Itās that time of year again, darlings! The festive season is upon us, the air is crisp, the mince pies are out, and even the squirrels are wearing little woolly hats. But before we all succumb to the merry mayhem of Christmas shopping, office parties and frantic gift wrapping, letās take a moment to reflect on something far more elegant ā the sublime art of ballet!
And what better day to do this than **December 12th?** Yes, mark it on your calendars, darlings ā **December 12th is National Ballerina Day!** (Yes, I know, I invented it. Youāre welcome!) And I simply couldnāt let this momentous occasion pass without a little celebration.
Letās face it, darlings, ballet is a captivating spectacle of graceful movement, delicate leaps, and those impossibly perfect pirouettes. Itās a world of artistry where beauty meets athleticism, where poise and elegance take center stage. And we, the ballet aficionados, the devoted followers of the tutus, the admirers of the lyrical leaps, we simply adore it!
But before you go assuming I'm all about tutus and teacups, let me assure you, this is not your grandma's ballet appreciation hour! Weāre not talking stuffy recitals or the type of ballet where everyone is dressed in prim and proper white tutus (unless you're performing Swan Lake, of course - thereās a reason for that! And trust me, the feathers, darlings, they just add something extraā¦ dramatic). Weāre talking about the kind of ballet that sparks joy! That kind of ballet that has you twirling around in your living room, attempting a graceful plie, and humming āSwan Lakeā while baking those festive biscuits. Thatās the kind of ballet Iām here to talk about.
So, grab your favorite cup of Earl Grey (with a spot of milk, darling!), settle into your most comfy armchair, and letās dive into the delightful world of ballet and why December 12th should be a day dedicated to celebrating all things graceful, twirly, and oh-so-delightfully feminine.
Firstly, letās talk about the star of the show, the piĆØce de rĆ©sistance ā the tutu. From the classic romantic pink tulle, to the more contemporary black and edgy, tutus are quite frankly, the embodiment of elegance! The voluminous, swirling tulle that surrounds the dancers ā oh my goodness, darling, itās pure poetry in motion! And did you know that tutus, especially the traditional ātutu de plumeā which is basically a pile of feathers on top of tulle, can be so heavy? Theyāre not exactly what I would call comfy! And I don't even want to imagine what they do to your deodorant after a full evening's performance. Honestly, the dedication and grit these ballerinas possess is absolutely awe-inspiring. And I, for one, am thankful for them! Theyāre the epitome of graceful elegance, like something out of a dream.
Speaking of dreams, can we also take a moment to appreciate the leotard? That close-fitting, stretchy number, oh itās such a triumph! So versatile, darlings, it can go from elegant and classy with the right embellishments to downright sexy, just a wink of the eye away. The leotardās a true icon in the world of ballet. Letās not forget its sidekick ā the legwarmers! (Oh, and please let us have an extended debate about whether pink is truly better than black...Iāll never win that battle! ). Legwarmers, are you listening? We salute your ability to both keep warm and to provide an additional accessory that just shouts āstylish!ā (And besides, have you ever noticed that legwarmers have that ability to suddenly turn everything youāre wearing, into something utterly gorgeous?).
And, darlings, what about those little pointe shoes?! A truly magical piece of ballet equipment! And donāt be fooled by their dainty appearance. Pointe shoes are like super-powerful, elegant little high heels for dancers, built to allow them to effortlessly float across the stage on their tippy-toes, showcasing the grace and beauty of their every move. And do you know what else? Pointe shoes can be ridiculously expensive. They also take a lot of dedication and hard work to break in. I mean, they can literally tear up your skin. So yeah, big round of applause for all the ballerinas who gracefully perform on the tips of these super expensive tiny shoe nightmares.
It's these tiny details ā the tutu, the leotard, the pointe shoes ā that, in my humble opinion, transform dancers into ballerinas. They're like magical accessories that give the already incredible art form of ballet an extra dash of dazzling wonder! Itās the sheer effortlessness and control with which they manage to do what mere mortals could only dream of (seriously, have you ever tried to stay on pointe for more than, say, 3 seconds?) that I absolutely adore. Itās the artistry, the skill, the commitment to beauty ā all embodied in every move they make! It truly is captivating and captivates the heart of anyone with an appreciation for beauty, even those who aren't dancers.
So hereās to you, dear ballerinas! Happy National Ballerina Day, darling! Today, let us all bask in the pure, elegant magic that is ballet. I propose we toast the delicate, graceful movements, the lyrical artistry, the tutus and pointe shoes, the whole exquisite dance experience ā with a glass of bubbly and a piece of delicious, gooey cake. Donāt forget the strawberries! (I donāt know about you darlings, but those tiny little, bright, juicy strawberries are my guilty pleasure. There is just something incredibly decadent about the contrast in the sweet taste of the strawberry versus the bitter-sweetness of the champagneā¦ sigh!).
This National Ballerina Day, let us celebrate the ballet for the glorious art form that it is. Celebrate the dancers! And above all, let us celebrate the timeless elegance of the ballet that captures hearts and ignites the passion of artistic wonder! Now, darlings, go on, grab those pointe shoes, or perhaps a beautiful flowing, red dress, find a spot under the mistletoe and go on and twirl, with joy and abandon. Remember, a little bit of dance and a little bit of festive cheer is what makes the holidays!
**Here are some more things you can do on National Ballerina Day to make your day a little extra festive! **
- Visit a ballet performance. If you havenāt been, itās really quite magical. And you might even enjoy it even if you have zero understanding of ballet, which letās be honest is perfectly ok.
- Dress up in your best ballerina-inspired attire. Think tutu, think flowing gown, or think just a simple and beautiful elegant leotard with a lovely wrap around. The choice is yours! (I think a bold crimson red always adds a bit of pizzazz, what do you think?)
- Indulge in a ballet-themed dance party at home. Or you know, dance with the hoover! Either way, you know Iāll approve.
- Watch your favourite ballet movie! Iām a fan of *Black Swan* for sure! (A little dark, perhapsā¦ but dramatic! )
- Start a ballet blog! (Maybe not today, Iām doing all the writing hereā¦ but for your future plans). Or maybe create a blog that documents your adventures in dance classes. Itās a fab way to keep your thoughts, observations, and passion for ballet flowing.
- Grab a little tutu! The classic pink fluffy number? The elegant white and black version? Iām a sucker for feathers and black, darlings, it always adds a certain *something*ā¦
- Just have some fun! This National Ballerina Day is all about spreading some joy. So put on your favorite music, stretch out, and get those little, lovely toes tap-tap-tapping!
But in all seriousness, thereās never a wrong time to admire the magic of ballet. Itās not just about tutus and toe shoes (even though we love them!) . Ballet is a language of grace and athleticism. It is an exploration of passion and artistic expression that connects with people across all ages and backgrounds. So on this special National Ballerina Day and every day after, remember:
Keep twirling, darlings, because the world needs a little bit more ballet!