Tutu-Much of a Good Thing? Ballet World in a Tizzy Over "Tutu Tuesday"
Darling, it's a glorious day in the world of ballet! A day so glorious, in fact, that it may be putting some of our prima ballerinas into a right tizzy!
You see, dear readers, the 25th of January, 2003, has become known as "Tutu Tuesday". It all started with a seemingly innocuous blog post on the ballet website, "Ballet Babble" where some unknown soul (bless their cotton socks!) suggested that every Tuesday, ballerinas all over the world should wear their tutus in public, in a joyful celebration of ballet's unbridled artistry.
Now, my dears, you know how we dance enthusiasts get when we're given an excuse to wear a little sparkle. And believe me, my darlings, a tutu does bring out the sparkle in just about anything. From your daily shop at Tesco to the high tea at the Ritz, the humble tutu has been getting a serious workout on Tuesday!
But some in the ballet world, the stuffy ones, the ones who never dared to wear anything other than black velvet, have declared this trend a "disgrace"!
"It's an assault on ballet's dignity," wailed one dance critic in the Telegraph. "Imagine! A tutu on the tube at rush hour! It's just appalling! We need to return to a time when ballet is celebrated solely in the confines of a well-lit theatre!"
Oh, how ridiculous, darling! As if ballet needs an elitist "guard dog" to stand at its entrance and bark at those who dare to enjoy it outside the traditional walls of the theatre. This, my lovelies, is exactly what "Tutu Tuesday" is fighting against! Let's reclaim ballet from the stuffy confines of its snooty guardians! Let's get our tutus out of the dance bag, put them on our adorable little bodies, and make our way to the outside world to make our own ballet. We are our own choreographers, and darling, we dance our own lives, on our own stage.
"Tutu Tuesday" Has Gone Global
In spite of the criticism, the movement, dear, has swept across the globe with the speed and elegance of a pas de deux.
From the Royal Ballet in London, to the Moscow Ballet in... well... Moscow, even the French National Ballet has embraced the glorious twirl!
In fact, reports coming in this morning from Paris suggest a little ballet competition is planned for "Tutu Tuesday", involving the city's "Metro Tutu Crew."
There are rumours of an epic showdown involving dancers, buskers, and the occasional "ballet-savvy" pigeons. It sounds absolutely fabulous, darling!
As one tutu-wearing ballet fanatic put it, "This isn't about breaking the rules. It's about celebrating our passion, our joy, our art, outside the constraints of traditional theatre."
"Tutu Tuesday" Tutus?
But what of the tutus themselves, darling? The world of tutu fashion is blooming! The trend has created a surge in demand for all manner of tutus - from classic pale pink to electric blue, sparkly pink to even, gasp, leopard print! A real treat for the eyes! There have even been sightings of tutus on... well, darlings... we couldn't believe our eyes. Yes, there was a man spotted near Victoria station, a man in full ballet garb... in a Tutu!! Yes! And he even performed a few impromptu turns to the bewildered amusement of the rush hour crowds.
There you have it, my dears. The humble tutu has been given a chance to shine. It has become a symbol of freedom, of fun, and of artistic expression, no matter where one may find themselves on a Tuesday.
As we say "chez nous" (our "chez nous" here, darlings is Britain's beloved theatre): "Viva "Tutu Tuesday"!"
A "Tutu Tuesday" "Must-Do" List:
- Find a tutu: Yes, darling! Do go shopping and get yourself a beautiful, sparkling new tutu! A tutu can take you anywhere, I assure you!
- Make "Tutu Tuesday" a reason to visit a theatre, even just to stroll around the outside.
- Don't be shy. Be brave. Make your "Tutu Tuesday" all about yourself, and embrace the fun!
Have a wonderfully, outrageously, beautifully "Tutu Tuesday", darling, and do be sure to let me know all about it!