Tutu Tuesday in Le Chesnay, Île-de-France, France #tututuesday
G'day, fellow dance lovers! Today, I'm taking you on a little trip with me to the enchanting town of Le Chesnay in Île-de-France, France. As you all know, Tuesdays are for tutus, and let me tell you, this little town has a whole lotta tutu love!
Now, you might be thinking, "Tutus in France? What's so special about that?". Well, you'd be surprised. While France is renowned for its classical ballet, there's a real vibrancy in the contemporary scene, too. From the iconic Paris Opera Ballet to smaller, independent dance companies like the Ballet de l'Opéra Comique, there's a lot to see and admire here. But for me, the beauty of Le Chesnay is its connection to ballet. There's a real community spirit surrounding dance, and that shows in everything from the ballet school to the local shops that carry tutu accessories and everything in between.
Today, my tutu adventure started at the "École de Danse du Chesnay," a delightful little dance school with a long history in the area. I love that these smaller schools are often so personal and provide such individual attention. This school in particular was founded over a century ago! It’s housed in a charming old building, a building full of character. The classrooms are small and intimate and the vibe was fantastic! So positive and supportive. I immediately felt a sense of community and tradition.
Of course, no visit to a dance school is complete without a little tutu talk. And here at the École de Danse, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with their resident tutu-lover, Madame Marie. Now, Madame Marie is a woman with a passion for tutus! We talked about everything from classic romantic tutus with the multi-layered tulle and perfectly sewn-in petticoats, to contemporary pieces like the sleek, body-skimming designs of the Australian ballet great, Graeme Murphy. We even got into the fun, flamboyant styles from The Royal Ballet! The history, the craftsmanship, and of course, the styles - she’s got such a wealth of knowledge and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm that she had. We’d go on about all sorts of styles, some even venturing outside the "traditional" tutus such as the flamenco style tutu with layers of ruffled skirts or even the sassy styles featured in Bollywood dance.
She also showed me some incredible archival photos of past students from the school. So much history in those photos! Their graduation performances had tutus in all kinds of beautiful shapes, designs and colors, with all sorts of styles and detailing. Imagine – just from looking at these pictures I could see so much energy, talent and love. And this is what this whole #tututuesday thing is about!
From the École de Danse du Chesnay, it was only a short walk to the town center where I stumbled upon "La Boutique des Ballerines," a delightful little shop specializing in dance accessories. It was a dance enthusiast’s dream - every colour, every fabric imaginable. Oh, I could have spent hours in there just admiring the collection of ballet shoes, leg warmers, and of course, a fantastic range of tutus. It was truly a dancer’s wonderland! They also carried beautiful headbands, floral hairpins, sparkly jewelry – all those tiny extras that dancers adore!
Le Chesnay’s dance scene doesn't stop with the school and shop, it actually runs deeper. There are several community-based dance programs for both kids and adults. Some cater to specific interests such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop and even offer ballroom dance and flamenco. This commitment to a well-rounded and inclusive dance education made Le Chesnay truly unique. The community embraced this wonderful art form.
Later that evening, I had the opportunity to catch a performance by the local dance group, “Ballet du Chesnay.” It’s a very talented and diverse group with a variety of young dancers with varying ages and levels of experience, something which I feel is crucial for any aspiring artist - to get involved with an ensemble to build those teamwork skills and support. Their choreography blended both traditional ballet elements with more contemporary movements, it really gave the performance a contemporary feel. I was absolutely captivated!
As the night wrapped up, I reflected on my #tututuesday adventure in Le Chesnay. What started as a casual tutu quest, became a truly inspiring and moving experience. The vibrant dance scene, the passion and dedication of the community – it made Le Chesnay feel like a place where every twirl tells a story and every plie becomes a heartfelt expression.
From now on, I'm adding Le Chesnay, Île-de-France to my list of must-visit dance destinations. So, next time you're in the region, don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of dance and explore all that Le Chesnay has to offer!
See you all for #tututuesday next week!
Until then, keep on twirling! 😉