Hello darlings! Emma here, back from another whirlwind trip through time, this time landing in the oh-so-fascinating year of 1711. I must say, my pink tutu caused quite a stir! You'd think a pink sparkly creature was prancing down the cobbled streets of London!
This month, we're celebrating the 6th of June, and my, what a day it was! To get there, I hopped aboard Magic Meg, my pink sparkly Shire horse, with her dazzling white mane and tail and golden hooves. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a bit of glitz and glam, even in time travel! We flew across the centuries and arrived just in time to experience all that 18th-century ballet had to offer.
I have to say, London was a hive of activity. Fashion was quite the thing back then, and I was lucky enough to be right in the midst of it. It wasn't all about ball gowns and wigs, though. There was an amazing performance at the King's Theatre – can you believe they actually had an opera house back then? They called it "The English Opera House" and I snuck in to see a spectacular dance show! I tell you, those dancers had incredible stamina – it wasn’t the delicate, elegant moves we know today. More leaping, swirling, and theatrical displays that truly showcased their strength and power! They wore magnificent, voluminous dresses in shades of blues and greens, with tons of lace and ribbons – but the skirts were very heavy and cumbersome! I tried a few moves with them – they all agreed my pink tutu looked much better for dancing! They even gave me some 1700s makeup – I’m keeping the rouge lipstick – so fabulous!
Speaking of fashion, the gentlemen looked sharp. Imagine, those long, flowing wigs with just a touch of curl and lots of powder – it really was the time for elaborate hairstyles, but that much powder? Yikes, you wouldn’t get your head through a door without dusting off a good portion of your hair! My, those beautiful velvets and silks in those coats, though… Talk about fashion that will never go out of style! Even my leather rucksack wouldn’t stand out much against those exquisite fabrics!
I found a little vintage shop that sold lace and ribbons – my rucksack was filling up fast! You’ve got to love the historical aspect of dance and fashion. I snagged some fascinating vintage pieces, and of course, I had to show them off! I took Magic Meg through the busy streets, enjoying the bustle and chatter, and found a local artist who had heard whispers of a pink ballerina. She even drew a beautiful portrait of me. I left it with her in a hidden box – it’ll be an incredible find in centuries to come, tucked away somewhere in London!
Speaking of things to discover – did you know that the Royal Academy of Dance actually started up in the late 1600s?! Amazing, right? But even with a dance academy, it seems like ballet was only truly getting into its stride in this era. There wasn't a whole lot of structured ballet teaching – they mainly used theatrical pieces for training and performing – it’s hard to imagine, but they also added acrobatic stunts to these performances! I had to see that in action! Talk about impressive – we might call it modern ballet, but they had no safety nets back then, so the stunts were far more daring. Talk about taking your skills to the edge!
You know me, I just had to find a ballet school! The streets were lined with small dance schools run by former performers and even some aristocratic ladies. The dancers were just adorable! And I swear, they took after me! Little pink tutus popping up all over London, it’s the best part of time travel! All the little dancers were completely enamored with me. They all said my pink tutu was much prettier than the itchy velvet skirts they were forced to wear! I gave a little impromptu lesson to them, teaching some basic moves from a 19th century ballet book that I’d picked up, but we ended up doing a very improvised sequence which they loved. Those young dancers really brought a whole new dimension to ballet.
I’m not sure what made me more excited – the stunningly fashionable gowns, the brave acrobatic performers, or all those adorable dancers wanting to embrace my pink tutu life. But it's definitely clear: 1711 was a vibrant year for dance, and I'm so happy I could be part of it! I collected so much new knowledge, a couple of fashion gems for my wardrobe, and a handful of ballet pieces to keep safe for the next dance history lecture – so excited! Until next time darlings! Stay glamorous, and keep those tutus twirling!
