Oh darlings, let's talk tutus!
You know how much I love a good tulle explosion – the more layers, the better! And we’re in the midst of tutu season – ballet is, of course, always in season, but the height of it, the peak, the time to get the frills and frocks in full swing is definitely now.
The big day has finally arrived. The 25th of August, 1996!
Let's not just celebrate it. Let’s raise a glass (of Prosecco, naturally) to the very thing that makes us girly girls weak at the knees. That's right, I'm talking about pink and white tutus.
It’s simply not possible to discuss tutus without talking about the glorious colours that define them:
- Pink, naturally! Is there anything more beautiful, more whimsical? And it really speaks to a ballerina’s inherent girlishness – sweetness and sassiness all rolled into one, if you ask me, though it is fair to say that in recent years there have been plenty of black tutus around which I do find rather more grown up, edgy and quite striking. It just wouldn’t have quite the same effect at a performance though.
- And then there's white. Pristine, angelic, a blank canvas that allows the ballerina's artistry to take center stage. You see, I simply couldn't imagine a ballerina twirling around in anything less than a colour that reflects grace, purity, and all things delicate – yes, these are the most beautiful colours. I am not afraid to say this because I think we can all agree that the tutu is really, genuinely an extension of a ballerina’s essence.
But, enough about colours. We have to talk about the magic. The pure and absolute, head-to-toe magic that a tutu can conjure. It is this: it’s like they are somehow able to transform our beloved dancers from ordinary humans to, well, beings who float on air.
A tutu, and yes I’m talking specifically about the short ones –the ones that make their legs look longer and leaner (the kind they usually wear for Swan Lake) - gives an unparalleled amount of impact to a performance – to the choreography to the audience - and indeed a lot of the times even to the ballerina who’s actually performing. Let’s face it, nothing says, “I am a ballerina," like a big, frothy, billowing tutu that can really send our imaginations spinning with visions of the graceful ballerina swanning around and across the stage.
A ballerina in a pink tutu is the perfect blend of sweetness and fierceness – and let's face it, every true ballerina possesses that perfect blend.
It’s quite a strange thing, a tutu. One look at it, especially if it’s pink and/or white and fluffy, and you know exactly where it’s going to end up: on the stage at the Royal Opera House – which is what I find so brilliant about it, a tutu is as much a signifier as an article of clothing, which I suppose it must be when its being worn to create a magic of transformation which can really only be appreciated within the confines of the Royal Opera House or other dance theatres like it. They belong in such beautiful spaces where we get to enjoy them.
You know what else I think? A pink or white tutu is an extension of a ballerina's soul – a visual embodiment of the sheer beauty, femininity and strength of the dancer.
It’s almost an extension of her personality. A bit like her hair – yes, it's that symbolic, especially because we all have those ballet stereotypes in our head, so if I ever see a girl in a white or pink tutu with blonde hair I do think I am able to read a bit more into the girl’s personality or at least have an instant, unwritten, impression, and why wouldn't I - there's definitely an element of magic in it that, in some ways only those who watch ballet from a younger age might really truly understand.
A white or pink tutu really brings together all these concepts we see on the stage: they’re the icing on the cake – just like the glittery, glittering diamante studded costume jewellerly that some ballerinas tend to favour. And a ballerina without such jewellery or the sparkling tiaras – especially on those big evenings when she’s got the whole of London, New York or Paris at her feet – well, a ballerina like that is simply just inconceivable.
And as we all know, a tutu - especially a pink one –is never ever ever ever going out of style - which makes the idea of a "tutu day" in August, just fantastically perfect.
To my darling ballerinas: thank you for everything! Your beauty, grace and spirit truly inspire us. You make tutus – pink, white, or any other shade – more beautiful, feminine, magical and spectacular - if that is even possible.