Bonjour, my darling ballet bunnies! Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire pink tutu devotee, and it's time for another history hopping adventure! I’m positively bouncing with excitement today because we're pirouetting back to a groundbreaking year in ballet history - 1710!
Now, picture this: The year of the Queen Anne's War, the dazzling age of Enlightenment, and... wait for it… the year when ballet was officially brought to the English stage by the spectacular French dancer Louis Dupré!.
Oh, can you even imagine?! Ballet dancing on English soil, before my time, what a dream! Imagine the sheer awe in the eyes of the audiences! Let’s step back in time, put on our most fetching tutus and twirl ourselves right into 1710!
A French Dance Sensation
It’s hard to believe that England didn’t have its own professional ballet until then, because the art of dancing was already huge throughout Europe. But in 1710, the legendary Louis Dupré, one of the first dancers to gain international acclaim for his theatrical brilliance, arrived in London. The entire court was enchanted! Can you imagine the exquisite elegance? I bet they wore stunning ball gowns with intricate embroideries, so similar to the fabulous contemporary fashion that I just adore!
But hold on a sec - there's a twist! Dupré, with his incredible skill and undeniable flair, brought along something special – something brand new. Can you guess what it was, darlings? A pantomime ballet, with storylines, acting, and even dialogue, and of course, exquisite dancing!
He danced for Queen Anne herself at a grand ball, imagine the scene – I bet those ladies all tried their best to imitate his amazing movements. His style was known as 'le grand air' - flowing and graceful, all those stunning leaps and bounds. Simply exquisite! And he created La Folie! - a balletic satire on love and marriage which must have had everyone giggling and whispering about those scandalous scenes! He didn't stop there! Dupré also brought along La Mort de Didon and a ballet based on a French legend about a princess being trapped in a giant cave by a monstrous beast. How fantastic are these themes? They'd be such great subjects for a modern-day street performance, wouldn't they?
*A Bit of Ballet Gossip… *
Speaking of la belle French culture, the elegant world of ballroom dancing and even theatrical dancing became the talk of London!. Those London dandies (just picture them in their smart hats and cravats), well, they were so smitten with the graceful dancing style that everyone was practicing their minuets and bourrees. What fun! And let’s not forget the ladies - I bet the fashion scene was totally flamboyant, filled with bright colors, satin gowns, powdered wigs - think the ladies from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro (an opera that would later become incredibly famous) dressed in pastel pink, just for a touch of drama! * I mean, who wouldn't want to be a dancing lady from the court in this gorgeous era?!*
*The Future of English Ballet… *
Louis Dupré made such an incredible impact, ballet wasn't just entertainment in 1710 – it became a huge part of English society. Imagine what Dupré would think about all those ballet schools and Grand Theatres that would pop up all over the world – he'd be utterly blown away! The first English ballet company formed in 1735, and it was all thanks to his trailblazing work!
What Was In Fashion Back Then
Now, for the true stars of the show – fashion! Imagine the clothes in those performances. Ladies, we are talking flowing gowns adorned with delicate lace and ruffles, elegant corsets that created beautiful, defined waists – picture those magnificent French court dresses made for the perfect 'Grand air'! They also wore huge, powdered wigs. Now those take real effort to achieve – I wonder how many ladies’ maids worked to get those curls just right. I'm already planning to recreate those amazing costumes - a bit of 18th century elegance combined with the modern street ballet look is the perfect way to put the "ballet fashion" into street style – oh my goodness, can you imagine a giant powder puff to give those tutus a super fluffy and feminine look? I can almost taste the next big fashion trend.
My Ballet Musings for the Week:
So there you have it – our little trip back to 1710 has truly made me love the idea of all things 'old world elegance' combined with a touch of modern flare. I can almost imagine the excitement that Dupré's dancers would feel – and it's this passion and energy that I feel everytime I step onto a stage, my pink tutu whirling like a beautiful whirlwind.
As we dance through the year, keep those tutus twirling, and let your spirit shine like a star. And, darling bunnies, let's all keep the passion alive for ballet in every form!
Yours always in a swirl of pink,
Emma
Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more history hopping, fabulous ballet fashion updates, and of course, all the best tips for creating your own pink tutu look!
