Hello my darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here, back with another whirlwind of a ballet adventure! This month, I'm whisking you away to the fabulous year of 1726. Get ready to dust off those powdered wigs and prepare to be swept away by the elegance and charm of the 18th century.
This month's blog is number 4390 on the www.pink-tutu.com website. It's a pretty important number because 1726 is when some real ballet superstars were strutting their stuff! Imagine this: graceful, powdered hair, elegant movements and the very beginnings of the classical ballet we know and love today! I am honestly SO excited to take you on a little adventure.
This journey wouldn't be possible without my trusty steed, Magic Meg. She is the most spectacular Shire horse you ever did see – a pink sparkle horse with golden hooves, a flowing white mane and tail that would make even the most luxurious salon jealous! You can never miss us, I can promise you that. We turn heads wherever we go!
Where did our adventure begin? I thought you'd never ask! We started, as we usually do, in the glorious Peak District of Derbyshire. We set off on a crisp autumn day and the air was positively buzzing with the thrill of a journey ahead. After a little click of my heels and a little neigh from Meg, we landed… drum roll please… right in the middle of Paris, France! I'm telling you, that magic horse just knows where I want to be!
Now, imagine stepping back into the 1700s! Think frills, fancy frocks and fabulous powdered wigs. I actually picked up an amazing silk scarf, with the prettiest embroidery - I'm so looking forward to wearing it to my next London performance! You’ll see that the dancers are making the most of this opportunity – the whole scene just screamed elegance! We went straight to the Opéra Garnier – I had a sneak peek and you simply won’t believe the ornate costumes. They reminded me so much of those gorgeous opera singers you see in movies! I was able to buy a gorgeous hand-stitched opera cloak – my next pink tutu purchase, obviously.
What's on in the world of ballet back then?
Well, I went straight to watch La Forêt enchantée by François Boucher – the dancing was pure magic. He choreographed that ballet specifically for the premiere dancer, Marie Camargo. Talk about elegance! I have to say the use of intricate footwork and quick steps made it an absolute joy to watch! I’ve got some real choreographic inspiration, you know… I need to add some quick-paced movements to my repertoire – I’ll be adding some special footwork moves when I come back from the past, oh I know it!
Did you know that in the 18th century, a big craze in the ballet world was pantomime? Yes, these days you're more likely to see it on Christmas, but way back then it was super popular! And you know what else? Ballerinas actually used to wear high-heeled shoes! It wasn't the cute type I like, of course – they were more practical for performing. But still, imagine a ballet in high heels!
My rucksack is bursting with all sorts of lovely ballet finds: a small 18th century pointe shoe (apparently, dancers are experimenting with a different approach to pointe!), a beautifully-drawn program from one of the ballet performances and, my favourite: a letter from a student writing to her family about how amazing ballet is!
It is clear to see why Marie Camargo was a huge star! She’s famous for wearing those short skirts that were shocking in those days – can you believe they made a huge deal about a woman’s skirt! Imagine the scandal! Well, not a scandal to me, as a pink-tutu wearing modern dancer - I was absolutely loving it! She changed ballet forever by defying the rules! That’s an inspiration for all us female dancers! Now that’s something for us to embrace. We are all inspired by these historical ladies, but this is Emma’s mission. It is to have women wearing all those fab, frilly pink tutus we know and love, everywhere in the world, like that wonderful French dance mistress who danced in Paris.
And so, I'm saying goodbye to this exciting 18th-century adventure. We learned about the early days of classical ballet, got inspired by amazing ballerinas like Marie Camargo, and saw some absolutely incredible dancing! Remember, darlings, ballet has been around for centuries and it’s never been so exciting! Let's keep on dancing!
As always, send in your questions! I love hearing your comments. Stay tuned for our next adventure - a magical time travelling escapade, of course! Don't forget to follow our blog for more exciting ballet news, interviews and special behind-the-scenes sneak peeks!
Love and pirouettes, Emma 💖🩰
