Oh, darling, what a month for tutu-tastic delights! From the opulent opulence of the Paris Opera's La Bayadère, where the corps de ballet positively shimmered in swathes of pale pink, to the bold, dramatic lines of Birmingham Royal Ballet's Manon, the tutus, my dears, have truly been the stars of the show.
A true collector, you see, of ballet programmes and those most delightful of stage relics - tutus, I've been able to indulge my passions these last few weeks, and what an absolute treat it has been.
And now, let's dissect those divine creations which have delighted our eyes and our sensibilities this month:
- The Paris Opera Ballet, darling, never disappoints. That pale, pale pink, so delicate, so very "La Bayadère" and, of course, the magnificent, exquisite detail of each and every costume -simply superb. I’d almost forgotten just how exquisite a tutu could look, but that performance had me swooning!
- The Royal Ballet, bless their souls, have always had a penchant for the slightly more, let’s say, "practical", tutu. And they did it again in this month's Giselle. The ethereal grace of the white tutus in Act One was truly stunning. But darling, Act Two! I couldn't help but think, "Oh, but those peasant skirts!" What's not to love, however! So many layers! It's a very, very '60s 'look - quite literally. It made me think of Mary Quant!
- Birmingham Royal Ballet are a firm favourite of mine. Oh, that dark, deep, and romantic Manon. How utterly ravishing, simply a masterpiece! A magnificent contrast with the Paris Opera Ballet - the tutus were in deep navy, almost black. Those stunning, deep, contrasting colours really allowed the ballet's passion and intensity to flow on stage and through my soul!
Of course, the Royal Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake, that magnificent classic, has been a triumph for the tutu and will always hold a special place in the hearts of all those who love a good, old fashioned ballet spectacle.
But my darling, what has delighted me most this month, is the rediscovering of the simple tutu - like the tutus worn by the nymphs in Birmingham Royal Ballet's performance of Don Quixote. Oh, so graceful, light, and ethereal! They really bring out the wonder and delight in all those tutus.
Until next month, darling, when we'll be back, ready for more, more, more from our ballet world, and our endless infatuation with that oh-so-iconic garment - the tutu!