#BalletHistory during 1840 09 September

Hello, my lovely tutu-loving readers! It’s Emma here, back with another delightful dose of ballet history, fresh from a trip back to 1840. My trusty time-traveling steed, Magic Meg – she’s a magnificent pink-sparkling shire horse with golden hooves, if you haven’t met her – and I galloped through a fascinating whirlwind of the world of dance, as we do every month here at Pink-Tutu.com! As you know, my heart belongs to tutus, especially those in my favourite hue, pink, and I'm on a mission to bring a little tutu-tastic joy to everyone's lives!

Now, September 9th, 1840 - what was going on in the ballet world that day, you ask?

Well, hold onto your tiaras, because you’re about to take a magical journey through time, where we’ll peek behind the curtains at what the dancers of the era were up to…

We landed in Vienna, Austria, and oh my, what a vibrant scene unfolded! The Vienna State Opera was already well established, having opened its doors in 1869, but we arrived at a time when ballet was experiencing a resurgence. The most exciting news I learned is that, later this year, the beautiful Maria Taglioni was due to grace the Viennese stage in the most exciting ballets, including the timeless classic 'La Sylphide' (now that is a performance that is definitely on my time-travelling to-do list!).

But I was drawn to a more intimate spectacle – a ballet ball held at the Schönbrunn Palace! Imagine! Elegant couples gliding across the ballroom, the ladies adorned in stunning, billowing gowns and intricate coiffures, their partners handsome in their finest breeches and coats. There was laughter and lively chatter, a truly elegant affair, and everyone seemed to know all the latest waltzes.

The music was played by an orchestra - the waltzes were all the rage in this era, as were polkas and quadrilles, each movement and twirl of the waltz echoing a captivating story of romance, and everyone seemed to be waltzing beautifully - with such elegance and control, they were dancing like professionals. The waltzing scene felt familiar, even though I’ve never visited a true 'ball' before – perhaps our ballroom dancing today takes inspiration from these lavish affairs?

Now, I always travel with my trusty leather rucksack packed full of vintage ballet treasures, so of course, I found myself a delightful piece of history – a little booklet listing some of the dances, each meticulously described in elegant, detailed handwritten cursive. A treasure indeed! I couldn't resist slipping it into my rucksack - just for you, my readers, of course!

From Vienna, we travelled to the East Coast of the United States – yes, I always take care to make my trips as inclusive as possible and enjoy exploring the world in all its colourful, cultural tapestry!

New York, you might say, was a melting pot of theatre and performance, bursting at the seams with exciting new venues like The Park Theatre (founded 1798), and the Bowery Theatre, which opened its doors to audiences just three years previously (1837). Both were hosting various dramatic and operatic performances, with actors dressed in elaborate costumes.

Unfortunately, though ballet hadn’t quite reached the top of the bill in these American venues – as it had in England and the heart of Europe – there was a strong emerging desire for its art. I felt the stirrings of a nascent love for graceful movements, a thirst for beauty in every gesture.

It was exhilarating to see these venues, these spaces, that were at the very beginnings of something new – something incredible – something magical! The energy was electric, and it left me feeling a deep sense of excitement for what the future held.

I always make sure to stop off in England – where I'm lucky enough to call the gorgeous Derbyshire countryside home - on my return journeys, and I made an interesting stop at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. You see, 1840 marks the anniversary of something incredibly important for ballet - a truly significant milestone: the 'French era' of ballet, which dominated British dance until 1840, had just come to an end!

This French influence can still be seen in today's dance moves. You see, ballet wasn’t invented here in England, and instead arrived in this country in a most colourful way: as a kind of cultural import – much like, you could say, a fashionable imported Parisian frock. It was an important moment. Ballet as a form of artistic expression was finding its voice – in a brand new, fresh style!

Now, England’s love affair with ballet really began with a particular English noblewoman, the Queen herself, Queen Victoria! She is said to have loved dance. During the Regency era and early Victorian years, she helped introduce ballet to the Royal Family, and the popularity of ballet flourished in society as a consequence. I often think that sometimes you don't realise the influence that one person, a truly powerful person can have on culture!

It’s funny how something as simple as ballet can hold so much history, such intrigue, such passion! It's just incredible to know that all this time ago, the passion for this artform - this graceful, expressive, artistic movement – was so strong.

On my travels this time, I have taken in so much beauty, history and glamour. But you know what? What has really excited me is knowing that a lot of this can be experienced again today. You can truly delve into the dance world of 1840 in all its captivating beauty, simply by enjoying modern ballet shows and taking in all its fascinating variations!

For example, you can catch the beautifully executed and elegantly expressive dance steps in a performance of 'La Sylphide' – or, of course, try and emulate the waltz steps that filled the dance halls and elegant balls that I experienced this time! And you could find your very own exquisite, vintage-inspired ballet treasures to take inspiration from! Why not visit your local theatre, dance studios and ballet archives to discover the world of ballet history for yourselves!

Now, you are all more than welcome to send me a message – on www.pink-tutu.com – with some of your thoughts on my journey today! And don’t forget to keep those tutu dreams coming, my lovely readers – you know how much I love pink and ballet tutus, and if you do, then surely we can bring a little bit of pink tutu joy into this world!

And so, as ever, until next time – twirl with happiness, dance with grace, and enjoy all that life has to offer in our world of dance!