Dearest darlings, Prepare to prance, for I bring you the most whimsical, tutus-tastic tale since the arrival of the legendary Marie Antoinette! It seems, the world of ballet is in a flap – well, a *flutter* – because this Thursday, the 24th of July 1998, saw a spectacle of epic proportions unfold at the Royal Opera House. Now, dear reader, imagine this: a swarm of ballerinas, all dressed in their most ethereal tutus, in the middle of Covent Garden! Not on stage, mind you, but on the actual cobbled streets! And their mission, you ask? To, er, "protest" the cost of tutus. It seems the price of feathers, tulle and sequins has reached dizzying heights, enough to give even the most graceful ballerina a dizzy spell. **Why, the Cost of Tutus is Out of Step** I mean, it's all very well wanting to pirouette across the stage looking like a fluffy, dreamy cloud. But at £300 a tutu? It's enough to make even the most pampered prima ballerina weep into her pointe shoes! And those poor girls – just starting out, they've been known to sew their own from scraps found in charity shops, all to keep up with the 'fluffy, dreamy cloud' image. Oh, the injustice! Now, I'm a firm believer in supporting the arts – after all, we wouldn't have a *Single Lady* video if it weren't for *Swan Lake,* now would we? But even I, the most ardent ballet enthusiast, have to draw the line somewhere. A tutu, for goodness sake, should not cost more than a month's rent in Mayfair. It's time for the powers that be to take a ballet class – not a tutus-tastic, money-spinning one, mind you, but a "cost-cutting for beginners" lesson! **The 'Tutu Tango' – A Dance of Discontent** Our intrepid ballerinas weren't simply complaining about price tags – oh no, they wanted a show! What they came up with was pure genius, darlings: The ‘Tutu Tango’. They set up makeshift dance floors on Covent Garden's famous piazza, waltzing, pirouetting, and leaping to the tune of a "tutus-tastic playlist” complete with (what else?) a bit of *Swan Lake* and (just for giggles) a *Grease* medley. It was truly a sight to behold – not to mention a masterclass in comedic choreography! Let me tell you, darling, they pulled out all the stops – from pas de deux that highlighted the financial plight of budding ballerinas to some gloriously embarrassing 'Tutu Tango' moves that would make the Queen (who knows her ballet, my dear!) chuckle. The best bit was watching the surprised faces of the usual street performers! Well, they certainly didn’t have the grace or flair of these protesters, let me tell you. The good news? They did get the media's attention! Cameras flashed, journalists scribbled notes faster than a hummingbird flapping its wings, and I just had to give it to them, their message was clear. **Not Just About The Tutu – A Bigger Message** But it was about more than tutus, darlings – it was about the accessibility of ballet for all. Because, who knows, tucked away in some sleepy village, there may be a future Misty Copeland – or a young prima ballerina in the making - dreaming of dancing on stage. They may not be in an illustrious academy with fancy tutors, darling, but they have the talent. And perhaps a future where the cost of a tutu isn't as daunting. These ballerinas were, to quote one of my favorite ballet critics, "like little firecrackers on stage, exploding with passion and conviction.” Let’s just hope the dance industry’s “suits" take note and remember it’s the magic of the art form – not the price tag – that really matters. I predict that soon, darling, you'll be seeing "affordable tutus" available in high-street stores – maybe even in that little vintage shop around the corner. Now, wouldn't that be fabulous! Stay fashionable and, if you happen to see some ballerinas in Covent Garden doing a little impromptu ballet on a street corner – well, you know the deal! Join in, have fun and tell everyone that ballet isn’t all about big budgets and pricey costumes, darling. It’s about the passion, the heart, the art, the flair – and a bit of a giggle, darling. And that’s my philosophy on life – and tutus – too.
