My darlings! The month of April has been a truly divine treat for the eyes! While the world of ballet continues to amaze, we mustn’t forget that the magic on stage also bleeds into the realm of fashion! The tutu, oh, that most delightful and iconic of dancewear items, is in full bloom! Here, my dears, are a few highlights that have set this connoisseur’s heart a-flutter:
- The Royal Opera House’s new production of Swan Lake, darling, has given us the most magnificent new take on the tutu, using the classic white swan as inspiration, of course! It is a work of utter perfection. This ethereal fabric, a dream to look at, with delicate ruffles, is so flattering on the ballerinas - they are quite literally floating, not dancing!
- The Mariinsky’s revival of Giselle, has a darling tutu, absolutely divine! While this one might be a little more conservative in silhouette than its Royal Opera House counterpart, this piece is where the color play comes in, the shades and layers giving the ballerinas a graceful elegance. You can't take your eyes away! A timeless look for an eternally beautiful ballet.
- The American Ballet Theatre’s Don Quixote brought the Spanish vibes in the tutu - I felt the warmth of Spain radiating out. With its vibrant red color, layered fabric and some gorgeous detailing, it is pure spectacle - you just know it must have cost a fortune. This one will have every budding ballet enthusiast reaching for their sequins and fringing in a flash, I just know it!
- And lastly, my darlings, the tutus featured in the newly created work by Matthew Bourne – divine! There are not the traditional ballet styles; the shapes are truly modern, the colors are dramatic, with blacks and metallics, very on-trend. I love how these bold styles truly reflect the new era of dance that we are living through.
This season’s ballet offerings are truly outstanding, dear readers. The tutu, my dears, has not lost its charm and power, it is a beautiful object, like the ballets it is so carefully designed for.