#BalletHistory during 1757 02 February

Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-loving time traveller, back with another magical adventure. This month, we’re heading way, way back in time to the 2nd of February 1757!

Now, I know what you're thinking – 1757?! That’s practically the dark ages, right? But let me tell you, even back then, ballet was already making its presence felt.

Magic Meg, my trusty steed (she's a pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail – don’t tell her I told you!), galloped us through the countryside towards a beautiful old Georgian town. We're in England, naturally – I do love a good English country jaunt. It's quite fitting, considering the era's balletic connections to the English Royal Court!

As I rode, I pulled out my trusty leather rucksack and peeked at my well-thumbed ballet history book. It’s absolutely overflowing with fascinating stories from the past – what a fantastic time to be a tutu-wearing historian!

Here’s what I found about ballet in 1757:

• Jean-Georges Noverre, the ballet reformer: This was a big year for the man known as "The Father of Modern Ballet." He was hard at work reforming ballet away from the stiff courtly dances and towards a more expressive, dramatic form. This was the foundation of the modern ballets we adore today. Fancy that!
• Ballet in France and England: Whilst France was considered the hub of ballet in the 1700s, the art form was already being adopted and embraced by the English Royal Court. There were ballets being staged across London, which was just fantastic.
• The 'Opera-Ballets': During this era, “Opera-Ballets” became quite the rage! These weren't like the grand ballets of today – they combined opera music with dances and dramatic storylines, creating truly unique and thrilling entertainment for the aristocracy! Can you imagine!
• The First Ballet Masters: This time period marked the rise of what we know today as 'ballet masters,' – talented and passionate individuals who took ballet beyond court dances and into full-blown theatrical spectacles! It's all very exciting.

I know, I know! You're just itching for the big reveal - What was on in 1757?!

The good news is – I managed to get a peek at an incredibly rare pamphlet advertising a new “Opera-Ballet" at Covent Garden. The show, called “Pygmalion, ou, La Statue Animée”, was billed as a ballet spectacle that included some incredibly daring acrobatics, dancing, and acting. Apparently, a sculptor was bringing a statue to life with the help of a magical goddess – sounds positively theatrical! Can you imagine watching the original! I couldn’t resist snagging a copy of this rare find to add to my ever-growing collection of ballet history artefacts in my rucksack.

It wouldn’t have been right to arrive in 1757 without an outfit fit for a ballet time traveller, darlings. My choice this time? A soft, pale pink silk tutu, layered over a white underskirt – absolutely perfect for swishing around town! And of course, I couldn't go without my signature pair of dainty, blush-pink shoes. A dash of sparkly blush-pink lipstick, a touch of glitter eyeshadow, and a pretty flower corsage, and I was ready to step back in time!

Now, it may seem a little… "unconventional," for a young lady in 1757, but let's face it, a good pink tutu is good for every time! After all, spreading the joy of pink tutus is what this blog is all about!

I took Magic Meg to a beautiful park, where a group of young girls was playing what looked like a very early version of hopscotch – adorable! Of course, I had to do a quick twirl or two with them. You know, share the love!

I spotted some of the most extravagant coaches, beautifully adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings. If those carriages were in Derbyshire today, they’d definitely win a prize for their stylishness – so impressive!

Of course, I was quite the talking point - My pink tutu caused quite a stir, with curious looks, gasps, and hushed whispers everywhere I went. I was just trying to be myself – with a touch of pink and ballet magic in the mix!

However, I quickly learned that a 21st-century pink tutu didn’t really fly back in the 1700s. Imagine that, who would have thought!

But of course, no trip back in time would be complete without a show – and Covent Garden theatre delivered. As I strolled down a busy street, I bumped into a lovely lady who turned out to be an aspiring ballerina herself! Imagine, a whole 250 years later, and her dream remains the same. We even bonded over a love for twirling!

Sadly, tickets were a bit expensive. Even back in the day, seeing a show at Covent Garden cost quite a penny, as we would say. I was quite disappointed as my time was ticking. Magic Meg couldn't hang around much longer...

So instead, I decided to wander the streets and catch a glimpse of the excitement of Covent Garden, and let me tell you - the anticipation surrounding ballet back then was infectious!

What a fantastic trip! Now that was a true ballet adventure.

And that, dear friends, is my little peek into 1757! I’m off back to the present now to rest my weary time-traveling legs! Do leave me a comment to tell me your thoughts on pink tutus in the past!

Catch you next month, my little ballerinas!

Lots of love,

Emma

(and Magic Meg!)

www.pink-tutu.com