sandalwood take me on travels to the south which is why I decided this soap would be perfect for a samba.
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SARABANDE
This dance originated in the Spanish colonies and was danced to lively music. It became banned in 16th-century Spain however it evolved into a slow, stately dance popular in France. It is also a musical form used by many famous composers.
A stately soap deserves a stately name
TANGO
This dance needs no introduction. The soap reflects the rich colours of the dance and the perfume had to be roses