Tutu Tuesday in Colomiers, Occitanie, France: A Ballerina's Parisian Dream
Bonjour, mes amis! This week, Iām taking you on a little journey to the charming town of Colomiers in the heart of Occitanie, France. Now, Colomiers might not be the first place that pops into your head when you think of ballet, but trust me, this little corner of France is brimming with balletic charm. And, of course, we're talking Tutu Tuesday, so naturally, tutus are at the forefront of my explorations!
To truly capture the spirit of Tutu Tuesday, I've decided to explore some of the unique tutu styles I've encountered in France, and let's be honest, when youāre in France, there's something special in the air, something that makes even the simplest tutu feel a little more magical.
First Stop: LāEcole de Danse Colomiers
Right off the bat, I found a lovely ballet school in Colomiers called LāEcole de Danse Colomiers. Now, I know what youāre thinking - what about a traditional French ballet school in a place like Paris? But this place, honestly, it was an absolute gem. There's something so lovely about discovering ballet in unexpected places, isnāt there? Imagine it, ballet schools dotted around this quaint little town - like hidden pockets of magic!
The school's petite entrance is graced with the unmistakable, almost tangible, smell of wood polish, leather ballet shoes, and the ever-so-slight scent of a perfectly applied theatrical makeup palette. Inside, I'm welcomed with a chorus of āBonjour Madameā and giggles echoing from a ballet barre, which was surprisingly bustling for a Tuesday morning! A little like the heart of the city is a buzzing cafe. Ballet, after all, is its own kind of bustling cafe.
Walking into the studio, a classroom decked out with classic mirrors and those heavenly, polished wooden floors - the air had this special energy you only get in a space dedicated to creativity. A group of adorable, pint-sized ballerina wannabes in their adorable, tiny, pink tutus were warming up for class! Tiny tutus ā I have a particular weakness for them. Iāve always had this theory that ballerinas were actually tiny fairies who were always getting lost in their tutus. Maybe thatās just meā¦
It felt good being here in the quiet corner of the school, amongst students practicing a beautifully executed pirouette or an impeccable arabesque ā or even just doing their first pliĆ©, maybe with a little help from their teacher! Each and every one of them brought a sparkle to the room. There was so much joy in their tiny faces! And honestly, when a tutu can make a young student feel like a shining star ā well, thatās just magical.
Iāve noticed a definite trend here, the 'classic romantic' tutus, you know the ones with the full tulle skirt - itās an absolute showstopper when spun with that perfectly synchronized twirl. Every little ballerina here was a ballerina princess. So graceful and enchanting. What a true delight to see the elegance and joy that these little ballerinas had embraced. It was almost as though Colomiers had its own little pocket of magical enchantment, right there, in this petite ballet school.
And now, on a little whim, I found myself getting whisked away from the little ballerinas, but I managed to snag a couple of little pictures of the ballerinas as they practised. A couple of snaps later I made my way outside with a warm āMerci beaucoupā, which is French for thank you. And it wasn't even close to 10:00 AM. How was it already so close to 10:00? I was determined to see Colomiers, all of it!
Colomiers, Oh Colomiers
I'm all for ballet schools but the Colomiers charm, I just had to get outside. After all, every little detail counts - itās those tiny moments, the unexpected corners that truly add depth to your exploration, and honestly, thereās so much more to discover outside a tutu than in a classroom. A ballet studio might be where ballerinas come to dance, but France itself ā well itās a stage in and of itself.
Now, Colomiers, if I'm honest, this place was as picturesque as a scene right out of a storybook, full of French elegance, with an almost mystical atmosphere. The pastel coloured buildings and cobbled streets and sunlight pouring down from the blue French sky ā honestly, itās an aesthetic. I couldn't resist snagging a few shots, my little tutu and me. If it isnāt worth snapping then how do we remember it, right?
I took a wander down a nearby street lined with quaint cafes and art galleries, and all I could think about was what amazing little Parisian dance studios must be just around the corner! I almost pictured the quaint little street, lined with cafes - Parisian streets ā as a theatreās curtain rise.
In my little, frilly tutu I walked up the streets of Colomiers, passing by couples enjoying a leisurely stroll - they might even think they had stepped into the setting of an operatic romance! You know, in that kind of way when ballet goes hand in hand with a beautiful, dramatic, tragic tale of lovers lost and found, you can feel the French ambiance just emanating out. It really had that kind of magical romance you can feel, almost like the essence of the whole story, not a simple storyline, a whole tale of love lost, found and found again.
And thenā¦ there it was ā it looked like one of those beautiful scenes out of a fairytale ā A French Ballet Institute ā The ā Institut de Ballet Colomiersā ā with the Institut painted in a shade of ārose blushā. Oh La La, my tutu was screaming āLetās dance!ā.
I knew, deep down, that the most beautiful āFrench Classic Tutusā in Colomiers had to be in this institute ā The French Tutus, just oozing with the true Parisian touch - just perfectly poised and delicately balanced. It was clear to see. But before walking into this breathtaking building, the place that just seemed to vibrate with the rhythmic pulsing of the world's finest classical dancers and musicians. This must be a kind of Parisian fairyland, if such a thing is even possible!.
But I wasnāt able to go in! What an epic fail. A closed door stood in my way, and all I could think about was that it might have housed a hidden, beautiful and intricate tutu - like an enchanting little dress made of clouds and starlight, ready to shimmer under a soft pink, French ballet stage lighting. Or even better ā a little frilly cloud like dress. Maybe next time?
A Ballet Break?
My Tutu Tuesday walk was a real ballet adventure through the little Parisian town - that Colomiers truly is. A charming little town with just a little bit of balletic magic hidden up its sleeves - well it did turn into my mini little ballet break in Occitanie, and with so much beauty and joy I had found, well, it truly was an inspiring trip and a great example of finding balletic delight in every corner. I hope that in finding the unexpected moments of ballet beauty on Tutu Tuesday ā I hope Iāve encouraged you to explore a new Parisian Ballet in a charming and picturesque spot!
So if you find yourself in Colomiers - whether itās just you, or you're on an escapade, a girls weekend, or on a grand, family holiday ā try looking out for little moments that spark joy because the essence of Tutu Tuesday in Colomiers really just came down to dancing and living like thereās no tomorrow.
Oh, and if you happen to discover a secret hidden Parisian Ballet Instituteā¦ let me know! It may be even more spectacular than the ballet in Colomiers!
And remember, the world is our ballet studio. Wherever you may find yourself this week ā get into your best Tutu and let's dance!
Au revoir and #tututuesday! #Colomiers #Occitanie