Hello my darling ballet bunnies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, back with another fabulous post from the annals of history! This month, we're heading all the way back to the 11th of November 1760 - just imagine, the world without electric lights or cars!
Now, as many of you know, my trusty time-travelling steed, the majestic Magic Meg (she's a Shire horse, darling, and her hooves glitter gold with a white mane and tail, a total head-turner) doesn't exactly travel through time on a whim. Nope, she’s quite selective. This month, she pulled up to the date of the first ever "real" ballet performance - the Royal Ballet was first established on this very date, and that, my friends, is something truly special.
To get there, we travelled from my little cottage in Derbyshire, all the way to London. You'll be surprised by what they have in Derbyshire these days - so many ballet schools popping up. And in my favourite shade, naturally: pink. Just what you'd expect!
Anyway, we had to wear layers of petticoats on our journey to keep warm - can you imagine not having a car or even an indoor bathroom? The 18th century was a different world. Thankfully, the cobblestone streets did make me think of a dance floor!
So, once in London, we made our way to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (now The Theatre Royal, but the name itself hints at what you might find there). Can you imagine - it's as if a ballerina is the ruler of the realm!
This "royal ballet" of which we speak, actually has its roots in a school for dancers called the Academy Royal of Dancing. The King (George II) himself established this Academy! Imagine! How exciting! A king, supporting ballet - truly an inspiration!
Of course, no historical jaunt is complete without me collecting the most amazing items. For this trip, I found a genuine original, signed ballet pamphlet for "La Pastorale Heroïque", a two-act opera with interludes of ballet, by a certain Jean-Jacques Rousseau - one of the original ballerinas actually performed that! You wouldn’t believe how much it was worth - but shh, let's not tell anyone about the little pocket of secrets in my rucksack, right? It’s all about my little "fashionista treasure hunting" journey!
So, let's talk ballet fashion, which is something dear to my heart. Fashion at this time is so intricate. Think bouffant hair with a lot of hair powder and intricate braids, with a hint of a beautiful bow at the back. What a glorious touch, perfect for swirling about the stage! The skirts were more wide, think poofy and voluminous - that would certainly be challenging for twirling, and just think - not as simple as those ballerina tutus, would you agree? They wore bodices of silk with beautiful embellishments! There's nothing better than intricate detailing! I managed to snatch a genuine, well-worn, ribbon for my collection! Imagine all those tutus having been tied up!
My fellow time-travelling tutu-lovers, just imagine! The elegance and beauty of a performance back then, especially in a lavish setting, it must have been something truly magnificent. This isn't just some history fact; it's a feeling, a rhythm in time that continues to resonate! I'm lucky to see what this is all based upon. Just to touch a little bit of the fabric, to look at what has influenced the ballets we enjoy today, it just… it makes you feel a bit more magical, doesn't it?
Speaking of magnificent, did I tell you about what's on stage right now, on the 11th November, 1760? This very night? Well, let me tell you, it’s the “Ballet des Fleurs" which, apparently, features a delightful story of fairies! Imagine, all that tulle and sparkling jewels on stage! Just divine!
It’s quite the time period! The early stages of dance, if you will, have an almost fairytale like quality to them. It feels as though a little sprinkle of magic in my own shoes can whisk me right back into a performance!
Before you leave for your own balletic escapades, darlings, remember: spread the joy, the grace, and the sheer sparkle of ballet by wearing pink tutus! Every one of you is a ballerina, no matter where you go. And remember, if you need to know more about my journeys through time, please do visit my website www.pink-tutu.com!
Until next month, ballet bunnies!
