Hello, my dearest fellow ballet-lovers! It’s Emma here, your trusty pink tutu-wearing time traveller, and I’m back with a fabulous new blog post from my latest jaunt through history. This month, we’re pirouetting back to 1714, the year that the Hanoverians ascended to the British throne. Just imagine, a new king, new era, new fashions!
The moment Magic Meg, my darling pink shire with golden hooves and a mane and tail like spun silk, touched down in the cobbled streets of London, I felt a shiver of excitement run through me. The year was bustling with anticipation, the air thick with the scent of history brewing. My leather rucksack was ready for a new batch of fascinating ballet finds and I was ready to twirl right into the heart of it all!
This was the year the French nobility came to England in droves after the death of Louis XIV, bringing with them a new wave of grandeur and, naturally, dance!
But where to start? London in 1714 was a dance lover’s paradise! With its grand theatres hosting a symphony of productions, each one boasting more shimmering costumes and dazzling displays of talent than the last. Imagine: the glittering King’s Theatre, where ballerinas in their powdered wigs and elaborate gowns performed courtly minuets with exquisite grace. Just picturing those ladies in their silk panniers and frilled bodices makes my tutu quiver with anticipation!
While London was alive with theatrical activity, ballet was also a growing presence at the English court. I discovered a manuscript in the British Museum library that detailed a masque presented at the Palace of Whitehall for the new king, George I. Imagine! Ballroom dancing mixed with stunning costumes and an exquisite storyline, all performed before the eyes of royalty! The manuscript included details of the dances and even mentions a pair of special pumps with rosettes, foreshadowing the rise of ballet footwear as we know it!
However, the highlight of my trip had to be stumbling upon a small, charming, rather unassuming ballet school tucked away in the backstreets of London. The teacher, a lady with kind eyes and an air of unassuming elegance, explained the unique ballet styles and trends of the time.
“We don’t quite have your ‘ballet’ in those elaborate formations just yet, darling,” she explained. “But we have our own dance traditions, full of charm and refinement. We do court dances, gavottes, and minuets – each one more delightful than the last!”
While the ballet itself might have been different, it was clear that passion for dance coursed through this community. It was a joy to observe these dancers, young and old, twirling and dipping in their simpler, yet still beautifully patterned, skirts. They were just as enthusiastic and full of grace as any contemporary ballerina.
And, of course, I couldn't leave London without experiencing the theatre life. With Magic Meg tied to a quaint stable outside, I wandered the crowded streets, eventually finding myself at the bustling doors of the famous Drury Lane Theatre. I felt the buzz of excitement as I slipped into the theatre, my senses intoxicated by the chatter of the crowd, the candlelight illuminating the velvet seats and the distant sound of the orchestra warming up.
The play was a spectacle of costumes and spectacle. Actors, swathed in satins and silks, with their hair adorned with extravagant plumes and glittering gems, paraded across the stage. While no ‘real’ ballet, the drama, theatricality and movement perfectly embodied the theatricality of this era.
Leaving the theatre with the echo of laughter and applause still ringing in my ears, I knew that my time-traveling ballet adventure had just begun. There’s still so much to uncover – stories of ballet's evolution, its changing styles and trends. This era was a time of transformation, a fertile ground where the seeds of ballet's future were being sown, ready to bloom into the grand spectacle it has become today.
Until next month, my dears, keep twirling! And remember, never be afraid to dream in pink! 🩰✨
Emma
Pink-Tutu.com
