History of Ballet in 1772

Hello lovelies! It's Emma from Pink-Tutu here, ready to whisk you away on a time-traveling journey back to 1772 – oh my! Buckle up, because we're about to step back into the world of elegant powder wigs, extravagant ball gowns, and of course, the blossoming ballet scene.

As a ballet fanatic who’s dedicated to all things pink and tutus, I couldn’t resist hopping on my magical, glitter-encrusted time machine for a trip back to the 18th century to soak up some early ballet magic. Just imagine! Powdered wigs and frilled ruffles!

Now, you might think "Emma, how is it possible for you to travel back in time? Isn't that impossible?!" Well, darling, a girl has got to have her secrets, right? 😉 It's a bit of a family tradition. I have to perform for pennies on the streets, in a truly showstopping tutu of course, to fund these journeys, but it’s all worth it for a chance to explore the fascinating world of ballet history!

I can't tell you the full secret, but a pink feather boa, a knowing look and a few well-placed "plies" is all I need to make it work! Oh, and don't even get me started on the dance-filled dreams! So here’s the scoop on what 1772 was like in the world of ballet!

Now, in 1772, the Parisian Opera Ballet, which is what we'd call the 'Royal Ballet' today, was a scene that would blow you away! This was the height of the Baroque era. The focus was on grand displays, big, theatrical gestures, and some very impressive choreography. In fact, this era was all about ‘grand pas’, which are large, intricate dance routines, often involving jumps, turns, and dazzling partnering sequences that would make even the most experienced ballerinas go “woah.”

Now, let’s talk fashion – this is what you really came for! In 1772, ballet fashion was about as grand as it gets! Ballerinas would wear voluminous skirts, adorned with ribbons and feathers and intricate patterns of beadwork that would leave you completely mesmerised!

Their headdresses, oh, they were spectacular! They wore massive elaborate hairstyles – a real "big hair, don’t care" look! The powdered wigs – just think Marie Antoinette – gave a dramatic, fairytale-like vibe to the stage and it must have made the women look a foot taller, so chic! Of course, there were plenty of satin ribbons, flowers, and even a few tiaras thrown in for good measure. I’m already planning my next ‘en pointe’ fashion photoshoot inspired by this era – think big pink feather boas with my favourite glittery tutu!

Now, let’s skip over to the UK where things were a little different! We all know that the ballet tradition has its roots in Italy, France and Russia but in this era, London was making a name for itself, becoming a true ballet powerhouse! In fact, ballet masters from the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet started heading to England, bringing their experience with them, like it was a pilgrimage to be at the forefront of the dance world!

You’d hear names like "Noverre", the famous French ballet master, who was working wonders on the London stage, making it known as the ‘most enlightened’ place to study dance and create ballet!

One thing that caught my eye: at this time in London, there were separate dance schools for boys and girls! Just think – the boys would practice for hours in their sleek silk breeches and breeches, with their own elaborate costumes. These little dudes were getting so much practice in – just imagine what they would be like as dancers today! Then there were the little girls, busy perfecting their ‘petits tours’ (little turns) and intricate movements – it's what the dance world is all about!

This led to a bit of an explosion in British dance education, creating an incredible pool of talent ready to take the stage! This was definitely a pivotal moment for ballet, so many big developments happened in London, right at this moment in time! I’d love to do a street performance in Covent Garden today to feel the buzz, it must have been an electric atmosphere then too!

But of course, a true ballerina wouldn’t be caught without knowing the legendary ballerinas! You see, London and Paris were literally teeming with talent, like Marie Allard (famous for her amazing flexibility!), the lovely Marie Camargo – an iconic Parisian ballet star! She wasn’t just any ballerina, she became famous for defying expectations – imagine – ballerinas were meant to dance on tiptoes – this wasn’t the norm yet – she wasn't! She went en pointe all on her own and was a true trailblazer in a time when ballerinas needed to have the right ‘etiquette’. But she, with all that flair, decided to break all the rules and created her own form of elegance on stage, with more expressive movements! She set the dance world on fire!

Let’s talk about Anna Françoise, another incredible ballerina who became famous for her “eccentric grace” – imagine that – what kind of dance would it be? The dance world couldn’t wait to see her next innovative piece!

Let’s talk royal glamour, because where there's a royal family, there’s usually an incredible dance performance! You see, in 1772, the court dances, known as ballets d’actions, were all the rage – you've gotta remember that in the days when ballet and social dance blurred – think waltzes and minuets! Everyone loved them. They were performed in court at grand galas, for the amusement of the elite.

In France, it was like a fashion competition – these shows weren't just for the enjoyment of the dance itself – think costumes, choreography – you could actually learn all about society! These ballet d’actions, which had stories woven into the dance, like the Greek legend of "Hercules," were all about spectacle!

What was going on at this point in history, with so many ballet teachers popping up like wild flowers? We can say that 1772 was like a pivotal turning point! Ballet wasn’t just about strict steps, but had more and more expressions – dancers really could have more expressive gestures and show a broader range of emotions in their movements! Ballet was on its way to becoming more than just dance steps, it was about stories, it was about passion! The development of these stories through expressive dance – oh what a lovely way to get the point across, without even speaking!

There are some ballerinas in the world that make you feel, in your heart, every little detail – I've been to countless ballet performances in my time, but a well-executed 'grand pas', makes the world stop for a moment – it is captivating – and those graceful movements bring stories and feelings right to your heart. And if you’re like me, you'll always feel that joyful emotion, a pure sense of peace!

Well, I’ve got to run for now lovelies, my pink tutu's ready and I have a show to prepare for – I'm going to dance for some spare coins to fund my next journey, perhaps to Russia in 1850.

I can't wait to share with you what the next historical ballet era has in store! Until next time, happy twirling! 🩰💖