#BalletHistory during 1750 02 February

Hello, fellow ballet enthusiasts! Emma here, your trusty time-travelling ballerina from the sunny Derbyshire countryside. This month, I've whisked myself back to the 18th century, landing on a chilly 2nd February 1750. The wind is biting, but the warmth of my pink tutu keeps me toasty as I hop off Magic Meg, my dazzling pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a mane and tail like spun white silk. Magic Meg has brought me to London, the heart of ballet in this era, and my backpack is overflowing with stories, treasures, and a bit of gossip from this fascinating period.

1750 was a time of incredible change in fashion and dancing. Gone were the cumbersome courtly costumes and in their place, we saw the rise of the "Robe à la Française", a flowing silhouette, often adorned with exquisite lace and embroidery. As a ballet devotee, I couldn't resist sneaking a peek into a tailor's workshop – their intricate embroidery reminded me of the detail in our tutu embellishments, especially in a beautiful pair of diamond-studded silk shoes I'm now sporting.

The London theatre scene was alive with passion. Ballet was a hot topic of conversation, even for the gents – the graceful and elegant ballets were all the rage. Imagine the excitement of seeing performances featuring star dancers like Marie Sallé, an absolute legend in her own right! She was known for breaking tradition and introducing ballets inspired by Greek mythology. I wish I could see a ballet based on one of her choreographed pieces – now that would be a treat! But I'm not complaining, I caught a bit of a fencing show (yes, fencing!) featuring Le Ballet de la Chevaliere with sword fights and all. I'm thinking maybe my next blog post will be all about how ballet has intertwined with theatre through history, eh?

But there's more to this journey than just London's glittering theatre life. I've been eavesdropping on the locals (in the guise of a street-artist, you see - always handy to have a little repertoire for blending in). There's a big buzz about a new academy, the "Académie Royale de Danse" – this, darling, is what will be known later as the Royal Ballet, a legendary school, giving us ballerinas some of the finest training in the world! The Academy was founded by a renowned choreographer, Jean-Baptiste Lully. His innovations changed the way ballet was presented, moving it from court performances to public theatres. Imagine, not just princes and princesses getting to witness ballet, but everyone! This is how our beloved art form truly blossomed and captured hearts.

My journey here is about much more than just fashion and dance though. I love collecting things, so my rucksack is stuffed with snippets of history – I managed to pick up a miniature painting of the dancers in the Opera – a small, incredibly detailed picture of a beautiful pair of ballerinas. It even captured the way the light catches the swirling skirts, and the glint of a diamante-encrusted shoe! You'd never guess I found it tucked away in an antiques shop tucked down a tiny, forgotten alley. Oh, and I even acquired a rare copy of a ballet treatise, written by an anonymous ballet master from the early 1700s. There's so much history packed into these pages! It's fascinating to trace how technique, style, and even notation has changed throughout history. And this little bit of paper gives me a peek into the lives of dancers, choreographers and audience members centuries ago!

As I stand here on this brisk February day in 1750, surrounded by the bustle and energy of London, I’m overwhelmed by a sense of timelessness. The passion for dance, for expression, and for creating beauty – these remain constant, whether we’re talking about the 18th century or our modern world. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to dance in this glorious era, with this elegant fashion and with a backdrop of history waiting to be explored!

See you next month, dear readers, when I take my tutu and my trusty horse, Magic Meg, on a new journey! Until then, keep dancing!

Yours always,

Emma

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my new post on my website: www.pink-tutu.com for photos of my journey and some fabulous new recipes inspired by 18th-century ballet feasts. And remember, the best time to wear a pink tutu is... always!