Oh darlings, you simply *must* read this! It's positively scandalous. Just yesterday, the world of ballet was sent into a spin, darling, after a *shocking* development, one that's sure to have you gasping into your afternoon tea. It seems, the venerable and rather stuffy Royal Ballet Company has been thrown into utter chaos - and all thanks to a pair of **pink tutus!**
Now, you know, the Royal Ballet is notoriously known for its strictness, its adherence to tradition, the rigid, sometimes *slightly* austere, elegance of its productions. You know, a bit like my grandmother - terribly well-bred and all that. But dear me, it seems even the staidest of institutions cannot escape the winds of change, darling!
The furore erupted on Friday morning as the dancers gathered for rehearsal. You can just imagine it, all the murmuring, the whispering, and then the sudden gasp of shocked silence. The cause? Why, a new shipment of tutus arrived, and to everyone's utter disbelief - half of them were a daring shade of *pink*! Pink! Can you imagine!
The outrage was almost immediate. "How utterly dreadful," declared the venerable Mrs. Higgins, who had been a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet for twenty years ( and whose name is almost a byword for impeccably classic and *traditional* taste ). "Pink? Oh my goodness, the *scandal*. "
"Don't tell me, it's another *modern interpretation* - the ones they call *avant-garde,* but are truly just a way to get publicity ," sneered Mr. Bentley, the Royal Ballet's resident grump, a former dancer, always impeccably turned out in a pinstripe suit.
There was much fluttering of fans, much tutting, and many pronouncements of "I'm shocked, shocked," in the hallowed corridors of the Royal Ballet. And what did the director say to it all? You can practically hear his *faux* outrage - " It's all a bit of *fun* - we're just experimenting, trying new things!"
This wasn't, it seems, simply a case of a wardrobe malfunction, but rather a well-considered, but ill-conceived, experiment, the idea of young Miss Featherstone, the company's newly-appointed Costume Designer - and at only 25, quite the revolutionary. A brave, daring soul. She thought it would be 'whimsical' - something "fun," something "unexpected" - a little 'pop art', she declared - the pink was to represent "youthful energy" and "rebellious flair", and of course the white to embody the traditional classicism of the Royal Ballet.
You can see it - a stunning combination of pink and white tutus onstage - quite the *ballet chic*, dare I say it - like a vintage ice-cream van. Just *dreamy*, wouldn't you say? The pink ones, so shocking, so brave, and oh-so-slightly naughty - and yet - well, they look absolutely fantastic. The only problem, apparently, is that they made the entire company look like a pack of 'pink flamingoes'
Apparently, this 'artistic innovation' is to culminate in a show-stopping premiere, the world premier of a ballet by rising-star choreographer, Thomas Worthington. Oh darling, the anticipation, the excitement! One can only hope that Mr. Worthington will actually have *something* to back up this brave, this daring, this pink-clad assault on ballet tradition!
It appears to have divided opinion within the Royal Ballet itself - with half the company horrified, and the rest feeling *rather* excited about the whole affair - and it has certainly raised quite a stir in the dance world! I, for one, cannot wait to see it unfold on stage - I've a feeling that pink is definitely going to be the new 'ballet black' this autumn - wouldn't you agree? I simply must get my tickets to the premiere - what a way to see in a new season!
- There are whispers that Miss Featherstone, the costume designer, is to create a new *collection* of leotards inspired by the daringly pink - and a pink version of the Royal Ballet’s official logo ( which currently adorns mugs and t-shirts ) - *and* is rumoured to have her eye on bringing some **sparkly* * **pink ** glitter** - to the dancers' tutus. Now *that* would be something!
- I'm certainly not sure about this 'pink revolution', but one thing is for sure - it's not dull, and that's what we need in a world that's so often *just a little bit too serious*.
Oh dear - there are just *so* many rumours and gossipy whispers about all of this! All I know is this: get your tickets to see what will undoubtedly be the most controversial ballet of the year! Pink and white tutus at the Royal Ballet? Darling, you simply cannot miss it!