Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where every month we hop on the back of Magic Meg and journey through the dazzling history of ballet! This month, we're taking a spin back to 10th October, 1709 – hold on tight, because things are about to get wonderfully flamboyant!
As always, I'm Emma, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina and time-travelling chronicler of all things pink and tutu-fied. From my Derbyshire cottage, where the roses are blooming and the air is crisp, I can't help but dream of soaring through the centuries with my trusty sidekick, Magic Meg. Meg, you'll recall, is my dazzling pink Shire horse, with golden hooves and a shimmering white mane and tail. She's my chariot to the past, and she carries all my essentials – my trusty leather rucksack stuffed with vintage ballet treasures, a spare pink tutu just in case, and a hefty dose of my infectious enthusiasm for the magical world of ballet!
Now, you might be wondering what makes the 10th of October, 1709, so special? Well, darling, it was a time of great upheaval in the ballet world. You see, back then, ballet was more than just graceful leaps and delicate pirouettes – it was an exciting mix of music, poetry, dancing, and acting all wrapped up into one theatrical extravaganza. Think a cross between Shakespeare, a rock concert, and a beautiful, colourful ballet performance!
So, imagine, darling, this scene: London's theatres are abuzz with excitement! On stage, the court dancers – known as "the dancing masters" – are in full flight, entertaining the aristocracy with complex, showy dances that are quite different from what we know today. They’re still wearing heavy, lavish costumes, adorned with intricate embroidery and shimmering jewels, but the emphasis is definitely on grand and theatrical rather than sleek and athletic.
Think long, flowing sleeves, plumed hats, and elegant shoes. The dancers tell stories with their movements, they act out dramatic scenes with passion and verve, and their artistry is truly captivating. And me, in my trusty pink tutu? Well, let's just say I'm causing quite a stir – people are absolutely floored by my colourful, twirling presence, which is perfectly in keeping with the vibrant spirit of this era!
Time travel is so exhausting
My trusty sidekick Meg and I take a break for a picnic – it's exhausting time travelling, even when you’re sitting on a horse. We’ve managed to locate a little pastry shop and the pastry chef is in a state of shock to see a woman in pink tutu shopping for a pastry and a couple of cakes. They even let me look in their huge leather covered tome of recipes! She's kind enough to show me how they’re preparing the éclairs, and even throws a couple into my bag for later – this pastry will be so scrumptious after a long day travelling through the time stream! It will be just the ticket after we go to see one of the London theatre shows!
Speaking of theatre, what is a ballerina to do when they’re in London but go and see some performances. This is one of the biggest years for ballet performances! I can see how everyone’s so enamoured by the new and daring shows on offer and I must admit, they are truly amazing. There’s 'The Dancing Master' and I even see an operatic performance with amazing singing, that really helps to build the stories on the stage! The London audiences really know how to show their appreciation and their applause is quite deafening – its’ an incredible atmosphere!
Today, London’s bursting at the seams with theatre and dance - we’ve got our very own 'Opera of the Moon’ (and that’s the one I am headed for today, darling!) There's the Royal Opera House on Covent Garden - where they’re staging ‘The King’s Dancing Master’ It is amazing and absolutely worth the time it takes to stand in queue to get in. Every ballerina and her grandma is in the queue for this one.
You have to admit, that the French were pretty influential on the early dance in London - there was the French ambassador's ballroom where everyone is meeting up before heading off for the night, they’re not quite as impressed with me as the ladies are but hey – we all like a good French ballet performance!
A Ballet Ballet, or Two
If you’re a ballerina travelling back to 1709 then London has got to be on your list of must visit destinations. Just take it from me - you’re going to have the most wonderful time, and be mesmerised by the ballets - as I was!
We go and see ‘A Masque’ where the scenery was like nothing I’d ever seen! They’re doing everything possible to transform the stage, using elaborate painted backdrops, incredible costuming, and real, live animals! (That's always a great bonus!). The lighting - if you can call it lighting - uses candles and torches. This really gives the ballets a more theatrical quality - which I like because it lets everyone focus on the dancers and storytellers more. You see, during this era, people see it as entertainment for all and they enjoy the overall theatrical and musical performance, not just the dance!
Now you might think - “A ‘Masque’? Why does everyone talk about it?" Well darling, you should come and see a ‘Masque’. These performances have incredible music by Baroque composers – think a lot of violin and recorder. I know it sounds a bit old-fashioned but trust me – it's so good and it’s quite hypnotic to watch these stories unfold before my very eyes - particularly when accompanied by such dramatic music and sound! It’s easy to understand how a ballet ‘Masque’ has the power to move the audience and it’s like going to an incredibly spectacular show!
We are enjoying such an eclectic mix of shows and ‘Masques’, operas, and ballets - they all give you the most fabulous insight into life for someone living during this period in time. In 1709 the dance itself wasn't seen just as dancing, it was part of a larger cultural phenomenon that involved all the arts. There is always a real focus on music and performance in a very similar way that today, we might go and watch the opera.
The thing I found the most incredible during my visit was that ballet - back then, was more about expressive movements, character acting and mime. They have a different sort of expression with their dancing compared to today’s ballets - they were a story within a story! Imagine a dance that is full of life and passion, where the characters have to act out their stories on stage. The performance was about giving the dancers the freedom to tell a story using gesture, posture, and dance - they use these tools and bring them all together to show us an idea, a story, or maybe an emotional journey. The audiences would’ve been totally enraptured as they really get into these wonderful story telling dancers! I can imagine a more "expressive" dance was so much a part of a world without much cinema or even theatre - I think this must have made these "Masques' even more amazing to witness.
We have a little rest after the 'Masque' with the fabulous ‘Ballet of the Night'. I've had such a good time during this period - it was a truly unforgettable time and I'm going to cherish all my memories. Until next time, darling, remember to embrace your inner ballerina, and always dance like nobody's watching – or at least, until someone offers you a pastry!
