Hey my lovely tutu-loving friends! Emma here, back from another whirl through time with Magic Meg! This month, we've gone all the way back to 1744, and boy oh boy, what a journey! As you know, I live for pink tutus and anything with a twirl in it, so I'm absolutely smitten with the elegance and grandeur of 18th century ballet. But hold your horses, it wasn't quite the same ballet world we know and love today.
Back to the Future: The World of Ballet in 1744
The year 1744! We're talking wigs, powdered hair, and ladies wearing gowns fit for a princess. I swear, it was a fashion show for the ages! 👑 Imagine me, with my trusty pink tutu, shimmering under the chandelier-lit ballroom. Now imagine the contrast - all those elaborate silk and lace gowns with my sassy pink tutu! I swear I turned heads like it was nobody's business!
Speaking of heads turning, while the first real ballet company in England had just started up about 25 years before, things were really beginning to take off. Ballet was considered a fashionable art, but not everyone thought it was suitable for everyone. Imagine that, trying to control our love of ballet! They thought it was frivolous and frivolous dancing was considered scandalous back then, and I think a big part of it was all those incredible dance steps that make me gasp with delight today.
The ballets of the time, the grand ballets they were called, featured dramatic narratives filled with costumes so gorgeous and grand that you'd faint at the sheer opulence. It wasn’t just about the moves, but a celebration of love, tragedy, and the beauty of the human form!
The grand ballet is often seen as a precursor to what we know today as ballets like "Swan Lake", "Giselle" and "The Sleeping Beauty". You could call the grand ballet the fore-runner of the romantic ballets. It is what ballet developed from! Imagine having that chance to see all that development. Well, my lucky old tutu got to see that on my recent trip. It's like going back to ballet school, but everything is even more elegant and a lot more glamorous. The dance steps themselves had evolved too, more and more dramatic, just like a real-life fairy tale.
The Ballerina's Dream Come True
When it comes to the magic of ballet, the past and present come together for a dazzling symphony. It's not just the history or the steps, it’s about finding those timeless pieces of art that resonate through centuries, connecting ballerinas through generations. And that’s something you just can't buy. It’s that connection between generations that has me falling in love with ballet all over again.
On this trip I saw a performance called "La Fête Impromptu," - a dazzling show filled with colourful characters and captivating moves. Even if it wasn't all in pink tutu, I swear I could have sworn I saw a few sparkles here and there, perhaps it was the sheer spectacle of it all or the beautiful gowns, but oh my did it bring out my inner glitter queen. What is amazing is how we have maintained these grand ideas and traditions even today! This tradition started long, long before even my love for pink tutus. I think I will try my own "La Fête Impromptu," version for one of my shows when I'm back, though pink tutu might be a touch hard to manage with some of the historical costuming I think.
But let me tell you, the most important part of all was not just seeing those incredible ballerinas dance. It was meeting the enthusiasts - these were the first real ballet lovers! Just like me. Some were fashion icons, but the common thread? A true appreciation of the art, its beauty, its passion, and its incredible energy. Just the thought of those dancing ladies and their fabulous stories in my rucksack brings tears to my eyes, and who wouldn't! I can’t wait to tell you more!
Time Travelling Treasures
You guys already know I have my leather rucksack with me to carry treasures. This time it’s a little different. The time period is too far back, but a good old fashion historian did mention some original drawings of costumes - think ruffles, velvet and the most elaborate headdresses ever seen - which is amazing considering there are few originals left from this time period, at least none in my little tutu loving hands.
Of course, Magic Meg (who is starting to take this pink tutu love of mine to heart - her own hooves sparkle pink when I'm really happy!) is an excellent steed, the best time-travelling partner I could ask for, so finding these incredible artworks and adding them to the bag, I guess that's a ballet historical record for me, as this is such a long, long time ago! My collection keeps growing!
From the Past to the Present
There’s a connection between the ballerinas of then, and the ballerinas of now. I'm always looking for ways to carry those ideas forward, and bring that glamour and sparkle to everything I do. I hope to find a way to make a historical ballet dance piece of "La Fête Impromptu," but with a touch of modern ballet! We are both rooted in tradition and innovation, it’s truly inspiring, don’t you think?
The story of 1744 reminds me of something important: The power of dance to cross borders, and unite audiences.
So, thank you, 1744, for your amazing stories, your beautiful fashion and, of course, for your incredible dancing! 🩰
Till next time, tutu-licious friends. Let’s keep on dancing and twirling the world pink. Love,
Emma 💖
P.S I hope this blog post gives you inspiration to dance more and try a pink tutu, it really does add a spark to your outfit, and as I always say: *dance your way through life with pink, with pink it is always possible, you just need to think it! *
Emma posts this on her pink-tutu.com blog with an illustration of a dancer in pink tutu wearing 1744 French inspired clothing in the style of 18th century ballet.
