Hello darling dears! Itās Emma, back with another thrilling time travel escapade for your lovely reading pleasure. Itās time to whirl back in time once again, as we dip our toes (or rather, my pink ballet slippers) into a fascinating bit of ballet history from the 10th of October, 1769! Now, grab your favourite tipple and get comfy, because this is a trip we wonāt soon forget.
Today, my journey led me to the heart of London, England, my heart aflutter at the chance to witness a new dance production by the illustrious Monsieur Noverre! As many of you know, I adore exploring the origins of ballet and how it blossomed into the beautiful art form we know and love today.
It was quite the day to be in London! Imagine the sights, the sounds, the fashions ā Iād feel positively overwhelmed with it all! To be fair, the cobblestone streets and lack of traffic make the modern London tube seem positively pleasant. But, alas, this journey would be made on the back of my trusty steed, Magic Meg, who, for a change, managed to navigate London without eating all the cabbages we passed!
Let's chat fashion. Did you know that this period was known as "the era of rococo?" All the fashion was grand and elegant, the perfect inspiration for any aspiring ballerina! Think soft, delicate pastels, beautiful silk, and exquisite embellishments. For me, it was like walking straight into a fairytale. You wouldn't believe how much this period informed my new Spring line, Whispers of Rococo.
The main event, though, was Monsieur Noverre's production! He was known as the "father of modern ballet" for revolutionising the form with his 'ballets dāaction.' This production used story and emotions to make ballet more dramatic and relatable, just like in Romeo and Juliet! What's not to love?
Youāre wondering if he used tutus, right? He did, but they were rather different than what we know today. He created tutus, not from tulle like today's designs, but from what were called āWatteau pleats,ā These pleats are huge, romantic and swish as you walk. Think the style worn in The Sleeping Beauty. Iāll admit that they did remind me of my favourite skirt, so I promptly took my sketchpad and drew a few variations inspired by Monsieur Noverre.
Speaking of the future, imagine if Noverreās āballets dāactionā had stuck to our timeline! Ballet might have embraced storytelling earlier in its history. Who knows? We might even see story-based ballets becoming the trend! I for one am on board with more theatricality! As always, I had to add something new to my rucksack. Monsieur Noverre's manuscript on dance theory has found its way in! Canāt wait to bring his work back to Derbyshire!
But alas, it was time for me to bid farewell to London, my ballet inspiration still brimming with all I'd seen and learned. As Magic Meg galloped us back to our own time, I dreamt of all the amazing ballet productions we might experience together. We still have many eras to explore! And as for the pink tutu missionā¦ well, one tutu-wearing ballet blogger at a time!
Until next time, stay stylish and dance your heart out. You can join me on www.pink-tutu.com for more delightful posts. Happy dancing, darlings!
