Tutu Tuesday in Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France #tututuesday
G'day, lovelies! Your girl, Talia, is back with another exciting edition of #tututuesday. This time, I'm stepping out of my comfy Melbourne studio and onto the cobblestone streets of Aix-les-Bains in the beautiful Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Talia, how could you leave your beloved ballet studio, even for a fleeting moment?" Well, let me tell you, darling, it's all in the name of the dance!
My Parisian friend, Chloe, invited me on this whirlwind adventure, a chance to immerse myself in the rich world of ballet in France. Aix-les-Bains is a real gem. The little city is known for its picturesque Lake Bourget, spa towns, and its fascinating ballet history.
We headed straight for the magnificent Centre National de la Danse, tucked away in a corner of Aix-les-Bains. The moment we walked through the doors, my heart did a little pirouette! This place is an absolute treasure trove of everything ballet. They even have an extensive archive filled with old tutus, posters, and programs - a ballerina's dream!
We started the day with a tour guided by the most charming and knowledgeable Madame Dubois. She showed us the incredible workshop where costumes are created for both the famous and emerging French dancers. It's just mesmerising watching these talented seamstresses weave magic, transforming rolls of fabric into masterpieces of stagewear. I mean, a ballerina without a stunning tutu, what's that?
Let me tell you about the tutus! I'm talking pure artistic perfection. They have everything - the traditional Romantic tutu with the wide, full, and dreamy layers of tulle, the more modern tutu with shorter, cleaner lines and minimal fabric, and even a selection of "ballet blanc" tutus - all shimmering and exquisite with a soft, ethereal white hue.
After the tour, Chloe and I spent a few hours exploring the "costumes on display". It was a whirlwind of tulle, sequins, and feathers! Some of the tutus were designed by legendary Parisian costumiers like Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld! I actually fainted! They're like pieces of art, not just clothing. The details are mind-blowing. My imagination went wild thinking of these costumes in performance, gliding through the air with such graceful precision.
Chloe had a cheeky suggestion: Why not take our own #tututuesday photos with some of the amazing tutus from their costume collection? She always manages to tempt me into a little bit of crazy! So, there we were, two girls giggling in front of a glass cabinet full of beautiful tutus. You see, #tututuesday is about embracing that joy of dance in all its forms. We even managed to get a few snaps with the stunning dancers, all impeccably dressed and practising with serious focus.
The highlight of our visit was meeting with Madame Dubois in the centre’s rehearsal space. The place has such amazing acoustics; the sounds of tapping shoes were just magical.
Madame Dubois shared a little about Aix-les-Bains’ unique dance heritage, The city’s long connection with ballet began with a royal patronage by The Queen Marie-Antoinette, who was an ardent ballet enthusiast. It had a famous opera house where the country's finest dancers would come to perform.
Today, Aix-les-Bains keeps its rich heritage alive through its very own Ballet school, “La Compagnie du Lac”. The students and staff are proud ambassadors of ballet culture, offering classes and performances to inspire the next generation of ballet dancers.
Of course, the afternoon ended with a celebratory picnic, featuring fresh bread and a lovely French cheese board. As I enjoyed the French delights, I realised my #tututuesday adventure had become a special one. Not only had I seen stunning costumes and learned more about the legacy of ballet in France, but I'd experienced the warm, inviting heart of this little French town.
Until next time, dance on, lovelies! Keep the #tututuesday spirit alive and share your own ballet moments! This Aussie ballerina is off to chase another adventure in the world of dance. You can follow along with my journey on my blog, The Ballerina's Diary.
And here's what my French #tututuesday escapade looked like:
- Photos in front of the Aix-les-Bains, France, Ballet school with Chloe and some of the wonderful tutus in their collection.
- A few cheeky dance poses with some of the beautiful students.
- Sharing the afternoon's excitement on my Insta-story! My feed will have more tutu pictures so head on over to @TalitheAussieBallerina and give it a peek.
- Enjoying some traditional French pastries. (Oh yes! The pastry was definitely on the agenda.)
I really hope you love this #tututuesday journey with me, darling!
Let me know what you'd like me to write about in my next #tututuesday article.
Bisous!
Love,
Talia