Oh darling, did you hear? The ballet world has been sent into a spin this week as news of a *tutu* scandal rocked the hallowed halls of the Royal Ballet. And frankly, my dears, it's all just a bit of a *tut*, isn't it?
Turns out, our favourite prima ballerinas have been up to their pointy toes in a *tutu* tug-of-war, all in the name of fashion, of course! You see, dear readers, there's a new trend afoot (literally!) - a revival of the "tutu de jour," if you will. This fabulous new look sees ballerinas flaunting a different *tutu* for each performance. Can you imagine the sartorial chaos? A cascade of tulle and taffeta fit for a Parisian salon, but on the stage! The outcry has been, shall we say, *grand*!
Old-fashioned purists are up in arms, claiming this blatant fashion forwardness threatens the sacred traditions of the dance. "It's all about the art, darling!" one grumpy ballet critic sniffed, adjusting his monocle with a rather theatrical sigh. "The focus should be on the movement, the expression, not a frilly, sparkly display of ... well, you know..."
Well, darling, I'm afraid this old chestnut is out of step with the times! Our dear ballerinas are more than just graceful bodies in motion, they're veritable fashion icons! They deserve to express themselves in a truly magnificent *tutu*-ful way!
For the first time in history, ballet companies have created a dedicated *Tutu Wardrobe Department*. We're talking specialists with years of experience in feather boa management, a team of highly-trained *tutu* dressers ready to swap sequins and pleats in the blink of a well-placed "plié" - an absolute ballet dream come true!
To top it all off, there’s a very competitive ‘*Tutu* of the Year’ competition set up by a new online platform "The Ballerina's Diary", a cheeky new blog chronicling the lives of our beloved ballet darlings, all the way from stage-door to shoe shopping. The winning *tutu* will be crowned the ‘most elegant, impactful and revolutionary *tutu* of the year’ and its lucky designer will receive the coveted ‘Golden Pointe’ trophy.
Of course, with a spectacle this exciting, there has to be a hint of drama, dear reader. There have been some serious behind-the-scenes *tutu* tension, and one *tutu* diva was even accused of *tutu* sabotage. We are informed (by a reliable source that swears to be completely unnamed, wink wink) that it started in a rather heated *tutu* fitting backstage. The main ballerina (who wants to remain nameless for now, I’m afraid - you know how it is!), became extremely stressed at the prospect of *tutu* choices that clashed, in the words of the *tutu* diva herself, “I have the body of a Grecian goddess, dear! The only color I can wear is a luxurious, luxurious, **ivory!** It shows off my athleticism. Plus, the glitter looks gorgeous under the stage lights. Ivory is the only colour that will get me that coveted “Golden Pointe”!”
All the drama, darling! And to think it all started with a simple *tutu*... So what do you think? Will *tutus* conquer the fashion world, or are they just a fleeting trend? Is a *tutu* more than just a costume, or just a piece of fabric designed to cover up, er... well, you know...
The debate rages on! The *tutu* has definitely caused quite the stir in the ballet world, and this looks like a dance we'll be watching unfold for some time! Let us know your thoughts - tell us: is the *tutu* taking over the stage?P.S. This week's *Tutu* news:
* **A *tutu* made entirely of **recycled plastic** has just made its debut at a performance of Swan Lake in St. Petersburg! This, of course, had quite the impact. After all, we can’t get our fabulous ballet-wear out of a plastic bag - it would make us sweat. This *tutu* was completely unique in its elegance and is a sign of the environmentally conscious attitude within the ballet world today. But alas! The recycled *tutu* fell apart after only 30 minutes, and this may become an ongoing debate in the *tutu* world - just how environmentally sound is this recycled material?*The Daily Dancer* has released its *Tutu* poll. With an unprecedented 98.5% of responses, the results are quite a shocking: 83% of dancers have at least one *tutu* tucked away for special occasions and a record-breaking 55% have an entire dedicated space in their houses, for storing the *tutus* they own - some of which include vintage *tutus*, signed by famous designers (we even hear, and this may be a myth - but oh so glamorous!), some have even worn the *tutu* of Dame Margot Fonteyn. But remember darlings, we love the *tutu*...but not too much!