Hello fellow ballet lovers! It’s Emma from Derbyshire, your pink tutu-loving ballerina blogger! Welcome to another journey into ballet history, and trust me, today’s topic is going to have us all twirling with delight!
Buckle up, my dears, because today we’re whisking ourselves back to 1760! Think: powdered wigs, powdered faces, and of course, lots of fancy dresses! You see, the year 1760 was a momentous time in ballet, one that laid the foundations for some of the breathtaking art we get to enjoy today.
First of all, let's talk fashion, and no, I'm not just talking about the latest styles at La Scala (which by the way are utterly divine!). 1760 saw the birth of a new style of dancing! A move away from the heavier, more grounded movements of earlier times towards something more airy and graceful – the ballet d'action. Think of it as ballet's dramatic debut. You see, our lovely dancers in 1760 wanted to express a story through their movements, creating an entire emotional landscape on stage. And for those who haven’t caught a ballet d'action performance, trust me, it's captivating!
Now, the reason we're here for 1760 goes deeper than this exciting new style of ballet, because this is also when the term tutu first started appearing in print, oh yes! This wonderful word for what I believe is the most beautiful garment ever created (we can talk about different tutu styles later!) started being used in writings of the time, giving us a peek into what ballerinas were wearing then. The tutu of the time was pretty different to our modern, full-skirted wonders – it was a more practical affair, allowing the dancers greater movement and freedom of expression! It wasn’t just the tutus that saw a change in the 1760s. You can say that this time saw the birth of the ‘ballet costume' as we know it. No more layers and layers of fabrics - these new dance costumes were all about freedom of movement and expressing a character with a minimal design that made the beauty of the dancers themselves stand out.
But back to 1760. This year wasn’t just a time for a shift in dance styles, it was a golden era for the French ballet, known for its elegant moves and delicate artistry! A few of my absolute favourite choreographers were coming into their own at this time. The legendary Jean-Georges Noverre - he was creating breathtaking dances in France, with works such as "Le Devin du village," which tells the sweet, enchanting tale of a village maiden falling in love with a shepherd, making it a sure-fire hit with audiences!
Over in Russia, another ballet revolution was stirring. Did you know, the Imperial Ballet of Russia, now the Bolshoi, was born in the late 17th century, paving the way for ballet excellence?
In the UK, 1760 also had its fair share of balletic activity. Whilst England at this time hadn’t quite adopted ballet in the same way as France, London’s Drury Lane Theatre saw a blossoming of spectacular ballet performances. Oh, can you imagine the joy and wonder of being in the audience for these?
You might be wondering where I was, during all this. Well, let's just say the spirit of pink was with me, whether I was gracefully pirouetting through the streets of Derbyshire, captivating those with a little street ballet show (let's face it, the street has been my stage more often than I’d like), or teleporting myself to different times to get that historical fashion inspiration (don't tell anyone, but I have a thing for antique tutus).
Remember, my lovely readers, we can celebrate and learn from this fascinating ballet history. Every twirl, every leap, every graceful move that happens on stage is a product of these wonderful times and passionate dancers. We stand on the shoulders of these dancing giants, which reminds me: let’s bring back the tutu and its magic. Every little twirl and pirouette adds to the legacy of ballet – I challenge you to find the inner ballerina in yourself and embrace the magic of ballet, no matter where you are, and perhaps, even consider embracing pink tutus in your lives. Let's fill the world with ballet love!
Catch me in my next post where we’ll be delving further into 18th century ballet fashion, my dear readers, because I'm simply overflowing with details on all the wonderful outfits of the era. We'll even talk about the costumes worn in that most famous of French ballets, “The Sleeping Beauty"! Stay tuned, lovelies!
