Hey, my gorgeous Tutu-loving lovelies! 💖 It’s your girl, Emma, here, back with another fabulous journey through ballet history, this time venturing back to the magical year of 1826!
Get ready to be whisked away to a time of romantic tutus and groundbreaking ballet performances, all in the glorious name of dance! 🩰 Just like my last trip to 1820, this period was bursting with creativity and new ideas. And you know how much I love that! 😉
Let's grab a cuppa, maybe some little pink macarons for the sweet tooth, and get ready to dive into the pink-tastic world of 1826! 🧁
From London to the World: Ballet Blooms in Britain
Firstly, we have to acknowledge that, much like my favourite pair of custom-made tutus, Britain was right at the heart of ballet’s development. There was a blooming fashion for it in the streets as much as in the theatres, and let’s face it, everyone was wanting to try a twirl! 😉
That year, we had a double whammy of new ballet companies popping up – talk about good fortune for dancers everywhere! 🤩 The first was The Royal Ballet (although its name was The King's Theatre Ballet then – still just as fabulous!). This new troupe was the lovechild of two leading ballerinas of the day – Madame Vestris and her friend and partner, Charles James Mathews. Talk about an iconic duo!
Vestris was all about innovation and pushed boundaries, like a real modern-day queen of dance! You can imagine her waltzing into rehearsal, her silk tutu fluttering behind her, and yelling “No, we must go further, higher, lighter, like the soaring swan! More pink!”. The spirit of Vestris lives on – we need more of that today! ✨
The second ballet company popping up was The Sadler's Wells Ballet. I swear, these ballet companies are giving me a total dance-a-thon overload and in the most fantastic way. Just wait, there's more...
This new theatre was named for its well… well, and I have a sneaking suspicion this wasn't an accident. In fact, some whispered this might even be related to the "Springtime” theme! 🤔
Just as we are obsessed with our tutu-mania today, this theatre had its very own “balletomane” (ooh, how fancy! squeals). The whole world seemed obsessed, and who can blame them? This year saw a resurgence in ballet shows like “La Sylphide” (we can thank the brilliant August Bournonville for this) which were basically taking everyone by storm – so much so that these ballets are still inspiring choreographers and dancers even today.
Just think about how this gorgeous “Springtime” ballet has inspired my favourite pink tulle skirts. I literally wear the ballet of spring all day every day! 👗
But it wasn’t all about tutus and ribbons! The theatrical dance-mania that took over England back then spread far and wide across Europe. And who better to make it a worldwide craze than the ever-brilliant (and forever pink-obsessed, just like me) Carlo Blasis! 😉
I could do a whole blog post about him. What he did was incredible - his dance academy became THE place for ballet! It became a dance wonderland with students coming from all across the globe - imagine! It must have been quite a pink-tastic gathering! 💖
What to Wear in 1826: Tutu Talk and All the Glam!
Let’s be honest, there is never a dull moment when it comes to the world of ballet fashion, and this year did not disappoint! 💅 You really can’t escape the romance that filled 1826 – those big poufy sleeves, oh the detail! 😍
Just picture a ballerina like Marie Taglioni floating onstage, her tulle tutu cascading in soft layers around her legs. It is enough to give anyone an instant craving for pink, am I right? 🥰
Think elegant dresses, ribbons, and tulle as soft as a baby chick. Yes, there is still a time and place for tutus today!
As for the boys… they’re really not the best dressed, sorry! But it is important to note how ballet and men’s fashion both developed alongside each other! Even if the dancing isn't as flamboyant as the ladies, they're the rock-stars in ballet’s back catalogue, supporting it all the way through. 😜
The men sported colourful tights and short breeches – basically just glorified leggings but oh so practical and so dapper, especially if they're made out of velvet. The men, of course, looked just as magnificent! 🥰
A New Wave of Ballet Choreographers: Inspiration from the past to create new art
There were some incredible talents gracing the ballet stage back in 1826, giving audiences the time of their lives! 🎉 And if I wasn’t busy traveling in my magical time-traveling tutu, I would definitely have booked front-row tickets to catch these choreographers and their ground-breaking work. ✨
We were seeing real talent breaking onto the scene, some even debuting ballets like “The Bride of Lammermoor.” And who are these incredible choreographers? They go by the name of August Bournonville, Vincenzo Taglioni, and Filippo Taglioni. These ballet masterminds truly knew how to stir things up!
Taglioni’s dance “La Sylphide” had a profound effect on the world of ballet, and his choreography changed the scene with its grace, fluidity, and, yes, of course, romance! 💖
Think light, ethereal steps, beautifully delicate movements, and, of course, lots and lots of twirling. Imagine those graceful ballerina jumps – pure magic! 💖 This dance truly embodies the spirit of grace and charm that every tutu lover admires! 💖
The year 1826 also saw a great surge in interest in Romantic ballet. As I have mentioned before, I love this era and the costumes just blow my mind with their beauty! (Seriously, have you ever seen anything more beautiful than a ballerina spinning around in her beautiful flowing tulle skirts?). The story-telling, the themes, all so dreamy and perfect! It's enough to give any ballet-loving dreamer butterflies! 😍
But what was so inspiring about the romantic ballet style? Well, the era really emphasized the beauty and passion of human experience. In these performances, dancers become delicate figures and stories unfolded with every graceful move. What better inspiration for fashion and life in general?! 💖
And can we take a minute to discuss the fashion! In that time, the emphasis was very much on flowing, light fabrics that would cascade and billow. It’s a wonder that any tutu ever stayed still in those days, or in fact survived the countless turns and jumps! 🥰 And even today, there’s a romantic ballet touch everywhere you look.
The tutu truly became the symbol of ballet. Even I am wearing one while I write this blog! 😂
But all the twirling aside, this year was a celebration of artistic freedom – it's what makes us all so unique! We are all so lucky to be dancing in these days of innovation and artistic freedom – so thank you, ballet pioneers! ✨
My Trip To the Theatre, My Pink Tutu Ready to Shine!
While my street performance is always fun, the opportunity to witness something spectacular at the theater was simply irresistible! In fact, if 1826 taught me anything, it’s that life is truly for embracing all things elegant and extraordinary.
So I pulled on my favorite bright pink tutu (my favorite tulle of the era, don’t judge! 😂) and stepped back in time – ready to catch the ballets I couldn't have missed!
As I walked into The King's Theatre, I was already excited! There was such a wonderful buzz. The energy from all those ballet enthusiasts! Everywhere I looked, people were buzzing with excitement for this special event! So many tutu-inspired dresses - they were beautiful, simply exquisite!💖 It was just as exhilarating as if I were watching one of today's modern-day shows!
But 1826 was about more than just performance – It was about how art connected with everyone’s lives, just like the art of the street dancer today. It brought everyone together, connecting to that magical sense of storytelling through the language of dance!💖
And don’t forget the fashion! I could feel the enchantment! And guess what – even now I try to channel that magic by blending modern ballet fashion with a touch of 1826 sparkle. Imagine an explosion of pink in all its glory!💖
The audience that night? Filled with a unique energy. People had such respect and appreciation for the craft. The whole atmosphere buzzed with excitement as dancers brought their hearts and souls into each and every pirouette, every jump, every delicate gesture. It’s the kind of energy I hope we’ll always have in the ballet world – pure magic and love!
My time in 1826 reminded me to never lose that sense of wonder, and just how vital ballet is – it makes me dream! 🥰 So, grab your favorite pink tutu, and dance your way into a beautiful day – because the ballet world needs you! 🩰 See you next time, darling!
