Hello, darlings! Emma here, your favourite time-travelling ballerina. It's time for another adventure through the history of dance!
This month, we're waltzing back to 1752, April 4th, a date that wasn't quite as revolutionary as some might think - that is, unless you're a history buff with a fondness for calendar changes. You see, my darlings, on this day in 1752, Great Britain officially adopted the Gregorian calendar! The good news? No more leap year confusion. The bad news? Eleven days were just vanished from the calendar! Itās quite a heady thought isnāt it?!
But letās move onto more joyful mattersā¦ Ballet! What's going on in the ballet world back in 1752?
Well, whilst "en pointe" dancing wasn't the fashionable technique at the time (it didn't truly become mainstream until much later, thank goodness!), ballet was still flourishing! This was the golden age of courtly ballet. It was all about extravagant costumes, graceful gestures, and beautiful music, all taking place in majestic settings! Imagine elaborate ballrooms bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, ladies twirling in swirling silk skirts, and the gentlemen bowing low, their elegant breeches shining under the chandelier's light. Such romantic scenes!
Right now, Iām wearing a perfectly pristine pink tutu, naturally. Itās not an original, (although wouldn't that be just the most incredible thing to unearth in the time-travelling rucksack on my back, packed with treasures and stories!), but it does manage to perfectly embody the grace and elegance of those earlier ballerinas.
This vintage tutu is all hand-stitched layers of tulle, and as always I'm adding a little sparkle, because whatās ballet without some glitz and glamour, right?
Imagine this. A big pink bow on the back of my head (you just know I can't resist those!), white silk ballet shoes and a gorgeous silk pink jacket, like one of those ladies might wear at an elegant court ball. Oh, the wonder of it all!
So, let's just imagine our own dance steps as I whisk you through some exciting highlights of the world of dance back in 1752!
The Royal Ballet was on fire! No pun intended of course, but the theatre world was literally alight with activity. Think opera, playhouses, and a whirlwind of ballet shows. The "Royal Ballet" (or āKingās Dancersā as it was known back then, under the reign of the lovely George II) had a huge following and people flocked to see them. And of course, letās not forget the Ballet Masters who made it all possible ā some incredible names in ballet history! Men like Jean-Georges Noverre, FranƧois Didelot and Carlo Blasisā¦ The world of ballet would have been incredibly different without them!
This year, my dear readers, also saw the incredible Marie Salle taking to the stage. Marie Salle, a true ballerina icon who was all about realism and drama. Oh, I'd love to see one of her shows! I hear they were revolutionary!
In Paris, which was always a hotbed of ballet creativity, ballet was gaining new popularity in grand theaters, and what else is there to say about Paris, but ā¦ the fashion! Can we talk about the incredible hats, the ornate gloves and that amazing, graceful dressmaking? Just amazing! Iām itching to head off on a ballet fashion adventure to Paris as soon as I can! Just wait until you hear about the silk fabrics that are being imported from the East and those incredibly embroidered shoes!
Even the ladies' hairstyles back then are incredible. And, can you believe they wore those enormous bouffants ā quite the statement Iād say. Imagine trying to squeeze into a stagecoach in one of thoseā¦ Let's just say Iām sticking to my classic bun for now, though I can imagine myself adding a little embellishment, like a single delicate flower.
Oh, my dear reader, this month is just brimming with possibilities!
Remember you can always contact me via www.pink-tutu.com and I love hearing from all my readers. So get in touch with any comments and thoughts you may have, you are all lovely!
Before I jet off to 1752 for my first glimpse of a show in one of those historic theatres, rememberā¦ we are ALL ballet icons!
I shall see you soon. Love, Emma šø
