Ballet Goes Bonkers: Tutudrama Hits London!
Darling, let's face it, ballet has always been a little bit, well, bonkers. All those little girls in their pink tutus and white tights, leaping around like gazelles on speed. It's enough to make you want to reach for the headache tablets, right? But brace yourselves, my dears, because it seems the world of ballet is about to become even more, shall we say, "interesting" – and I'm not talking about the fact that every other ballerina looks like they're about to break a hip. Oh no, honey, this is a whole new level of balletic brilliance. What started as a harmless Instagram trend (what *doesn't* these days?) has spiraled into a full-blown, tutu-clad extravaganza, threatening to engulf London in a sea of frills and sequins. The *Ballet Bonanza*, as it's now known, is a street-style event encouraging everyday folks to embrace the tutus, the leotards, and yes, the *pose*.
It all started when, *quelle horreur* – I kid you not, the "Queen of Sparkly Thongs," (yes, she actually goes by that name, I'm not making this up), declared on Instagram that she was wearing a pink tutu to Sainsbury's for her weekly shop. Apparently, the tutu "expressed her inner grace."
"It was supposed to be a joke, darling," she told me in a phone interview later. "Just something to get a laugh out of my followers. But then people started taking photos, uploading them to social media, and tagging #BalletBonanza. It took off like a runaway swan, honestly!"
This trend caught on like wildfire. It soon reached the peak of bonkers, when a group of women from Clapham (those famous Clapham gals!), organised a "tutu brunch" and wore nothing but tutus to get their weekend fix of avocado toast.
Oh, darling, and you won't believe what happened. In the name of "artistic expression", or something like that, a woman decided to wear her white tutu to a meeting at a Conservative party headquarters, sparking, let's just say, a heated "debate" about "feminist dance aesthetics" with, oh darling, the most hilarious results! It was glorious. They did not have it in their briefing notes to be confronted with the ballerina and they ended up looking like total pansies!
"Honestly, I just wanted to feel a bit extra that day, you know? It’s so important to be a bit more flamboyant, darlings!" She said. "We don't get to have a lot of fun and celebrate our inner dancer in our everyday life. And really, you can't go wrong with a tutu, right? It's so *effortlessly chic.*"
While we might all find this trend amusing, the organisers say it's not *just* about a tutu. It's "a social commentary", *of course*, on the constraints of traditional gender roles. The goal is to, in their words, "challenge expectations and encourage self-expression." I must say darling, there are very few trends that come with the potential for both fabulous photo opportunities *and* social change, but this is doing the lot!
As for the impact on the world of ballet, well, it seems even professional dancers are getting in on the act. Some have reported an increase in interest in their classes, as new students flock to embrace the art of the pirouette, while some are wearing tutus on their way to their classes for that added flair. And, I wouldn't be surprised if a *Ballet Bonanza* event will make its way to a festival near you soon, for all you tutu-tastic ladies, gents and those in-between to be involved.
Of course, darling, it is the sheer fun, excitement and creativity, that makes *Ballet Bonanza* a perfect fit for 1996 and I have no doubt that the "tutu mania" will be a permanent fixture on London's fashion and social landscape, giving a fabulous twist to even the dullest of days.
To get involved in this trend here's what you'll need:
- A Tutu! It's not ballet bonanza without it! There is something for everyone darling. There's a tutu for every size, style and budget. From short to full length, plain to sequined and for the bold, the neon colored tutus are simply delightful, trust me.
- Leotard: Again, a necessity for this movement. But let's go one better than just black. There is so much fun out there – leotards in shocking colours, neon or covered in sparkle – I've even seen a few with a whole lot of printed animal print. So be brave and pick the perfect one to compliment your tutu.
- Confidence: This is what makes this trend *work*, darling. Walk those streets like the ballerinas you always dreamt of being, knowing that it’s your right to feel fantastic!
So what are you waiting for? Grab a tutu and some fancy socks darling, get ready to *prance* and let the *Ballet Bonanza* begin!