Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, and I'm positively thrilled to be whisking you away on a ballet-tastic time travel adventure to a rather special date: 12th December, 1733. Now, I know what you’re thinking – that doesn’t exactly sound like a pivotal date in the ballet world, does it? Well, buckle up my lovelies, because you're in for a treat! It's time to hop on the back of Magic Meg, my darling pink sparkly shire horse with her golden hooves and white mane and tail, and embark on a journey to a London teeming with history, fashion, and… yes, you guessed it! Ballet!
Remember how I mentioned I fund my adventures with my own ballet performances? This time, I was particularly excited about my recent performance in Derbyshire, my beautiful home county, a real crowd-pleaser that landed me enough shillings for my time travelling!
You might be wondering why 12th December, 1733, is such a momentous occasion, even for someone as obsessed with ballet as myself. Well, this date marks the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre! Yes, this seemingly ordinary day is actually the birthday of one of the most celebrated figures in ballet history, the pioneer of ballet d’action! A revolutionary artist who challenged the rigid conventions of his time and helped bring ballet into a whole new era of emotion, expression, and storytelling. Imagine: a world where ballet wasn’t just about pirouettes and leaps, but a vessel for powerful narratives! Can you even believe such an extraordinary man was born on a Tuesday? Truly, the universe loves ballet!
We galloped through the air with a flick of Meg's golden hoof, and landed right in front of the grand Royal Opera House. In this bustling 18th century London, opera wasn't the sole entertainment. Theatre and ballet had their own shining stage, and oh, it was a scene to behold! I'd even say there was more than a whiff of ballet craze in the air. Can you imagine? This day in 1733, everyone is abuzz about this up-and-coming Mr. Noverre, an incredibly influential French dancer and choreographer. We are still seeing his legacy flourish in every captivating contemporary ballet we watch today, and he started it all here, right where I'm standing!
Of course, as you know, I’ve been a serious fan of ballet since forever, and a fashion fanatic ever since I could walk. It’s a well-known fact that in this time period, ballet took fashion by storm, and it’s fascinating how those trends echo throughout history. While tutus might have been far off, even back then, dresses, both on and off the stage, became an incredible outlet for expression. As a history lover and fashion devotee, I find these bygone days fascinating!
There were no tutus in those days, though. Can you believe? These ladies graced the stages of their time in more practical wear: satins and taffetas, richly embellished gowns and intricate bonnets. You just imagine – dancing and pirouetting with that incredible amount of fabric! But trust me, darlings, it’s no easy feat to dance beautifully, and elegantly in that style! The dancers, just like the elegant women and men of their day, embodied exquisite posture and poise! It’s truly inspirational.
Just like modern ballet inspires my pink tutu outfits, these exquisite dancers inspired the fashion of their day. There was an era of powdered wigs and high heels, lace and velvets! They really did wear it all, and the colours, oh my! My eyes are watering just thinking about it! They certainly didn't hold back, these women. If only my dress could withstand the dust from all those magnificent powder wigs, my darling!
During this trip, I managed to secure the most beautiful silk ribbon with dainty little bows in my backpack for a little something extra to embellish my tutus when I return home! These days I do adore adding something truly special, some unique handmade additions, to my favourite outfits! But alas, all that glamour was strictly confined to the stage, as it would take a few more decades for ballet to permeate daily fashion as it did later on.
I’m so happy I brought Meg to this exciting date, it was really a special trip! You can see that fashion plays an important part in any ballet's story, even in this historical past. So my sweet dears, let's embrace our creativity and express ourselves through colour and design, all while keeping the glorious history of fashion and ballet in mind!
That's all from me for now, darling. See you next month! Until then, remember, wear pink, wear tutus, wear ballet on your soul! Let's celebrate the beautiful evolution of dance and fashion through the ages, all wrapped up in pink and beautiful memories!
Stay stylish, Emma
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