Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! This month, we’re hopping on the back of my darling Magic Meg and galloping back to the year 1748, the 10th of October to be precise! Buckle up your ballet shoes, because we’re off on another incredible journey!
As always, my pink tutu is a must-have, adding a splash of vibrant joy to the bustling streets of London. This month, the fabric of my tutu is shimmering with silver sequins – perfect for reflecting the gaslight glow of London’s night. I must admit, this era is one of my absolute favourites.
The early stages of ballet were so delightfully dramatic, with stories and costumes taking centre stage. Ballet was almost like a theatrical performance back then, filled with expression and storytelling – a little bit like the very early ballets that we still see glimpses of in classical ballets today! The 18th century was full of exciting developments – it’s where the “classical ballet” we know and love really started to come into its own, and the costumes just started to get even more extravagant!
Stepping into 1748As I gallop along on Magic Meg’s back (she’s simply divine in her pink sparkly saddlecloth!), I can feel the excitement building. This era feels so lively, like the world is buzzing with innovation and creative expression. And it’s all about the beauty and elegance of ballet!
As we reach London, we pass through the bustling heart of the city, with carriages clattering and hawkers calling out their wares. Everywhere you look there is vibrant, beautiful life and a constant movement of people going about their daily lives. It’s all quite intoxicating really – it’s no wonder this era inspired so many famous artists!
Our mission? To explore the world of ballet in 1748.
Firstly, I had to grab my rucksack from Magic Meg’s back and then off we trotted into London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – where the iconic ballet La Sylphide would premiere many years later! It was in this very theatre where John Weaver staged his seminal production The Loves of Mars and Venus. This revolutionary piece paved the way for future ballets with a new emphasis on mime and storytelling – really a milestone in the world of dance!
As we walk through the Theatre, I’m captivated by the opulent design – red velvet and gold carvings, glistening chandeliers and ornate boxes in every colour, the stage draped in velvet all with elaborate gold trim. The buzz of the audience is palpable – full of anticipation and excitement! It’s impossible not to be swept up in this sense of spectacle and theatre, and for a minute I feel like I could be in one of the plays they are staging.
Next up we headed to a salon on Grosvenor Square to catch up with the most prestigious choreographer of the day – the legendary Jean-Georges Noverre. Known for revolutionizing ballet technique and for making his dancers more athletic and graceful – a real trendsetter! Noverre was truly a pioneering artist who inspired generations of dancers! We spent the evening talking about everything from new dance moves to his latest choreographic inspirations.
Of course, I couldn't resist taking a few tips on movement from Mr. Noverre himself! His approach is all about fluid and graceful movements that really tell a story. The way his arms glide – they’re like dancing ribbons – truly exquisite! My ballet rucksack is now stuffed with notes about Noverre's techniques for ballet in the 1740s! It's amazing how he focused on emotion in every step.
The costume inspiration here was simply fabulous. It really got my pink tutu spinning. Think shimmering satins, rich velvet, and delicate lace adorned with the most elegant floral embroidery, along with long skirts, feathered headdresses and sparkly shoes, it truly is a spectacle. My mind is already bursting with ideas to combine these stunning details with the perfect shade of pink – oh, I can already feel my next design coming together!
My shopping haul from 1748 was exceptional! I discovered a charming hat shop – the headwear they design is incredible! Feathered creations in stunning shades – deep burgundy, azure blue, but also a blush pink that was too good to pass up! It's coming back to Derbyshire with me, definitely!
Speaking of feathers – have you ever seen more vibrant feather boas than those sold in London in the 1740s? The streets are like a feast for the eyes. Every color imaginable is represented in plumage from pheasant and peacock, all the way down to duck and goose. So pretty and fun, oh to have so many lovely feathers for a ballet performance.
Of course, we couldn't skip the legendary French chef at the time, Mr. Marie-Antoine Carême. You may not know him by name but you would know him as the chef to the French royal family. Carême was a total rockstar chef back in his day, with amazing pastry designs! A complete visionary who had a flair for detail that was beyond anything I’d ever seen before! The cake he made, layered with buttercream and white fondant in the shape of the Palace of Versailles? Magnificent, just magnificent!
There’s a real artistry and beauty in the way ballet has developed throughout the centuries, each time period has added its own distinctive and vibrant elements. It’s incredible to see how much has evolved while the soul and essence of ballet still shine through.
On the subject of pink, a few notes about 1748:
Pink was a hugely popular color in the 18th century – it was even seen as a “gentleman's” colour. It was considered refined and elegant and associated with good fortune. I'd love to find out more about what they used to create their pinks – it would be great to discover a beautiful pink of 1748. It would be so lovely to add that to my next ballet tutu design, wouldn't it?
As the day drew to a close, we found ourselves by the River Thames enjoying the warm autumn sunlight reflecting in the rippling water, and I watched barges chugging along on their route past London Bridge – just as I’m sure they did in the past.
After a delicious lunch (they have excellent roast beef here!) we stopped at the Old Curiosity Shop on the Strand. This shop really blew me away, there were so many beautiful items stuffed inside - fascinating and weird. I took inspiration for my tutu’s from antique fabrics – vintage lace, embroidered ribbons – the possibilities really are endless, aren’t they? I could get lost in that shop for weeks, it's pure wonder.
So that’s my blog post on the amazing time travel adventure into 1748. I just know you will all find something to inspire you! It’s such a pleasure sharing my experiences and reminding you all about the magical world of ballet, that exists across all times! Don’t forget – there are more journeys, ballet posts, and dance news waiting for you each month here at Pink-Tutu.com – I hope to see you there!
Emma xxx
