#BalletHistory during 1741 03 March

Hello darling ballet lovers! It’s Emma here, ready to whisk you back in time with another extra special post on my blog www.pink-tutu.com. Today, I'm channeling my inner time-travelling ballerina, because March the 3rd, 1741, was a date of ballet brilliance, my lovelies! Let’s gallop through history, shall we? I've got Magic Meg (yes, the pink sparkling shire with golden hooves and that divine mane and tail!) all saddled up, and my trusty pink tutu, shimmering in the morning sunlight, is ready for adventure!

Before we travel back, though, let me quickly tell you how this ballet-loving blogger funds her whimsical adventures: you see, I'm blessed with the most amazing talent (other than time travel, of course!) - I'm a ballerina. But not just any ballerina, darling, I'm a pink tutu ballerina! You could say, I sparkle. And this talent of mine allows me to perform for the lovely folk around the world and, yes, fund my adventures in history, bringing back fascinating ballet moments. So, without further ado, let's hop aboard Magic Meg and time travel!

My goodness! Imagine this: no Netflix, no social media, but we've got some absolute beauts of ballet happening around the globe on this day in 1741. I have to say, 18th-century dancers weren't exactly swanning around in tutus like ours. No, my darlings, we're talking about grand, floor-length gowns and even the gentlemen wore something a little dramatic (a bit like ballet fashion, I’m just not a fan of pants on stage!). Imagine those magnificent sets and the elegant, flowing movements - so different from today's ballet!

But don’t get me wrong, it was all just as exquisite and every bit as inspiring! The story of ballet then was, I’d say, more focused. I’m talking mythical characters, elegant movements, stories full of love and passion, some intense emotions... Imagine it, a world all about dance, where people would actually flock to choreographed movements. How fabulous, how delightful, and how much of an extra inspiration it would be for a ballet blogger like myself.

I know it sounds incredible but, imagine - our journey starts in the bustling streets of London! Imagine walking down Drury Lane, just sniffing the exciting theatre air. My oh my, it’s absolutely overflowing with people excited for a proper theatrical performance. And at Theatre Royal Covent Garden, just think, darling, on this March 3rd, 1741, one of the greatest, if you’ll pardon the boldness of my expression, ballet superstars ever, Marie Sallé, would be taking to the stage.

Oh, to have seen this wonderful French ballerina’s captivating performance. Imagine a performance filled with grace, strength, and those breathtakingly expressive gestures. Can’t you see it? The elegant steps and fluid movement! She brought ballet to life with passion, and, if you can believe this, it was considered quite scandalous at the time. Oh, what fun I would’ve had!

This March the 3rd, a world away, in the heart of Paris, things were heating up, as if you need any more evidence to say the 18th Century was just glorious. In a very exciting development for ballet at the Paris Opera Ballet, they have started something extraordinary, something that set the foundation for ballet as we know it, and for the development of those captivating roles that so enchant me, as I’m sure they do you too.

The Paris Opera Ballet brought together the world of ballet and opera for the first time in a stunning and magnificent spectacle of theatrical beauty. Imagine all of this, the world of ballet on this day, March 3rd, 1741! A new world of dancing was blossoming, just brimming with creativity and artistic innovation. This year marked the birth of the première danseuse, which basically translates as "first dancer", a position held by the leading female dancer of the opera. They made it into what we know now, my lovely ballet enthusiasts - a prima ballerina.

Can you believe it? Ballet was literally making history as I hop onto my steed and prepare to take you through the exquisite ballet timeline. So, as you can see, March 3rd, 1741 was absolutely a date for our pink tutu time-travel diaries. Now that is what I call ballet history in action!

Back on Magic Meg, our journey now takes us further through time! As I'm whipping through time, the wind is whipping through my pink locks! It’s honestly a fashionista’s dream here! And, with the gentle clop clop of Meg’s hooves, I’m able to soak up the gorgeous sights and stunning fashions. Just think, in 1741, we’ve got gorgeous, opulent court dress, silk fabrics, a dash of velvet and all that fantastic 18th-century styling. Think those sweeping silhouettes, bonnets, panniers, ruffles - oh, darling, a veritable dreamland for the fashionable ballet fan, which, if you’re reading this, I’m sure you are!

Speaking of fashion, can you even imagine how much I love ballet outfits then?! As I hop off Magic Meg, I can hear those whispers of fashion coming for me! Imagine, I even grab the cutest tiny pair of 18th-century silk stockings out of my leather rucksack as a precious souvenir, of course to be cherished and put on display in my personal time travel pink tutu museum, that I like to call the “pink ballet archive.”

Let me tell you a secret - for an extra-special, completely off-the-charts addition to my time travel ballet blog post I took a little look at those magnificent ballet shoes and those adorable costumes. My dear readers, my darling readers, those dancers truly understood the essence of beauty and refinement, even with that completely fabulous extra-wide satin ribbons tied to their delicate ballet shoes (imagine those as your ballet class outfits)! It was almost as though they’d already invented the perfect outfit, it just had such a classic ballet feel, but the colors, the detail - simply sublime! I’m almost tempted to jump into the 1741 scene with Meg! It’s pure perfection in ballet outfit heaven.

The most extraordinary element? As I sit on my pink satin rug and marvel at the world of dance fashion through my leather-bound tome of amazing ballet time travel information, there’s no doubt the love for all things dance was alive and thriving in those glorious years, the energy of performance, and yes, my dears, passion. This time travelling ballerina has got to share these ballet beauties. So, grab your pink ballet shoes and let's make ballet history with me!