Hello my lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel. Itās October, the air is crisp and my heart is fluttering with excitement. Today weāre hopping back in time, our destination? London, 1746, and the very heart of the ballet world!
Now, as a lover of all things ballet, itās not surprising Iād be thrilled about this trip. Today, weāre witnessing the beginning of a glorious journey. I mean, letās get real, we wouldnāt be pirouette-ing our way to the grand finale of contemporary ballet without the steps taken back then!
Grab your favourite pink tulle scarf (and maybe a cuppa!), because this one's going to be a whirlwind. As always, my faithful companion Magic Meg, a stunning pink sparkling shire horse with a mane like spun gold, will be transporting us. Donāt worry, my trusty pink leather rucksack is packed with enough sparkles to rival the Royal Opera House!
So, let's step back in time to October 10th, 1746. Imagine a London teeming with cobblestones, bustling markets and the soft sound of horsesā hooves echoing down the streets. Fashion was flamboyant and daring, ladies with their elaborate wigs and hooped skirts. Ballet was making its debut on London's stage. It was revolutionary, even more daring than the current styles!
Back then, ballet had only recently begun its grand march across Europe. Our friends in France, where it first sprung to life, had begun sending over their most talented dancers. The first professional company, aptly named the āCompany of French Dancers,ā opened its doors in London, wowing audiences with their stunning leaps, delicate poses, and expressive storytelling.
My, what a spectacle it must have been! You see, in those days, ballet wasnāt about the tutus and grand narratives we see today. It was about stories of passion and love told through leaps and turns. It was an art form brimming with theatrical flare, the ultimate visual and emotional treat.
Just picture it, my lovelies: a darkened theatre, the glow of flickering candlelight, a symphony of instruments rising, and a dazzling ballet scene unfolding. Imagine the elegant dancers in their velvet costumes, telling stories through their movements. This was the era of what we call ācourt ballet," an elegant, ceremonial spectacle where dance fused with drama and theatrical embellishment. Itās almost impossible to capture the allure of it all!
We were able to sneak into a show at the Haymarket Theatre, a historical landmark and the first dedicated theatre to welcome ballet performances in London. You wouldn't believe the excitement in the air! The applause, the hushed awe, the gasps - all this surrounding such breathtaking artistry. I confess, my heart was beating to the rhythm of the dance.
Iām collecting all sorts of enchanting details about ballet during this time in my rucksack. A little bit of fabric, some sketches of the elaborate costumes, the theatre playbill with its unique fonts - precious moments in time frozen in the blink of an eye. This, my lovelies, is how we learn to cherish our love of ballet ā by understanding its roots and appreciating its continuous evolution.
Now, you can imagine that a dancer wouldn't have dared to wear a pink tutu in 1746! They favoured silk dresses and brocade jackets with decorative patterns and embellishments. Ballet was considered a spectacle of grace and skill, and these costumes, although modest compared to our modern attire, represented their poise and expertise perfectly. But oh, wouldnāt it be fun to imagine those early ballerinas dancing in a flurry of pink tulle?
Remember my mission, lovelies, is to bring a little bit of pink tutu magic to the world! Perhaps one day, through time travel and imagination, we can influence fashion back in the past, bringing a little sparkle to every dance!
And that's it for today, my lovelies! Thank you for joining me on this whirlwind journey to London in 1746, to witness the beginning of ballet in this historic city! Next month, we're heading to a most wonderful place, a place that is closer to home - Derbyshire! My little county has such a fascinating story when it comes to dance! Keep a lookout for more time-traveling stories and all things ballet on my website, www.pink-tutu.com. I can't wait to share more with you all!
Until then, stay fabulous and keep twirling!
Lots of love,
Emma, the Pink Tutu Time Traveler.
