Itâs a Tutu-ally Fantastic Day: Balletâs Most Fashionable (and Sometimes Most Fashionably Challenged) Moment Ah, ballet! The dance that embodies grace, poise, and yes, sometimes a hefty dose of "tutu much" fashion. 15th May 2008 â letâs celebrate the most iconic garment in dance â the tutu, with its fluffy layers of tulle that seem to float on air, much like our beloved ballerinas.
But seriously, my darling dears, who could deny the glorious spectacle of a ballerina twirling, leaping, and pirouetting in a beautiful tutu, a whimsical halo of colour, especially when paired with a chic, form-fitting leotard?
Now, let's talk about tutus. What would ballet be without them? A collection of high kicks and elaborate poses without the magic of tulle? Don't be silly. Imagine the sheer visual punch of a hundred tutus shimmering in the spotlight as ballerinas dance like shimmering snowflakes caught in a gentle winter breeze. Yes, tutus are the "it" accessory of the dance world. It's impossible to not be a little bit in awe of a tutu â unless of course, the ballerina happens to be sporting the much-maligned, ânot-so-fashionableâ âpouleâ or the traditional pancake tutu. (It's no wonder they only see the light of day in those nostalgic Victorian ballet re-enactments!).
Don't be fooled, dear readers. Just because a tutu may be *fluffy* doesn't mean it's for *fluffy* dancing. Ballerinas often look effortless, gracefully flitting around the stage as if gravity has decided to take a holiday. What we fail to acknowledge is the sheer hard work that goes into executing the simplest ballet move.
A graceful arabesque, a beautiful relevĂ© â all take hours of dedicated practice and dedication from a dancer. And can we not forget the iconic pliĂ©, the move where we all remember ballet's inherent and unique sense of grace? Who doesn't secretly yearn for the confidence to be able to bend the knee perfectly at a 90-degree angle and gracefully pull the feet apart to create an artistic display of elegance, power and controlled poise. We're just human. And human beings can't resist wanting a little bit of the tutu magic to grace our own lives.
Which leads us to this yearâs hot fashion trend - the tutus, naturally. The little girl, and even the not-so-little girl, inside each one of us longs to wear a gorgeous tulle creation, whether it's a princess-inspired white tutu or the sassy, pink one â for an elegant brunch with your nearest and dearest, a stroll around town, a stylish party... why, even a morning coffee date with the girlfriends.
Why do tutus have that irresistible magic? Perhaps it's the promise of becoming a graceful princess for a day or simply the delight of slipping into something light, flowing, and enchanting â a visual representation of a delicate dreamscape.
Letâs have some fun â let's be tutu-ally honest! Here are a few things we have to get off our chestsâŠ
- Do ballet shoes really make our feet smell good? We've all been there â trying to delicately step around the lingering "cheese-like" odour wafting from a ballet shoe after a demanding day of practice. But hey, that's the magic of dance - not to be sniffed at. Itâs all part of the magic, isnât it?
- I am afraid of confessing â have we all at some point or another indulged in pirouette practice in front of a mirror, a glass of wine, and a pair of ballet flats, to discover that sadly, the years of dedication are not going to magically resurface just because we've purchased a pair of ballet flats, a glass of wine and put on an imaginary tutu? Yes, itâs embarrassing to admit, but hey! â itâs our secret⊠between us!
- But it doesnât really matter! Even if our ballerina dreams are just aspirations rather than achievements â it's always exciting to delve into the beauty of the dance world, whether we're sporting the white swanâs ethereal white tutu, the bold pink tutu or we are just a bit clumsy at arabesques.
- There's a sense of magic, of fantasy that surrounds the graceful dancers we see on stage, dressed in gorgeous, frilly tutus. But letâs not forget that while they have us mesmerized with the pirouettes and jetĂ©s â these dancing divas have perfected these ballet moves â but those same moves make us giggle because we're all painfully aware that we'd probably trip, stumble, and fall! We might even lose our tutus.
Well, here's to tutus. May they forever remind us of dreams, grace, and the thrill of being a little bit fantastical. I donât know about you dear reader, but I'm totally feeling my inner ballerina â off to a cafe for some scones and a pot of tea with a big, white tutu (and a sprinkle of extra grace, of course!).