#BalletHistory during 1727 05 May

Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your resident ballet historian, back from another enchanting time travel escapade! This month, we're twirling our way back to 1727, a year steeped in ballet history, with some exciting news from the French court and an exploration of a growing love for ballet in the heart of Europe.

Buckle up, because we're embarking on a journey back in time with my trusty steed, the magnificent Magic Meg, a pink, sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail – she's just the perfect steed for a time-traveling ballerina! As always, I’ve packed my trusty leather rucksack, ready to collect more ballet stories and treasures from the past to bring back for you, my fellow tutu enthusiasts.

1727, and the heart of the French ballet scene was buzzing! You see, our dear friend, Pierre Rameau, had just completed his seminal work - "The Art of Dancing" – the ultimate guide to ballet technique in 18th Century France. It’s a gem, chock-full of beautiful illustrations and incredibly detailed descriptions of the steps, the roles, the costuming, everything you’d ever need to know to dance like a true ballerino! And to think, back in the 1700s, people actually had time to write, draw, and compile such extensive knowledge of the artform – so wonderfully romantic, wouldn’t you agree?

And guess what? A copy of "The Art of Dancing" found its way into my rucksack on this trip, so be sure to stay tuned – I'll be sharing all about it with you next month in a dedicated blog post!

Now, in 1727, the ballet world wasn't solely confined to France, as it had started spreading like a beautiful dance across the continent. Italy, too, had been entranced by the captivating ballet stories! And here’s a little secret: this year, a beautiful ballet company called the Teatro San Carlo in Naples had its very first public performance – and let me tell you, this company made such an impression that its brilliance echoed throughout the land, igniting hearts with a passion for the graceful dance. The elegance and precision of their choreography, and the ethereal beauty of their dancers, just stole the show!

This was a very exciting time, to see how the power of ballet resonated with audiences everywhere! And of course, you can bet that I added my own Pink Tutu flair to my costume – it wouldn’t be right to be travelling through history without a sprinkle of pink, would it? Imagine – the gasps and admiring stares!

I know, you're dying to hear about the ballet fashion, right? Sadly, in 1727, the pink tutus as we know them today weren’t quite around yet! Ballerinas still danced in elaborate gowns, with a bit more volume to their skirts, which allowed them to create a different kind of flow and drama while they danced.

But it's true, that in some productions, particularly ones where female dancers portrayed male characters (quite common at the time), we started to see a glimpse of the early tutu emerge! You can picture it - the skirts becoming shorter and a bit less hooped than their traditional gowns. Oh, the excitement of a shorter skirt at that time, can you imagine? A shorter skirt for more mobility – talk about revolutionary! And can you even imagine the swoon in the audience when these women danced with more freedom of movement than their traditional ball gowns had ever allowed? I know I’d have been cheering!

I’ve gathered quite a lot of fascinating images of costumes and fashion in my time travel scrapbook - it’s so intriguing how the look of the dancer evolves along with the changing social context of the time. But I am still holding out hope that I’ll one day get to travel back even further and meet the ballerina who first dared to embrace a shorter skirt for dance - how daring she must have been!

### Time Travel Tales & Back to Derbyshire

It was truly a delight to walk in the shoes of ballet dancers and patrons from the past. I spent hours observing performances, sketching costumes and ballet movements, chatting with dancers in the local teahouses (the perfect spot for discussing the art, of course!). And while a steaming cup of tea with a freshly baked pastry is delightful at any time, it seems particularly delightful when enjoyed in a cosy teahouse 250 years ago!

Back in Derbyshire now, Magic Meg and I are already making plans for next month’s adventure! I've brought back a suitcase overflowing with inspiration, and of course, I’ll be sharing my latest finds on www.pink-tutu.com soon, so don’t forget to check in!

Until next month, keep dancing, stay curious, and always remember – pink is not just a colour, it’s a lifestyle!