Dearest readers,
As a fellow lover of all things beautiful and twirling, I feel compelled to address a topic that has been simmering on the back burner of my mind for far too long: the great tutu debate!
Yes, I know what you're thinking. We’ve all seen those perfectly sculpted legs and impossibly high kicks in our beloved ballets, but let's be honest, sometimes that fluffy confection of tulle and satin can feel more like a *prison* of fabric than a symbol of freedom and grace. It's like the ultimate princess dress, only without the ability to run away from any potential suitors, unless, of course, you happen to be one of those incredibly agile ballerinas who can spin and leap through the air with such finesse.
My own love affair with tutus is a bit more complicated than a straightforward adoration. There's an undeniable charm to those voluminous skirts, the way they billow and dance with the body, creating an ethereal spectacle. It's a costume that demands a certain posture, a certain carriage, forcing you to stand a little taller, to hold your head a bit higher, to embrace a feminine grace.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, the debate!
To tutu, or not to tutu, that is the question. The ballet world is abuzz with opinions on the topic, and for every ballerina who loves to embrace the grand romantic tutu with its flowing, multi-layered elegance, there’s another who prefers the simple grace of a demi-pointe shoe and a streamlined leotard. Both styles have their merits. The full tutu demands attention, commands respect, and allows for a sense of drama and majesty, especially when partnered with the powerful athleticism of a classical ballet piece like *Swan Lake.* However, the sleek minimalism of the demi-pointe offers a sense of lightness and elegance that is hard to match. It’s less about theatrical flair and more about pure, effortless artistry. And, quite honestly, they are so much easier to dance in!
Personally, my heart belongs to the full-fledged, perfectly constructed tutu, but that’s because I've always believed that in dance, the more fabric, the better! Give me a cascade of lace, a puff of feather boa, some intricate embroidery… I'm here for it all!
But let's not forget, it’s all about the dance! The costume itself is merely a vessel, a canvas onto which the choreographer and dancer pour their creativity.
I must confess, there’s a part of me that longs for the day when a groundbreaking choreographer throws out the tutu entirely and replaces it with something equally dramatic but infinitely more… well, **fashionable** (imagine a full-length sequin gown with an elaborate, sculptural cape. Divine!)
To all you aspiring young ballerinas out there, my advice is this: embrace the power of the tutu, experiment with different styles, but always let your own creativity guide your choices!
In the meantime, I'll be off to practice my pirouettes, perhaps even with a few extra layers of tulle just for good measure.
Until next time, my darlings.
Yours in sequins and swish,
In the wake of the tragic events in Columbine, a few weeks ago, it appears the nation's schoolchildren are increasingly likely to wear armour in school - or perhaps just very heavy coats - or at the very least wear the protective shell of tutus. It is reported from the UK, that 'School Ballerinas' are making their way into the local comprehensive and they have been doing so with great success! And these are not your average ballerina. Think *West Side Story*, a ballet version with a *ballet* that looks just like an everyday school kid but then there’s the magical *twirl* to reveal the hidden tutu... and there goes a school playground's routine!
I spoke to local teenager Fiona:
"Yes, we are in full support. Of course we had to keep it quiet, until it became really big!" Fiona giggled, revealing a flash of bright, glittery shoes peeking out from beneath the ankle of her uniform, like a mischievous sparkle from the stage.
But it appears Fiona’s peers weren’t initially too enthusiastic. It seemed to her that "the boys were like, ‘What’s going on? Are you dressed up as a princess or something?' You know? And that kind of put me off... and my mates too, even though there are loads of boys who have totally bought into it now!"
Of course we know there are boys who would absolutely go nuts for the *School Ballerina*. Why, just look at *The Nutcracker* for goodness sake... and just watch *Cats*, you can see it on the telly! "It just went nuts. The whole school, the boys were dancing with us and they’d made their own tutus. Well, not tutus as such, but things made of like bin bags and plastic, with little pom-poms attached. Honestly, you would have just choked with laughter!"
"It made it totally alright... it made us totally feel accepted, yeah?"
"I just felt like dancing. And now I don't care anymore!"
Apparently the trend is gathering pace in the rest of the UK and also throughout the United States, according to sources close to the scene (but nobody will name names and none of them are, according to Fiona, willing to tell the papers “Anything!”).
The movement has a name, the *Twirl and Swerve*, which might suggest its origins.
Is the *Twirl and Swerve* set to catch on throughout the globe? Or is it just the beginning of the real *big ballet story* - that of tutu rebellion!