A Tutu Too Much: Are Ballerinas on the Brink of a Fashion Faux Pas?
Darling, you know me, always glued to the front row of a ballet, clutching my opera glasses (and a cheeky macaron or two, let's be honest) , ready to dissect the most exquisite of pirouettes and leaps. But darling, something's amiss this season, a sartorial storm brewing beneath the chandelier. The once sacrosanct white tutus are suddenly a whisper in the breeze, their place usurped by a sea of PINK. Pink, darling! Now, don't get me wrong, a dash of blush or a splash of fuchsia here and there can be divine, a subtle accent on a classically-cut leotard. But we are talking a veritable symphony of pink tutus on stage, from shocking flamingo to saccharine bubblegum hues, enough to make even the most jaded theatre critic feel queasy.
Now, I'm all for a touch of whimsy on stage. I've seen some of the most imaginative choreography - think Twyla Tharp's ingenious "Deuce Coupe" where ballerinas traded their pointe shoes for roller skates, or a contemporary work where a soloist gracefully waltzed with a giant feather boa. These are audacious and playful moments, pushing the boundaries of the traditional, and that's precisely what keeps ballet exciting. But this current pink obsession? It's not a trend, darling, it's a downright attack on my artistic sensibilities.
Imagine, the grand finale of Swan Lake. Instead of the majestic white tutus of the swans, the corps de ballet swirls across the stage in a dizzying array of candy floss pinks. A travesty, I tell you, an absolute travesty. Where's the mystique? The ethereal elegance? This saccharine colour is simply too distracting, robbing the stage of its dramatic intensity.
What, you might ask, has sparked this sudden 'pink-ification' of ballet? Is there a secret pink cabal within the ballet world? Are we facing a pink revolution? ( I would pay good money to see a contemporary ballet exploring this!) Or perhaps it's just the relentless onslaught of Instagram, where even ballet dancers have become self-promoting brand ambassadors of a pastel-tinted world. But dear me, are they actually endorsing the aesthetic? Are they not afraid of the wrath of ballet purists, who might deem this trend as vulgar, frivolous, a betrayal of tradition and classic beauty?
Fear not, fellow ballet enthusiasts, this isn't the end. The pursuit of pink is not a sign of ballet's demise. It's simply a detour, a fleeting fad that will, I daresay, fade with the first breath of winter's crisp air. But if they keep it up, I'm going to need a strong cup of tea and an extra handful of macarons to cope.
Pink: The New Black (and a few thoughts on tutu etiquette)?
- The infamous pink tutu is, in fact, making a surprisingly confident statement, much like a well-chosen fuchsia scarf on a crisp winter day. It's bold, playful and not for the faint of heart.
- And, darling, while we are discussing tutu etiquette, let's not forget the fundamental rule: no brown tutus. Never, under any circumstances. A dark, mysterious shade is just not conducive to the ethereal grace that ballet is all about.
- Ballet may be evolving ( think ballet 'slash' burlesque) and perhaps the 'pink' phase is just another way of pushing those boundaries. If it's about innovation, then maybe pink has its place. After all, what’s life without a little colour and chaos, darling?
Ultimately, the real story here is that the dance world, like the rest of the fashion world, is always evolving. This isn't about a revolution in ballet or the pink invasion, it's about pushing boundaries, taking risks and most importantly, keeping the art of ballet vibrant, captivating and undeniably fashionable. Pink may be trendy, but there is only one true ballet colour: the vibrant, electric colour of drama, elegance and the beauty of human movement.