Hello, lovelies! Emma here, your very own pink-tutu-wearing guide to the enchanting world of ballet. Today, we're travelling back to the glorious year of 1752, a year of shimmering silk and elegant moves, a year brimming with excitement, just waiting to be unboxed.
Buckle up your slippers, dear readers, as we pirouette our way through this magical timeline.
A Year of Changes:
1752 saw a significant change in the way we perceived time in England. Goodbye, to the old Julian calendar and hello, to the Gregorian calendar. Yes, my dears, this meant a shift in dates! So, instead of marching straight from September 2nd to September 14th, we suddenly skipped a good dozen days - no, it wasn't a fashion faux pas! It was simply a calendar switch-up, though I must admit, I wouldn't be opposed to a sudden jump in fashion inspiration either.
Ballet in Bloom:
Now, you can imagine, such a big shift couldn’t have gone unnoticed by our dear friends, the ballerinas! 1752 was also a year of innovation for ballet, darling. It saw the rise of a style that's considered the stepping stone to what we know as modern ballet: the ballet d'action. Gone were the days of purely theatrical gestures - now the dancers told a story with their movements, creating a beautiful and evocative narrative. Imagine, a dance story! How utterly delightful. It was a beautiful dance between the physical and the emotional, wouldn't you agree?
The Italian Influence:
Think of the colour of ripe watermelon and shimmering silk and you’ll be getting close to what was happening in fashion around 1752. Italian fashion, oh, so bold and vibrant, had a considerable impact in those days. In France, you had a fashion statement that was more about grandeur and an exaggerated shape, a bit like an opulent tutu for the whole ensemble. We’re talking full skirts, hoops and an air of elegance – what's not to love! It's no surprise that Queen Marie Antoinette, with her taste for all things lavish and glamorous, adopted a particularly extravagant version of this Italian influence. Her style, darling, it was a total show-stopper.
Ballet in France:
Of course, what would this timeline be without a glimpse of our dear France, the heart of European Ballet. Parisian ballerinas, in all their grandeur, were strutting their stuff at the Palais-Royal. Just imagine, my loves, the twinkling lights, the swirling silks, and the anticipation before the curtain rises... Oh, to experience that! I would wear my most voluminous tulle tutu and my pearl necklace for this performance. This period in ballet was all about refined artistry. Ballet was, after all, a royal pastime - the courtly spectacle where you were supposed to sit up straight and show elegance. And elegance we did, in beautiful bodices and silk stockings – how wonderfully elegant!
London Ballet:
Across the channel, in London, things were getting pretty spectacular, too. The city was already bursting with exciting innovations in the world of ballet, thanks to dancers who were coming back to the UK after touring with European companies. And with that came an infusion of new and delightful moves. It was like watching a beautiful bloom unfurl on the stage.
The famous London theatre, Drury Lane, was attracting a constant stream of visitors to witness these dazzling shows. Can you imagine, my lovelies, a grand theatre, the roar of the crowd, the stage lights, and the graceful elegance of the dancers... It would be such a delight to see that show and I imagine I would look just as beautiful. This was the time when English ballet started to develop its own distinctive flavour, combining continental styles with its own, unique energy. What a fabulous fusion!
The "English School":
Speaking of distinctiveness, it was during this era that ballet started to break free from strict courtly conventions. Dancers embraced new ideas - free movements, improvisations, and stories that truly engaged the audience. I have it on good authority, darling, that an English ballerina named Marie Sallé was the epitome of this new movement. Imagine this! The freedom to be creative, to push boundaries and tell your own stories, it’s such an inspiring thought!
Where We Find Inspiration:
So, darlings, when we step back to 1752, we find ourselves in a year of evolution. A time where ballet and fashion started their grand journey towards the beautiful world of elegance that we admire today.
We're blessed to see ballet move so freely. And that’s why, lovelies, we have to always remember to keep those feet moving and those tutus twirling, never letting go of the spirit of 1752 and those pioneers who dared to express their stories on stage!
Love and Twirls,
Emma x
