Hello darlings! Emma here, and I'm so thrilled to be sharing another adventure from the pages of my pink-tutu time travel diary with you! This month, Magic Meg and I took a whirl through the glittering halls of time, landing smack-dab in the heart of 1745! Ooh, just the thought of that decadent, swirling era sends a shiver of delight through my ballet bones. Can you even imagine waltzing into a ball in a magnificent gown, your slippers clicking against polished wood? Sighs dreamily
Our landing spot was none other than London, on August 8th. Yes, history buffs, that's the very date King George II was worried sick about the Jacobite rebellion brewing up in Scotland. I think my presence at this time in London may have ruffled some feathers! I couldn't resist slipping into a pink satin gown that I unearthed from my time travel stash. Imagine my delight when I discovered a rather stylish gentleman with an eye for fashion, and quite the penchant for tutus - he'd seen one on stage, he claimed, at the Drury Lane Theatre - my heart leaped! How thrilling is that?
The world of dance in 1745 was certainly evolving. While ballet had established itself as a prominent form of entertainment in courtly circles, its future on the theatrical scene was beginning to bloom. On our arrival in London, we took the chance to visit the Royal Opera House, a venue renowned for its dramatic performances. The excitement! It's a place of history, a temple for art. They weren't doing a full-length ballet that night - but oh, there was dancing, oh yes there was, between acts of a play. Imagine: graceful, flowing gestures, expressive leaps and turns – it's how dance should be! And the costumes, simply exquisite – though maybe a bit too much emphasis on the ruffles. Perhaps they could've benefited from a touch of that "Pink Tutu" flair I like to bring to every era!
My backpack's bulging now. I discovered a first edition of John Weaver's Orchesography tucked away in a dusty bookshop - that's got to be one of my finest finds, yes? Weaver's a bit more formal for my liking than my favorite choreographer, Noverre, but there's such depth to his work - it gave a glimpse into the training of dancers of that period. What discipline! You just can't get that kind of rigorous preparation in the ballet world these days.
Speaking of Noverre, the man himself, this being 1745, was just a lad in his late twenties! But, my goodness, he was already turning heads with his groundbreaking ballet techniques. We spent hours in the grand salons of Paris – what an experience! - watching his dancers weave magic through the rooms. Just a note on etiquette for you aspiring time travelers - make sure to give the men of the house their due bowing and curtseying, unless you happen to be with Magic Meg, in which case - I suggest letting the hooves do the talking. No-one ever says no to a dazzling pink shire horse with golden hooves.
Magic Meg and I did what any self-respecting ballerina would do – took ourselves off to a ballet class! While in 1745, we stopped by Madame Le Picq's Academy in London, a place that trained girls to be dancers and entertainers. Though not formally trained in "ballet" as we know it now, their dancing, they say, was nothing short of divine! It certainly provided me with an insight into what made their theatrical creations so unique. It must have been exhilarating to watch those dancers – moving with strength, with grace, with heart. Oh, the excitement, the joy!
We visited Sadler's Wells too - one of my favorites! Not a dance studio exactly, but, a theatre - a wonderful place with its rustic charm. Sadly, they had more bear baiting on the agenda that night than ballets! They certainly have evolved. That place, now - a proper palace of dance. The energy, the costumes - it's hard not to get carried away.
But my biggest delight? A truly dazzling discovery, darling!* The Paris Opera - the home of what I'd later call "the Paris Opera Ballet" - was a masterpiece of dance! We went to watch them dance an elegant, dreamy "fête galante" - how beautiful! This piece showcased all the intricate footwork and delicate gestures so cherished during that time, infused with their unmistakable style and passion. The costumes, though not the fluffy pink delights we enjoy nowadays, were incredibly graceful - just imagine layers of flowing fabrics adorned with a million pearls!
After so many extraordinary moments, I find myself with another bag full of treasured memories! My quest to spread the love of the pink tutu marches on, and I believe 1745 just got a dose of my infectious "pink tutu" style! So tell me, dearies, are you inspired by my latest ballet adventure? Maybe you’ll wear a touch of pink the next time you watch a ballet? Do let me know - my next adventure is being planned as we speak! Until then, darlings, happy dancing and always wear your pink tutu!
Lots of love,
Emma.
- * www.pink-tutu.com - Visit for all your Ballet time travel blogs!*
