Post #4347: A Whirlwind Trip to 18th-Century Italy
Hello darlings! It's your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! Today, we're venturing into the captivating world of 18th-century ballet, a time of elaborate costumes, exquisite technique, and a fascinating evolution of the art form.
Iâve just returned from a trip to the sun-drenched shores of Italy, specifically, to the breathtaking city of Venice. Now, before you envision a gondola ride, imagine this: a grand palazzo, ornate mirrors reflecting the sparkle of the Venetian lagoon, and the rhythmic sway of graceful dancers adorned in stunning costumes - a ballet scene right out of my dreams!
It was all thanks to Magic Meg, my trusty steed (she really is magic, I tell you!), a pink-sparkling shire horse with a white mane and tail. Her hooves, as golden as Venetian sunset, gracefully whisked me away to 1775. What a wonderful, historic year to be in Italy, as it was home to the âTeatro alla Scalaâ opening in Milan. What a treat that would have been! The Opera house, originally called âIl Teatro Reggio Ducaleâ, opened to much fanfare in a beautiful neoclassical style and has remained one of the most iconic opera and ballet venues in the world ever since! What a stunning landmark of theatrical architecture!
The dance world was quite different from our modern, diverse ballet world then, you see, though there was much artistry and expression in its choreography. The choreography was often very intricate, filled with courtly manners, and graceful gestures that required precise and controlled movement. Whatâs more, a dance known as "ballo" was incredibly popular at the time! This elegant dance form was deeply intertwined with music and spectacle, and featured an incredible number of characters whoâd enact their roles within the narratives. Think intricate dances depicting noble families, witty dialogues through gesture, and costumes fit for royalty!
During my travels, I saw several beautiful, authentic dances with "ballos". You see, Italy was all about drama, panache and extravagant stage spectacles during this time, and I was absolutely thrilled by their grace. The costumes were truly inspiring: the women dancers wore beautifully adorned bodices with panniers and elaborate headpieces. Their headdresses were quite extraordinary - huge, cascading hairstyles. It felt so good to get my hands on the soft silk fabric of the dance dress and imagine swirling about the stage. They even had male dancers in those days! And you know what else was incredibly stylish? The ladies were wearing stockings, which is absolutely darling. Now you see why Italy is so dear to my heart, not only for its captivating history but for its unmatched artistry in ballet!
And, you wouldn't believe the stories I collected from the Venetian streets, now safely tucked away in my leather rucksack, ready to be shared. One lady told me how her son would travel all over the continent to learn and experience the world of ballet, studying different dance techniques from teachers in Paris, Vienna, and even Russia! Such a wonderful, international scene, truly a reminder that ballet is a truly universal language, bridging cultures and borders!
Now, before I head to ballet class with my trusty pink tutu and tights, letâs chat about something everyone can get behind. Who wouldnât want to see a shimmering pink tutu? Wouldnât the world be just that much prettier if everyone rocked a pink tutu? It is after all, the essence of ballet, itâs what makes me tick and I really think it would be wonderful if youâd embrace this beautiful pink dancewear trend and start your ballet journey today! It's the perfect opportunity to explore the world of dance, even in its earliest beginnings. And to keep the inspiration going, there is nothing more empowering than finding a fabulous outfit and showing it off, and to me, a pink tutu is simply an indispensable part of any self-respecting fashionistaâs wardrobe!
See you soon, and happy dancing! ** Emma
www.pink-tutu.com **
The Pink Tutu Archives
A World Of Ballet in March, 1775
While it was certainly the height of fashion in Italy, this beautiful, stylish period in Europe, the 18th century, was a remarkable time for ballet across the continent. It was also the time of the invention of the ballettoâ where dancers used masks to cover their faces to accentuate the expressive gestures of their movements and âPas de basqueâ dance moves. This form of ballet gave rise to dramatic pantomime sequences where dance movements spoke to an audience on stage. I have some fascinating historical pictures in my blog of these beautiful dance moves, check them out at www.pink-tutu.com to catch a glimpse!
London was also alive with the ballet. The Royal Ballet is such a popular theatre even now, and its beautiful ballet theatre building at the Covent Garden in London dates all the way back to this time! âLe Malade Imaginaireâ or "The Imaginary Invalidâ was a very popular theatrical performance with dance routines around this time. What a great show this must have been. This satirical take on medicine had both funny and moving elements to it. You can see why it's a classic still being performed! I must visit there on my next time trip and catch a show at the Covent Garden.
And of course, as a massive ballet fan, Iâm simply fascinated with how the dance itself was changing at this time. The era witnessed the development of an art form that emphasized technique. Dance technique developed further as an art form, with dancers having an incredibly elegant approach to movements which would take many more forms in the centuries to come. We should be so grateful for what has been learned from the generations that went before us, the history of dance is absolutely wonderful, and youâll find lots of fascinating ballet tidbits from different eras in my blog posts, and it's free! Just head on over to www.pink-tutu.com anytime to have a good look through my archives.
I hope this post gave you a real insight into the fabulous and glamorous ballet history in March of 1775. Until next time, don't forget to wear your pink tutus with pride! And, let me know about any fabulous places you've discovered, you can always message me through www.pink-tutu.com, I just love hearing from you.
And if you happen to catch a great ballet performance while wearing your pink tutu - make sure you post your experience with a photo at www.pink-tutu.com. You just might be a star, and have your performance shared in my blog for the whole world to see! I canât wait to share your time travelling ballet adventures.
See you all again next month!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
