Post Number 177
Hey beautiful ballet lovers! It's Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing blogger, bringing you another slice of ballet history. This time, we're travelling back to 1749 – an exciting year that saw the emergence of some iconic ballet trends! Imagine a time where dance wasn’t just for the aristocracy! (Can you imagine? No tutus on the street! Sacre bleu!)
Now, as a self-proclaimed time-travel aficionado (thanks to my street-ballet performances – gotta fund those time-traveling adventures!), I recently hopped back to 1749. You wouldn’t believe the ballet world back then! We’re talking beautiful new steps, enchanting stories, and… (whispers) some seriously sparkly tutus!
Let's delve into the glittering world of ballet history! This was the year, my lovelies, that Jean-Georges Noverre, considered the "Father of Ballet d'Action", decided to take ballet by the hand and sweep it into a new era. He wanted more from ballet, darling. He desired to express the emotions of humanity, and his ballets were so revolutionary for their time!
Forget just showcasing the impressive footwork and technical skill. This was ballet with a soul! Noverre thought ballets should have real-life stories, real human emotions – like love, joy, sadness – told through expressive dance, just like how our hearts can express through graceful movements. Isn't that lovely? I call that a dance revolution!
One of the main inspirations for this shift? Opera, of course! The combination of music and dramatic acting created this incredible stage magic. I can already picture how incredible his ballets must have been! You know how much I adore a beautiful story, don't you, dear readers?
But before we jump into this glorious history lesson, allow me to remind you: ballet is for everyone! (Cue my fabulous street performances with my Derbyshire posse – always twirling in our favourite tutus!). Every woman, no matter where she is in the world or from which walk of life, deserves to dance. And I intend to make that a reality – with one pink tutu at a time, of course.
A peek into ballet fashion in 1749
Imagine my excitement when I walked into the Royal Opera House and found myself in the middle of an amazing spectacle! The elegant ladies looked absolutely ravishing in their extravagant gowns – adorned with bows, frills, and intricate embroidery, which made them so beautifully theatrical!
The dancers, though, wore less fuss! It was a wonderful and elegant ballet skirt! They weren’t quite at the tutu-tastic level we have now (sorry, darling, I prefer the tulle!), but the skirts were certainly pretty! They floated and twirled with the most beautiful, ethereal elegance, and the dresses, a symphony of light fabrics and dainty frills. The colours? Ah, absolutely beautiful shades of pastel pink! You know I'm smitten with a little pastel!
But one detail absolutely delighted me: ballet shoes! (Oh, the shoes! The shoes! 😍) While those weren't the modern pointe shoes, the design already boasted beautiful ribbons, making the shoes both functional and fashionable. The dancer's delicate feet, all wrapped in ribbons, created a sense of pure elegance – I could spend hours admiring the beauty of ballet shoes!
Now, let's travel back to that incredible revolution in 1749! Imagine the excitement when the world experienced the magic of ballet d’action! Noverre was really a visionary, wasn't he? I'm picturing beautiful ballerinas expressing powerful emotions through their graceful steps and lyrical movements, making the audience feel every joy and every sorrow – how incredible!
Ballet on the World Stage - What to watch for!
Paris was truly the epicentre of the ballet world in 1749, dear reader. The Parisians, as always, loved their theatrical spectacles. That year, the Opéra de Paris, my absolute dream theatre for a showstopping ballet night, premiered several breathtaking ballets:
- “La Fille Mal Gardée” by Jean-Georges Noverre – It was a truly enchanting ballet about a girl’s journey through life. A love story about love, joy, sorrow – everything! This ballet is about finding one’s place in the world. And remember, ballet has a place for all of us, even if it means a dance on a street corner – you get that, dear reader, don't you? Noverre brought a revolutionary approach, making ballet not just about the performance itself, but also about telling a compelling story, connecting with the audience on a deeper emotional level! I cannot wait to get back to the 1770s and see it with my own eyes, my lovelies!
- “Le Désert” – Oh my, a ballet that portrayed life in the Sahara Desert! The dancing, I bet, was just as dramatic as the desert sands – I'm so jealous that I wasn't there to see it with my own eyes! Just imagine all the amazing costuming – I can picture elegant ladies wearing beautiful silk dresses, all inspired by desert sand hues!
While Noverre made his mark in Paris, a passionate ballet lover was lighting up another stage in Vienna –Jean Dauberval. Yes, it's true – he presented a beautiful performance of his masterpiece – “La Fille Mal Gardée”. Imagine, my dears! The Viennese audiences, swept away by the emotion of dance, the enchanting storytelling – such an incredible experience.
In 1749, there was an incredible excitement in the air, a real ballet buzz! And I’m not just talking about the beautiful shows – think fashion, think costumes, think elegance. It's true – ballets are becoming an incredible spectacle.
If you could jump back in time, dear readers, you could really see how ballets were evolving from just dance, into art. Ballet is telling stories, evoking emotions, and pushing the boundaries of dance and entertainment – you can already feel the beginning of a truly dazzling new era for ballet.
What will 1750 hold for ballet? It will be amazing to find out. But for now, darling, keep that love for dance burning, wear your favourite pink tutus with pride, and keep an eye out for your favourite street performances! You can bet I'll be doing it!
Until next time, beautiful people, dance with your hearts! 💖🩰
