Hello, lovelies! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where every month, we journey through time with yours truly, Emma, your favourite tutu-clad time-traveller. December is upon us, and with Christmas just around the corner, there's no better time to hop onto the back of Magic Meg and head for some festive historical fun.
Today's destination is 12th December, 1711, a date I find utterly fascinating! It was a time of huge change in the world of dance. Can you imagine, a whole two hundred and ten years before Swan Lake?! Crazy, right?
My Magic Meg Wardrobe: The Pinkest Pink
Now, this was a real fashion conundrum, darling! How to be appropriately dressed for a 1711 performance, whilst still looking fabulous in my pink? After all, my time travelling attire always gets a comment or two... especially my dazzling pink tutu. And with Magic Meg sporting her glorious white mane and tail, and that stunning pink sparkle, a little matching is always essential!
The answer was… sashes! My research revealed that dancers in the 18th century often wore a lot of ribbons, so I incorporated those with some pink-toned accents, adding some extra bling. Not that bling really existed in 1711, but let’s be honest, pink-tutu-loving Emma needs her sparkle, right?!
Off We Go... On Magic Meg, Of Course!
As usual, Magic Meg’s whinnying sent shivers down my spine, and off we galloped! It's quite strange, you know, traveling back to a time when the horse and carriage were the way to get around. No buses or even trains! Luckily, Magic Meg makes a much more stylish entrance. The way the townsfolk stared as we trotted into a cobbled street in London... Well, let’s just say their jaws were on the floor!
Ballet in 1711... What's On?
London's theatrical world in 1711 was bustling! It was the year that the King’s Theatre opened, and with it, a wealth of innovative performances. Ballet was still developing, and one of the main dance styles at the time was the ballet de cour, literally "court ballet." Fancy, right? It was basically an aristocratic social affair with dances, music, and some rather intricate costumes (think corsets and plumes!). But no tutus... imagine that!
What was particularly exciting, though, was that some people started performing the Comédie-ballet. It was a theatrical ballet fusion, much like today's "dance-theater" pieces, that combined movement with a dramatic plot. Sounds like something I'd enjoy, right?
Time Travelling Trivia:
Did you know that Les Caractères de la Danse, a collection of engraved dances, was published in 1711? That’s one of the earliest books featuring choreography, which makes it very precious in ballet history!
Fashion Flashback:
1711 was all about elegant, almost aristocratic style. The dresses of the day, with their full skirts and intricate lacework, were almost too formal for my flamboyant tutu, but Magic Meg and I were definitely the standouts!
My Ballet Backpack Bonanza:
From this time period, I bagged a little velvet dance pouch and a hand-drawn print of a choreography, Caractère des danseurs. Perfect for my Ballet Backpack, a little treasure trove of my time travelling ballet memories!
And Lastly…
Oh my gosh, I almost forgot the highlight of my 1711 journey: a real-life ballerina in a gorgeous green dress, wearing shoes that looked awfully like modern ballet slippers, performing for the court! Her moves were elegant and controlled, showing how much passion and dedication for dance existed back then.
And… guess what? My 1711 adventures got everyone dancing, just as I planned! That little green-dressed ballerina did admit that pink looked really well on me…
Well, until next month’s trip through time, keep twirling and keep believing that pink tutus truly can change the world! Remember to subscribe to Pink-Tutu.com, my little slice of ballet bliss, and join me on our fabulous, tutu-clad adventures through the past!
XOXO
Emma
