#BalletHistory during 1748 09 September

Hello, darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina! September is practically bursting with excitement - it's the month of autumn leaves, cosy evenings and... oh yes, the beginning of another new season of ballets! But this time, my dear readers, we're turning the clock back a bit... all the way to the 9th of September, 1748! Grab your fanciest pink tutus, and let's go!

My loyal steed, the beautiful Magic Meg, is all ready for another journey, her white mane shimmering in the early morning Derbyshire light. Magic Meg is a true pink sparkle Shire horse - she's quite a sight to behold, even in my local village, never mind the streets of the past! Today's adventure will take us back to a time when ballet was becoming more than just court entertainment and was starting to take its place as a cherished art form all around Europe. And you know how much I love fashion, especially ballet fashion! I just have to know what was trending on the dance floor in 1748!

As I snuggled into the saddle, a gentle wind carried the scent of lavender from the fields around my home. A sense of anticipation fizzed within me, because it’s so exciting to dive back into history, isn't it? I was always the biggest history nerd at school (and, ok, still am a little!) - even more so than other history nerds! Just ask my classmates. Anyway, I can’t help but wonder if the dance world of the past will echo what's going on today? Will we see the foundations of what’s now a favourite move? A ballet classic in the making?

Magic Meg whinnied a farewell as I slipped my foot into the magical stirrup - the magic only works for me when I wear a pink tutu! Then whoosh we were gone!

We landed in a charming town in France, just a whisper away from the bustling city of Paris. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the intoxicating aroma of fresh bread from a nearby bakery. How wonderfully European, don’t you think?

Now, 1748 wasn’t all about tutu fashion, you see - it was the year that saw a whole new style of ballet develop! Now that is something we can get excited about, isn't it? Imagine what the audience in those days thought when they saw this whole new way of performing on stage! I would be right at the front of the crowd!

This style of ballet became known as the ‘ballet d’action’, focusing more on dramatic stories and narratives - much like what we see today with classics like "Giselle" or "Swan Lake", eh? A time traveller’s heart is all a flutter with that sort of stuff! But I wanted more, darling! What would a real 18th century performance have looked like? Who were the big names? I just had to find out!

As we strolled down the cobblestone streets, Magic Meg was a star. You’d have thought a unicorn was walking down the lane! I imagined myself in the midst of the royal court, wearing a magnificent tutu like one of the ladies at the Opéra. Those intricate bodices and soft tulle… what an exquisite combination of grace and style! Oh how I adore the opulence of past ballet performances, my lovelies! I don't think anyone today understands the artistry and skill in creating those outfits - you can practically feel the history woven into the fabrics themselves.

We finally found a bustling theatre, with its gilded doors and charming little posters boasting an exciting performance - “L’Amour et la Vengeance,” by the incomparable Mademoiselle Camargo! Just like all of you, I've been looking up this lovely lady since we left my Derbyshire home. In 1748, Camargo was already a beloved dancer in the European ballet world. Her bold style - dare I say, it’s a bit rebellious? - inspired a new wave of performers and a new kind of fashion! And the crowd around the theatre looked ecstatic to see the show! The anticipation hung in the air, as palpable as the perfume and lace of the fashionable women rushing to get into the theatre. This must have been such an electric atmosphere! It filled me with a longing to wear my favourite pink tutu and grace the stage, too, you see! The passion of the era and the pure magic of performance is a tangible force – it was captivating, it was infectious, and you can see why everyone in this little French town felt so swept up by it all.

I squeezed through the chattering crowds to grab myself a programme - the ultimate souvenir for any ballerina! And then… wait, it gets even better! You can always tell a real ballerina… they don’t just take a programme, darling! It has to be the complete collection, complete with some special extras too!

This theatre is like a ballerina's dream, with its incredible design and those fabulous backdrops, that intricate artistry – I’d love to know who the designer is! Imagine a beautiful painted backdrop depicting a garden, full of blooming roses and sweet pea vines, a clear turquoise river reflecting the light, just… dreamy. You know I was collecting little bits and bobs from the backstage - some fabric scraps, the most delightful painted designs for an upcoming production – even an inscription signed by Mademoiselle Camargo herself! It was tucked into my little leather satchel… well, the fabric did get a bit lost among my ballet books, ballet shoe laces and my tutu - you’ll see it soon on a ‘Pink-Tutu’ Instagram story… But it's mine now… it’s precious!

Finally, with the programme, a ticket, my satchel bursting, and the show about to start, I found the best spot… tucked in with the ladies at the back. No point making a fuss, is there?

Mademoiselle Camargo is, quite simply, incredible! With her swift turns, leaping energy, and elegant steps… it really is the pinnacle of Parisian ballet at its best, with just enough sass for my taste, and the perfect shade of pink on her pointe shoes - such a lovely little touch, don't you think? It reminded me how this elegant artistry doesn't happen in a vacuum; it's also about taking those bolder risks, a bit of a flourish, just like Mademoiselle Camargo was doing right now!

She just knew how to command the stage! With every step she took, with every twirl, she commanded the room… oh, the artistry of it all, darling! This is truly the magic that draws me to the world of ballet – to get a little closer to its history, to understand what the world felt at that moment, that particular time and place… that sense of connection makes me love ballet so much, and I do, I love ballet so much!

With my new treasures safely in my rucksack, I bid farewell to 1748! Whoop! Back to the 21st century with a skip and a hop - we don’t do ‘galloping’, do we, darling, in case of too much temporal distress! We just hop into our sparkly unicorn of a horse and ‘prance’ our way through time. My, but it was a most memorable day in French history, don't you think, a delightful peek into a different time!

There is nothing that excites me more than a new ballet performance - those glittering stage lights, the intoxicating costumes and the sheer athleticism and dedication.

Now, I'm off to a rehearsal - just a little pirouette in the morning before I hit my Derbyshire books! Maybe, a little design research for some pink tutus too! And who knows, the next journey with Magic Meg might take me even closer to your ballet dreams - a journey in time… so stay tuned!

Always with love and sparkly tutus,

Emma

* www.pink-tutu.com *