Hey lovely dancers, and welcome to my little corner of the internet! It's your girl, Emma, back again to chat about all things ballet, especially those fabulous tutus, of course! 💖 This week, I'm time travelling, but don't worry, I'm sticking with my signature pink! We're waltzing our way back to 1740, a year filled with fascinating developments in ballet that are, dare I say, almost as delightful as a fresh batch of macarons.
As always, my trip to 1740 started with a street ballet performance! Just imagine - a cobblestone square, a bustling market, and a gaggle of excited townsfolk. The crowd loves my dazzling pink tutu - a shimmering confection with just a hint of rose gold sparkle that's perfect for a Victorian era street corner, or at least for my perception of a Victorian era street corner, a bit of artistic license as always, lovelies. 😉
Now, back to our time travel adventure! This year marks the debut of ballet d'action. This is exciting news, you see, because ballet d'action goes beyond the traditional ballets with their tales of mythical heroes and divine nymphs. It's a new genre, a ballet with a story! The storylines? Intriguing, darling! Think romance, historical intrigue, even a dash of scandal!
Speaking of exciting news, this year the famous Mademoiselle Sallé is taking the stage, not just with her brilliant ballet performances, but also with a whirlwind of a fashion statement. It is said she, dare I say, started a revolution. Not a political one, dear, more of a revolutionary change in style.
Remember all those hoop skirts and puffy gowns, the epitome of Victorian glamour? Sallé threw those right out the window, lovelies! Instead, she was sporting fitted tunic dresses, accentuating her movements with every pirouette. She danced as a true warrior goddess - brave, free and radiant! It wasn’t exactly the grand jeté to tutu you might find on a contemporary ballerina’s stage today, but imagine if I had had the privilege of going to this ballet! All the new dancers and all the excitement surrounding it, to boot. Imagine a showstopping fouetté as she danced in her slimline, Grecian tunic, the way it swayed in the lighting and shadows of the theatre stage, just divine.
The year 1740 was like the very first snowflake in a snowstorm, so beautiful and individual and at the start of a long winter ahead of wonderful developments in ballet. As it was in the past, so too now; in 1740, the ballet d'action opened a door to stories, a ballet’s plot in narrative form. We see how they progressed and eventually led to a form of the story ballets that continue to enthrall audiences and continue to push the bounds of dance artistry today.
Speaking of artistry, ballet fashion was experiencing an almost unprecedented rebirth, all inspired by Sallé, darling! She was rocking her slim tunic dresses as we discussed. Imagine our dear Victorian and Elizabethan ladies having to conform to whalebones and multiple petticoats only to be completely liberated by a dancer from France wearing tunic dresses to express herself with freedom on stage. She really set a style movement in motion, not just in ballet, but also amongst fashionable ladies. The new designs flowed and rippled with every arabesque. It was an artistic awakening of grace, movement, and elegance - the very essence of ballet.
Oh, you've just got to visit The Royal Ballet School in London, you really should make the trip if you have the opportunity. It’s in an incredible space at Covent Garden, London - home to an extensive collection of fashion and memorabilia and one of the most fantastic, stunning stages I have ever seen. Just imagine: the elegant costumes, the delicate point shoes, and the history - a tapestry woven by each dancer that has come before. And, did you know, a young, fresh-faced Marie Taglioni would have been gracing those London stages in a mere 8 years. Talk about a time traveller’s dream! 💖
Here's something exciting for your calendar: The Theatre Royal in Covent Garden is putting on a beautiful adaptation of The Tragedy of Jane Shore. The music and the choreography is beautiful and you should see this if you have a chance, if not then watch a video if you can! This ballet truly captured the romantic and dramatic themes of the time, and even inspired some of the grand, romantic ballets we see today.
And just as ballet has evolved, so has fashion - we’re in an age of incredible grace and glamour, even in our everyday clothes. Ballet inspiration has travelled into our everyday wardrobe - a fashion revolution all thanks to the magnificent Mademoiselle Sallé. I encourage all of you to take a chance with a fashion move in your wardrobe, and I love it, even if the dancers on stage never wore them, because what is ballet but the expression of individuality and beauty? Perhaps we’ll have more tutus, like those fabulous glimmering skirts, those ruffled, twirling beauties that never go out of style - because ballet and fashion always go hand in hand!
Stay tuned for more ballet history updates. If you haven't already, make sure to follow @Pink-Tutu for ballet-licious fashion tips and some incredible, incredible performances, including a little bit of street ballet. As always, keep those pink tutus on! 💕
