Oh darling! It’s Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time travelling companion. Back again this month with a fabulous journey into the past, because let's be honest, every day is an adventure when you’ve got Magic Meg, a pink sparkly shire horse with golden hooves and a mane and tail the colour of freshly fallen snow, at your side.
This time, we galloped all the way back to July 1777 – can you even imagine?! The world was a different place then, you know?
I was so excited about this trip – you see, 1777 marks the year that the Royal Ballet School opened its doors in London, making it an extra special date for this little ballerina’s diary!
As we travelled back, I noticed how much the landscape was changing – rolling hills and verdant meadows giving way to bustling streets. Magic Meg even snorted and nudged me when we passed by a cart overflowing with hay. We arrived at a charming town, which I think might have been Derby. (Although you all know, I’m a Derby girl through and through and it would have been amazing to go back to my very own town in that era!)
My trusty leather rucksack was at the ready – I can’t be caught without a place to store all the stories and snippets of history from my journeys! I'd brought my little notebook and pen as well, you know, for sketching those amazing costumes! It’s funny how I can barely remember a time before sketching became an absolute necessity in my life. It's a fantastic way to freeze those glorious moments in time, wouldn’t you agree? And, just imagine, the dancers then didn’t have Instagram, TikTok or YouTube! My dear Magic Meg’s hooves pounded across cobblestone streets as we went to a charming local theatre. I could almost hear the gentle strum of the orchestra's strings even from so far away.
What was playing? You might ask! Well, 1777 was the era of ballets d'action – they were filled with exciting plots, grand costumes, and spectacular sets! They’d have probably featured some impressive fencing duels or magical tales, which was exciting for a young me!
After our quick tour of the local scene, I found myself in London – just imagine the sheer extravagance! Oh, the shops and markets were absolutely delightful! So many vendors selling intricate silks, satins and ribbons! You wouldn’t believe the exquisite lace trimmings I saw, just begging to adorn a ballerina’s tutu!
Magic Meg seemed to sense my enthusiasm for this, her ears flicking excitedly! I was sure she was dreaming of galloping through fields adorned with pink and white flowers - and what ballerina could resist? I can imagine a ballet entirely dedicated to the wonders of the floral world, filled with twirls and leaps across fields bursting with wildflowers. It was a picture that filled me with a boundless amount of joy!
That afternoon, we were standing outside the Royal Ballet School as the students started filing in. It was absolutely heart-warming to see the excitement on their faces - and such beautifully dressed young ladies, all sporting simple yet stylish dance wear! Their faces were illuminated by passion and ambition, making them look as beautiful as ballerinas of any age! You can feel the history here in this place - from the steps these dancers have learned to the teachers they will learn from - the world of ballet was alive with a brilliant light, both in that 18th Century moment and here in my 21st Century!
Of course, a trip to London was not complete without visiting the London Opera House! Oh, what a scene it was – the buzz and energy from everyone milling about, the air brimming with excitement. The grand architecture itself was absolutely enchanting - I spent a whole hour gazing up at the columns, imagining all the amazing shows they had witnessed over the centuries.
The Opera House back then wasn’t really about ballet, darling - although the beautiful costumes that came from Italy and France were all the rage! I did learn from my time traveling that, in 1777, dancers began learning and using a system called "Balletomane." The Balletomane was all about documenting the ballet steps using words rather than the use of specific notations we have today. It makes me laugh to think they had to create a complete library of steps, you see!
From the hustle and bustle of the city, I headed to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, a famous venue, darling! Here, I found out the popular ballerinas wore elaborate, heavy garments that emphasized an 'effortless grace and sophistication’ - this sounds a bit different to us nowadays with our focus on flowing and graceful tutus! But, even if you had to dance in cumbersome clothing in the 1770s, just think, we’re fortunate enough to live in a time of fabulous tutu freedom!
And here comes the highlight of the trip, the reason you’re all reading this post, the grand conclusion! Back in 1777, ballet was considered to be more about a beautiful way to walk across the stage, an act of 'walking elegantly" in beautiful gowns! The choreography was all about slow, stately movement and dramatic flourishes. Ballet back then was all about using one’s grace to command the stage. You can almost hear the sweet, romantic sounds of Bach and Mozart serenading this slow and delicate dance. Ballet has evolved SO much in such a short space of time, you know. Can you imagine a world where we were all moving slowly and in the same style?! The mind boggles! But one thing we still retain in this ballet world today is a deep sense of fashion.
Of course, we love those historical performances, but nothing quite compares to modern ballets, with those incredible high kicks, spins, and the fast-paced choreography of the twenty-first century, I'd say. There’s something quite wonderful and special about the historical and cultural influences on dance, and the impact they have on the dancers of today. They make each generation unique and bring us back together, you see!
Now, after an exciting trip to 1777, I am back home, relishing every delicious moment. I am just so happy to have Magic Meg and her pink glitter at my side, ready for our next trip to any corner of the world, in any moment in history. As always, I hope you enjoyed my little peek back into the 18th Century and have found a bit of inspiration! I look forward to reading your comments below! I love getting to share these incredible journeys with you! Don’t forget, you can always find my other posts over on the pink-tutu.com website. Do let me know which century you want to see me travel to next!
And darling, remember to put on your tutu and twirl the day away, you simply never know when your magic awaits!
Until next time, darlings!
Love always, Emma x
