Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite time-travelling ballerina, back from another whirlwind journey through history! This month, we're twirling back to 2nd February 1733. Now, before we begin our adventure, just a quick shout-out to all you lovely people reading this! My monthly posts are popping up like fresh blooms on the www.pink-tutu.com website, so do hop over and share the joy of ballet history!
As always, my trusty steed, Magic Meg, our pink shimmering Shire horse, is gleaming like a newly polished tiara. With my pink tutu fluttering in the breeze (it's just the right amount of pink for February, wouldn't you say?), we are ready for our adventure.
Now, what was happening in the world of ballet on the 2nd of February, 1733, you ask? Well, my dears, things were quite exciting in Paris. This is when we find a very young Jean-Georges Noverre, a future star of the dance world, appearing for the first time in a ballet at the Paris Opera. This is significant for many reasons. Firstly, young Jean-Georges went on to become the father of ballet as we know it today. His innovations in the art form revolutionised how we understand the ballet story. No more stiff, pre-determined gestures for our dancers, Jean-Georges brought real emotion, acting, and a fluidity of movement that transformed the scene. Imagine our modern-day, emotional ballet stories - like "Giselle" - that all owe a great deal to Noverre!
We were lucky to be there in the audience, feeling the buzz and anticipation, for this talented young man's performance. My little ballerina heart was certainly tapping its feet!
A peek at Parisian Ballet Fashion in 1733
Speaking of Parisian Ballet fashion, oh, the extravagance! From the intricate headdresses, the beautifully designed, glittering, yet delicate, costumes (think gorgeous layers of tulle and silk), the delicate, pointed shoes...I managed to acquire a fascinating new set of ballerina shoes from 1733 - just the thing for my historical collection back at home in Derbyshire! Imagine - they are tiny shoes! Back then, ballet shoes weren't yet the padded leather slippers we know today. A few dainty satin ribbons wrapped around your toes and a silk, or maybe a leather, upper - these were the "ballet slippers" of the 1730s! I also discovered that the heels of those days were high and stiletto-like - much more elaborate than our modern day pointe shoes!
It was such fun spending some time with the ballerinas of the day and hearing them share stories of the grand opera balls in the royal courts, which, you must understand, were full of the greatest elegance! These performances are very unlike the theatre experiences we have in our own time - a ball would be the equivalent of a grand party today, just more, how do you say, refined! Elegant dance routines mixed with grand court balls - who wouldn’t want to be there? Oh, the wonder of the past! Just don’t tell anyone, but I may have "accidentally" swapped one of the silk shoes for one of my own sparkly pink pointe shoes!
And the costumes! It was simply breathtaking! With each dancer dressed in such magnificent garments - flowing, light fabrics in amazing colours. They reminded me of the shimmering fabrics I find in vintage fabric shops.
A Look Inside 1733 Fashion Trends
Now, speaking of Parisian trends, 1733 was all about the Rococo style in fashion and art. This elegant style - flowing lines, lots of ornamentation, and delicately coloured floral designs - perfectly encapsulates the world of dance, wouldn't you agree?
Speaking of Rococo fashion, imagine what you might have worn at a court ball in this time period. Imagine yourself gracefully swirling through the grand ballroom - imagine your light Rococo inspired gown fluttering as you danced. It makes me feel quite romantic - the thought of all this elegance.
Just so you know, those fashion trends that we see on the runways in the modern world still have echoes from the past. It's funny how the fashion circle spins!
An Extraordinarily Delicious Adventure
While in 1733, my little ballerina tummy couldn't resist trying some of the most delicious crepes in Paris! I'm a firm believer that a time-traveler's gotta eat, and I'm certainly not going to turn down a tasty treat from a Parisian crêpe stand. My favourite is always with caramel - heaven! And let's be honest, who could say no to a delightful glass of Champagne in such an amazing atmosphere! (Don't worry, I stayed away from those sugary pastries the French were enjoying, those were far too sweet for me).
More about Noverre's Legacy - A Turning Point
Jean-Georges Noverre didn’t stop with that one performance in 1733. His work had a huge impact on ballet across Europe and influenced all those that followed. His approach to dance helped shape how ballet is performed and viewed. No longer simply a performance of grand and somewhat uninspired movements, it evolved into a real artform - a storytelling through the language of the body. As a ballet dancer and lover of ballet history, this time period feels very special, as it marks the birth of modern ballet. I can't wait to share more stories from Noverre's exciting journey - perhaps next month!
The Big Pink Tutu Project
Now, you know I love ballet fashion - particularly those big pink tutus! They make you feel so feminine and powerful. I can imagine all those graceful ballerinas from 1733 sporting their own, equally glamorous pink tutus if they were given the chance! Wouldn't they be just exquisite!
Remember you can always join me at my blog - www.pink-tutu.com! And don’t forget - our aim in life, is to get everyone wearing a pink tutu! It is time we embraced a bit of pink, don't you agree? It adds such an extra touch of magic to every ballet class, ballet show and performance.
Until next time, darling!
Emma xx
