#BalletHistory during 1744 09 September

Post #1005 - www.pink-tutu.com

Hello darling tutu-lovers! It's your girl, Emma, back with another dazzling dive into ballet history! This month, I'm whisking you away on a trip to the year 1744 - get your pink tutus ready, darlings, because this was a BIG year for ballet!

My trusty time-traveling steed, Magic Meg, a shimmering pink Shire with golden hooves and a flowing mane and tail as white as freshly fallen snow, galloped me through the centuries, landing us in London on September 9th, 1744. You can always trust Meg to land us with a flourish! And wouldn't you know it, darling, the atmosphere was just electric! It was like stepping straight into a scene from Swan Lake, with all the energy of a grand pas de deux, and the romance of a breathtaking final adagio.

You see, dear readers, 1744 was a pivotal year for ballet! This was the year when ballet finally blossomed into the dazzling spectacle we know and love today. Now, I know you might be thinking "But Emma, didn't ballet already exist back then?" Well, darling, yes, but it wasn't the lavish and breathtaking experience it is today. It was a little rough around the edges, with more courtly dances and less ... well ... everything else!

Let's face it, darlings, ballet is a story of evolution. The tutus we know today were far off on the horizon in 1744! The ladies back then danced in dresses that were, well, let's just say "practical". You see, darling, back in 1744, dancing wasn't just for fun - it was a performance for the upper class, full of elegant movements and poses, but not as dynamic as our graceful ballets today. The dancers weren't really showing off the strength and skill that we're mesmerized by today, and their attire was certainly a far cry from the feather-light, whimsical tutus we all adore!

The beauty of history, however, lies in understanding these changes, and appreciating how far we've come, how the magic of ballet continues to evolve, and just how far our iconic pink tutus have come. Now, let me fill you in on the details of my fascinating day in 1744!

It’s just the nature of this pink tutu-clad traveler to find herself drawn to the world of ballet fashion, so I whisked my pink tutu over to Covent Garden, the center of London's theater world at that time! Imagine my delight! While tutus as we know them wouldn’t be worn for another few decades, I saw an astounding array of dresses on the theatre goers, from brocade and lace to silk and satin, the elegance of the ladies' attire reminded me of a captivating arabesque, with a grace that still echoes through history!

One of my favorite discoveries in my 1744 adventure was the influence of fashion on the dance itself! It was intriguing to witness how dancers were adjusting their steps and movements to suit the garments they wore. I mean, imagine, darlings, you're in a gigantic skirt and trying to do a pirouette! Now that would be a challenge! Thankfully, the dancers were amazingly elegant, even while having to contend with less-than-flexible skirts.

Ah, the iconic Covent Garden theatre! I swear, darling, this historic building seems to hum with energy. You can imagine me waltzing into Covent Garden in my pink tutu, causing a bit of a stir! Back then, a "ballet" was usually a little something extra added to the end of a longer dramatic performance, sort of a dessert course for the audience, But a bit more dramatic in those days, if you know what I mean, think lots of sword fights and love affairs gone wrong! But here, a group called "The Dancing Masters" was doing something truly revolutionary.

It wasn't all waltzes and gentle poses either. They had a new energy that had audiences glued to their seats. They were showing off their skills with leaps, turns, and incredible speed. This kind of "fast-paced" ballet - can you believe it?! - was just hitting its stride in 1744. The crowd just loved it, darlings. Imagine the sheer energy of these revolutionary ballet performances.

Back on Magic Meg, she was truly the star of this particular trip! It seems that our favorite pink Shires has quite the reputation across the centuries, darlings. Meg wasn’t just an average time-traveling steed! We learned that she was also known for her dazzling feats of speed and strength, even galloping across London with the confidence and power of a graceful Grand Jeté.

The carriage driver was a bit bewildered, let's just say that. A bit of a scandal, of course! Pink Shire, flying through the London streets. He could barely believe his eyes, he’d probably need a year of sherry just to recover from seeing Magic Meg, haha. The stable hands couldn’t have been more shocked. But then, they’re probably used to seeing my bright pink tutu waltzing past as well, by now. They just shake their heads and chuckle a bit, when they aren’t staring after us in shock.

Back at home, dear readers, in Derbyshire, I am now meticulously organizing the little pieces of ballet history that I collected for my vintage tutu museum from this 1744 visit. It seems my rucksack has become somewhat of a portal through the centuries of ballet history - the little stories I learn from the local characters I meet - the shoemaker making pointe shoes by candlelight, the opera singers training their vocal cords in a hidden basement, and the local theatre managers rushing around arranging performances and making sure the whole event was a total triumph! Even more, the fabric I gather - lace for skirts, buttons, buttons everywhere, tiny bits of sequins - and that musty smelling piece of leather, the kind dancers use for shoes. It all comes together in my mind to tell a story about a ballet performance back in 1744 - even though my imagination has filled in most of the details, and my ballet style tutus add a whole other layer of sparkly brilliance to the stories that only come from a pink tutu loving ballet-time traveling adventurer like myself!

So there you have it, dear tutu-lovers - my incredible journey back to 1744, the year when ballet truly blossomed into the dazzling spectacle we love today! I'm off on a whirlwind ballet-fueled trip through history! Join me next month, darling, for another thrilling journey through time - I guarantee it will be just as enchanting as our adventures to the past. Let's keep spreading the ballet love and inspire each other to twirl with confidence, no matter where life takes us, in any era, any time.

Stay sparkling,

Emma

P.S - Remember to head over to my online shop for some breathtaking new pink tutu designs and get ready to spread the ballet love wherever you go.