Hey everyone!
It's your girl, Emma, back with another blast from the past for Pink-Tutu.com. This week, we're stepping back to the year 1798 - can you imagine? - and what a year for our favourite dance form, ballet!
This is where things started getting really interesting for ballet. This year was a game changer, like a new step combination that's both innovative and beautiful.
I think we all know the amazing Jean-Georges Noverre, right? He's such a ballet hero, and his legacy truly flourished this year, as he began to revolutionise ballet technique and even experimented with "natural" positions, letting those incredible dancers really show off their artistry. I know we love all things fluffy, but ballet fashion was a bit different then! Imagine dancing on pointe in shoes rather than the amazing, soft slippers we wear now. Noverre even took the risk of creating his ballet pantomimes. They were controversial then, but now? They are absolute classics!
Let's step back a few years and remember, for a second, where ballet came from before 1798! If we head to the Courts of Renaissance Italy, those ladies had already been putting their amazing skills on show. These "Court Ballets", the birth of ballet in many ways, helped to push the form and even added musical accompaniment to the steps. These were often themed events, with even costumes inspired by mythology, like we love now! Imagine Greek goddesses gracing the stage and the audience, completely enchanted.
1798 was a great year for ballet fashion as well, a year that started to set the stage for the beauty of ballet attire that we see on stage today! With the rise of ballet's popularity, so too grew the world of dance wear. It was so interesting, with intricate hairstyles, colourful silk tunics and lots of sparkly ribbons - all the more dazzling against a backdrop of flickering candlelight!
Speaking of backdrops and sets, there was a huge evolution here too! The sets were becoming much grander - I mean, picture it - like floating stages with all kinds of beautiful scenery. This created much more of a magical spectacle - cue the sparkle effect!
You might be wondering what was happening on the stage in this amazing year? We have three exciting ballets to talk about! First up, in The Village, a ballet by Le Picq it’s time to travel to a charming countryside location and witness the joys of rural life. Second, let's journey with the Gypsies, a ballet by *Jean Dauberval and embrace the free spirit of this nomadic tribe, with an array of vibrant costumes. The last one? The Florentine Festival. In this dance of pageantry, beauty and grandeur are the name of the game! The stage was so packed with spectacle, it must have been unforgettable! Imagine colourful characters, costumes and props - talk about a show.
I love diving into history and thinking about all the things that brought us to where we are with ballet today!
But this isn’t all, oh no, the ballet world was so much busier in 1798. Did you know that the Théâtre de l'Opéra in Paris hosted many events? Fashion shows even began taking inspiration from ballet outfits, isn’t that incredible? What I find most fascinating, and even slightly surreal, is how fashion trends can travel! Imagine the impact ballet’s swirling tutus have had on the design trends we see today - everything from ruffles and sparkles to feminine cuts and those stunning colors!
In 1798, ballet wasn't just for the elite anymore, the general public was absolutely hooked, which is fantastic! The Royal Opera House, now an incredible symbol of our beloved dance form, also came into the picture this year! Did you know it opened on this very date?! It really began to bring the wonders of ballet to wider audiences.
Oh, I just know it will bring you so much joy if you ever have the chance to take a peek inside the history books. Imagine seeing Madame Rose, a leading prima ballerina, absolutely electrifying the audiences with her graceful moves - she was absolutely inspiring. It's even worth checking out if there's anything special coming up for The Royal Opera House! Perhaps they even have a special show planned!
Let me know what you think of my journey back to 1798, in the comments below. Are you also feeling all those pretty pink tutu vibes as I am? And please share what you’re reading this week, my little lovelies! Don’t forget to show off your own dance moves! And stay sparkly for my next Pink Tutu post.
With love and sequins,
Emma.
