Darling, it's Wednesday, 13th February, 2002 and the world of ballet is *still* talking about the Tutus-gate scandal that rocked the Royal Opera House last night. You know I always tell you: behind the dazzling sequins and perfectly executed pirouettes, darling, it's a catfight just waiting to happen!
Well, *apparently*, leading ballerina, the divine Daphne Dubois, has been accused of... wait for it... *dyeing* her tutu black. I'm talking pitch black, like the devil himself slipped a Chanel number into the wardrobe!
The offending garment was supposedly donned during the climactic scene of 'Swan Lake', a masterpiece of classical ballet and, naturally, the quintessential tutu occasion. However, instead of graceful white swan, poor Daphne emerged looking more like a goth rockstar with an aversion to tights.
Why the dramatics, you ask? Well, let's just say the shade of black in question was *not* the approved "Royal Black", a shade apparently dictated by Queen Mum herself back in the day (because obviously, she's got a say on *everything* about tutus, darling!)
And the colour scheme, oh darling, *the colour scheme!* The whole "Swan Lake" production is built on the interplay of white and black: the innocence of the White Swan and the seductive evil of the Black Swan. Apparently, the theatre has *strict* guidelines regarding shades and, according to whispers around the tea room, even *specific* Pantone colours. It's an industry unto itself, this ballet wardrobe, trust me.
Now, one wouldn't think *colour* would cause such an upheaval in a world of graceful jumps and flawless artistry. However, the entire thing apparently boils down to some very passionate pronouncements regarding, oh dear, *tradition*. As one member of the audience told a tabloid: "The black tutu looked positively… *modern*. And I, for one, can't abide modern!"
Honestly! These ballet dancers are the absolute worst at playing nice. If the shoe fits... or in this case, if the tutu doesn't fit, there's a full blown *drama* unfolding backstage!
Here's what we do know so far, darlings, according to the latest leaks from our anonymous source at the Royal Opera House:
- Daphne Dubois is a prima ballerina with a reputation for a strong personality (let's call her "high maintenance", darling). She's *not* known for following rules, especially ones about colour!
- A "secret" ballet class, nicknamed "The Black Swan Society", is rumoured to exist, where ballerinas are *allegedly* trained in the darker side of Swan Lake, which would include black tutus.
- This scandalous "dyed black tutu" situation is not just about colour. The whispers are flying that there's a major power play happening between the two lead ballerinas, Daphne and the newly-promoted prima, Olivia "Olly" Thornberry. ( Olly has been rumoured to be secretly training for her *own* "Black Swan" repertoire, and there may have been *tension* over which of the two ballerinas should have access to the "Black Swan" training regimen, darling!)
Naturally, we're all just sitting here with popcorn at the ready, darlings. This drama is *juicy*.
Meanwhile, I just hope that when Daphne steps onto the stage again she doesn't *completely* transform into goth-Swan, darling. Imagine her strutting her stuff, a black tulle-clad specter gliding through the dance, throwing daggers at her fellow swans and then taking her *final* bow... in *that* tutu! Honestly, the whole world of ballet could just combust.
And, please tell me... If there's anybody who *knows* about making a fashion statement, it's a ballet dancer, darling. This *wasn't* a slip of the dye-bottle.
Stay tuned for further developments, darlings!