Fun Ballet Tutu News 791

It’s the 1st of September, and if you haven't already pencilled it in your little diamante-studded diary, then today is, without doubt, NATIONAL TUTU DAY! Yes, ladies and gents, you heard that right, we're celebrating the most iconic piece of ballet attire – the **tutu**!

For all you lovely lambs, that’s the **fluffy, frilly, and outrageously fabulous skirt**, that our favourite ballerinas (or should I say **ballerinas of our dreams**) frolic around in at the Royal Opera House.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, you're probably saying, “tut tut, another pointless made-up holiday," but trust me on this one, because you’re about to be whisked away into a whirlwind of tulle. We’re going to delve deep into the enchanting world of the tutu, and I, your fabulous friend and resident dance enthusiast, am here to take you on this delightful journey. So grab your glass of bubbles (or a delicious fruit tea – I’m a real girl, and I know how important those *essential* carbs are!) and get ready for a **spin, dear darling**.

Back in the Victorian Era, those demure little ladies (don't get me wrong, I’m all for demure, but sometimes a little *sparkle* is all it takes) wanted to dance in **gorgeous skirts**, which are now what we would consider *full skirts*. But they were big, cumbersome, and let's be honest, would’ve gotten in the way of a good **pirouette**.

The *invention*, darling, the **revolution** really, came about in the early 19th century with Marie Taglioni. A dancer of unmatched grace and **heavenly limbs**, her costume featured a much **shorter skirt, revealing her legs in all their elegant glory**, for the very first time! *Can you imagine the *gasps* at the Royal Opera House, my dears? *Scandal!**. This innovation created the *Romantic tutu* as we know it, made from layers of soft tulle with a fitted bodice that showcased a dancer’s flexibility and power in ways that had never been seen before.

We all have our favourite kind of tutu (we’re not shallow like that are we, darling?), it’s an **intimate dance, just us and the fluffy cloud of tulle**. And just like there are *millions* of hairstyles to flatter your lovely face (which reminds me, darling, did you hear about that time *so-and-so* did her hair *like that* … we all have opinions, don't we!), there’s a *tutu* out there to perfectly accentuate a dancer's personality and role.

There are those romantic tulle creations we just talked about - those lovely *little numbers*. There’s also the ***Classical tutu**, an iconic silhouette for Swan Lake and Giselle, the ones we picture when we say “ballet” - so demure and ladylike, that elegant **cone shape** that makes a dancer look like a beautiful princess.

Then there’s the ***Pake**, a long, layered beauty with an A-line shape (yes, the *a-line shape* dear, *all the rage* this season) often seen in modern ballets and contemporary works.

And lastly, we have the ***Pointe shoe**, darling, those wonderful pointed toes - which just can’t exist without a ***tutu**, no matter the style. That’s like a ballerina *dancing without her heart*.

I won't even try to *define* how many varieties of **tutues** there are, I would end up listing them all day and we all know it is National Tutu Day – no need to waste time on our precious day with **long, boring things**!

So how are we going to *celebrate* today, my loves? Obviously, I’ll be in the studio getting my ***stretch*** on. Then, we’ll be heading out with the **ladies** for afternoon tea and a good old gossip (and don’t forget the pastries and bubbly – those sugary snacks are our friends. Trust me, dear!).

• Get your ***friends*** to throw you a *“tutu”-themed* dance party (and of course, all attendees must wear **a tutu, darling!).
• Dress up, and spend the day prancing around the *shopping mall* like a *ballet-dancing fairy*, don’t worry about anyone thinking you're *extra*. It's *National Tutu Day!*
• Take a ballet class or workshop, you will learn all sorts of fascinating things, including what *plié* really means (no, it’s not “please!”)
• Wear a **tutu** *to work* and see how many **double takes** you get (don’t be surprised, though, *darling*… people have been *watching your *elegant* strutting for years)!

Just a reminder: no matter how you choose to celebrate, let’s all agree to enjoy *this deliciousness of tulle*, and show off those **beautiful legs**. After all, it's *National Tutu Day*. **Tulle, Darling! Tulle!!**