Dearest readers, I’m so excited to finally be sharing this news story with you! It has been, how do you say, brewing? Simmering? Well, it's finally here, a real life story about tutu-mania!
Let’s set the scene: It’s a sunny day in September 2000, the air crisp and filled with the anticipation of autumn leaves falling (how wonderfully cliché and perfect!). On the hallowed stage of London’s Royal Opera House, the dancers are, as they should be, breathtaking in their exquisitely constructed tutus. I, however, am less elegant - stuck in the third row, battling a rather persistent cough.
Why, you might be asking, the cough?
Well, darling, let me explain. During this enchanting performance of ‘Swan Lake’, what happened, happened. You know, one of those things? A full-blown sneezing attack took over me. Not a little sniffle, not a soft sneeze – I’m talking full on, head-tilted, open-mouthed, everything-must-go kind of sneeze. And oh, dear reader, let me tell you, everything did go. It felt like my head was a cannon ball of pollen and dust, and all those tiny tutus in the stage's limelight were the innocent bystanders. I sneezed with a ferocious intensity that even the prima ballerina herself might have envied. The problem is, while her graceful leaps elicited ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ from the audience, my sneeze elicited...well, it elicited a sort of collective gasp, a nervous coughing fit and then the sound of rustling skirts (no doubt from ladies worried about their tutus!). I swear, there were moments when the whole audience felt like they were about to run for cover, like we were caught in a sudden hailstorm. Not exactly the best audience response, right?
But here’s where the magic really started. A hush fell over the auditorium as the dancer, her back arched gracefully in the centre stage, paused in a frozen position, her tutus practically defying gravity. A hush followed by a snicker and then a rumble of giggles erupted in the balcony. Then, as if on cue, one dancer in the back (perhaps in a tutu-induced, ‘can you really believe what happened’ kind of way) let out a giggle that rippled through the stage like a musical note. The stage erupted in whispers and chuckles, like a gaggle of geese. I’d have to admit, I joined in the giggles, a rather ungraceful ‘hee hee hee’ accompanied by another cough fit ( I blame the sudden surge of embarrassment for the resurgence of this unwelcome guest). And you know what? That little burst of spontaneous joy totally transformed the atmosphere. It became a performance about how even during an incredibly graceful event, life can throw you a sneeze.
And, this, my darlings, is how tutus became a metaphor for the whole, sometimes crazy, unexpected experience of life. I learned a precious lesson that day; it is okay to laugh at ourselves, especially when confronted with a sudden influx of sneezes at a classical ballet, and maybe, just maybe, even in a beautifully-designed, fluffy, ballerina tutu, there is space for a bit of mayhem!
Here are the key take-aways from my tutu experience:- Even ballerinas are human and are prone to unexpected events!
- Life throws unexpected sneezes our way! We just have to ride the wave and giggle it off, darling!
- Let’s celebrate the unexpected beauty of a little laugh in the midst of a serious, graceful ballet! Let's cherish life's unplanned moments! It all comes back to, embracing the chaotic and wonderful mix of our lives!
- A tutu is still a gorgeous symbol of grace, even if a bit of a dust storm has just passed through the Royal Opera House.
Until next time my dears! Remember, even in the most perfectly orchestrated dance of life, a sneeze can become a comedic masterpiece!
XOXO,
Your fashionable dance-obsessed friend.