Hello darlings, and welcome to my little corner of the internet! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, and oh my goodness, do I have a tale to tell! Today we’re hopping back in time, aboard my darling Magic Meg – my trusty pink shimmering Shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing mane and tail as white as fresh snow – to April in the year 1700!
Just the thought of being in the heart of the 18th century has my toes tapping! Can you imagine? The wigs, the ruffles, the powdered faces! The air buzzing with excitement over the latest plays, concerts and… wait for it… BALLET! Yes, darling, ballet was blossoming even then, taking its first tentative steps towards becoming the magnificent art form it is today.
Now, don’t think this is all prim and proper like the images that come to mind with the term ‘18th century.’ Oh no! There was drama, intrigue and more than a little bit of mischief – a recipe for a truly splendid ballet experience!
Remember my promise to you to find stories of the past and fill my rucksack with fabulous ballet memorabilia? Well, today was just overflowing with treasures! My dear Magic Meg transported me straight to the Royal Court in London, where, by a stroke of sheer luck, I stumbled into a lavish private ballet performance, organised by the King himself! You see, the 18th century was truly a time of opulent performance, a period when ballet was often a royal spectacle. Imagine, ladies and gents, having the King in your audience!
The dancers wore spectacular costumes, adorned with gold, silk, and sequins, the colour of which even surpassed the shimmering pink of my favourite tutus! And let’s not forget the dancing! It was a whirlwind of swirling gowns, graceful leaps, and elegant movements, captivating me so thoroughly that I felt I could barely breathe! Imagine if ballet today was as close to Royalty as that. My goodness, I wish we could have a royal command performance in the Royal Albert Hall today! How incredible that would be.
My rucksack now brims with sketches and snippets of stories about the dancers who graced those early stages, the storytellers, musicians, and the magnificent choreographers who brought it all together! And you know what? There were women behind many of these great steps! They were truly ahead of their time and helped to shape the future of this beautiful art.
My favourite discovery? I learned about Mademoiselle Sallé, a phenomenal ballerina who, believe it or not, broke all the rules. She challenged the expected movements, favoured a much less-covered costume and took the world of ballet by storm! Now, isn't she a fabulous role model for every girl in Derbyshire (and beyond) who ever dreamt of breaking a few barriers? Imagine the tutus, darling! If only the ladies of 18th Century fashion could have had their hands on some pink tulle and sequins, we would be looking at some truly incredible costume designs.
Now, on a lighter note, can we talk about the outfits? The court was buzzing with extravagant powdered wigs, full gowns, lace ruffles, and an incredible amount of bling! All of that was totally inspired by the era’s fascination with everything French and Italian, and I’m just giddy with the thought of what this translates to for dance attire! My imagination is going wild picturing a pink and lace tutu adorned with jewels and flowers! Could anything be more elegant and absolutely perfect for a little ballet extravaganza?
Of course, darling, my love for the history of dance knows no bounds, and the time travels are endless, but even a ballerina needs a little down time after a grand day of exploring and writing. For those of you back in 2028, I’ll be taking some inspiration from the grandeur and bold elegance of the 18th century! This month, you can look forward to a ballet-inspired pink-and-silver gown with cascading layers of tulle, some fabulously dramatic eyeliner for that true 18th century vibe, and a dash of sparkling pink powder. Yes, darling, this is about to get glamorous!
Remember to check back next month, dear readers, when I’ll be sharing another story from my exciting journey through ballet history! I'm on a quest to visit every single ballet performance across time, discover and tell all the stories I can. And until then, remember, the world is your stage! Keep those pink tutus at the ready, darling, and take that leap into something amazing!
With love,
Emma
P.S. Have I inspired you to explore some 18th century ballet yourself? There's no excuse! The library has lots to discover, as do all those wonderful museums with period costume collections, and many of them are located within reach of Derbyshire, so we are lucky. I think it's time to delve into a history of dance book with a big cup of tea. I hope to hear your tales of discovery soon, so do please email them to me at pink-tutu.com – I'm always eager to hear from other lovers of all things ballet. I can't wait to read your ballet histories and share yours too, for it is the shared love of dance that brings us all together.
