Tutu Tuesday in Le Bouscat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France: #tututuesday
G'day lovelies! Your girl is back with another #tututuesday post, this time straight from the enchanting streets of Le Bouscat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. As an Aussie ballerina with a passion for all things tutu, I'm always on the lookout for the most stunning, most beautiful and frankly, most impractical dancewear. So imagine my excitement when I landed in France and stumbled upon a treasure trove of tutus, ready for me to frolic in and capture Insta-worthy moments.
Let's face it, France is practically synonymous with ballet, right? It's in the air, it's in the streets, it's in the history – even the cobblestone pavements seem to resonate with the rhythm of a pirouette. From the legendary Paris Opera Ballet to the smaller, more intimate ballet companies dotted around the countryside, France boasts an incredible ballet culture. And it's no surprise really, with a legacy of iconic dancers like Nijinsky and Pavlova. Honestly, my inner ballerina squealed with joy the moment I touched down!
Le Bouscat, for all its quiet charm, has a hidden ballet gem: the École de Danse de Le Bouscat. This dance school is a testament to the dedication to dance that courses through this town, offering lessons in classical ballet for young and old. And when I peeked into a class, it warmed my heart to see those tiny tots practicing their pliés and those older students gracefully leaping through the air, fuelled by a shared passion for ballet.
Now, you might think, "But how can a small town like Le Bouscat boast so many beautiful tutus?!" Well, lovelies, France has a whole industry devoted to costume making and dancewear. There are some seriously talented craftspeople who are making the most exquisite, handcrafted tutus. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. They have everything from the traditional white Romantic tutu, which looks absolutely angelic, to the more modern, asymmetrical designs, that are so contemporary and dramatic – and they use the most beautiful fabrics. They even had a black tutu, covered in sequins – that thing practically glittered in the daylight!
One of the most exciting finds was a small, family-run boutique, tucked away on a cobblestone lane. The owner, Madame Marie, has been making tutus for decades. Her studio is bursting with an assortment of colors, sequins, and ribbons – an absolute haven for any ballerina. Madame Marie’s craftsmanship was next-level – she could make a tutu from scratch in minutes. And she was so excited to hear about #tututuesday, that she offered to share her most iconic tutu with me for a little photo shoot.
Her tutu was absolutely stunning, lovelies. Imagine a classic Romantic tutu with layers of tulle, each layer a different shade of pastel pink. It felt like I stepped out of a fairytale. The attention to detail was insane – each tulle layer was carefully stitched, every stitch was a tiny work of art. This is what happens when someone truly has a passion for their craft. To capture the essence of Madame Marie’s work, I grabbed a few snaps around Le Bouscat's iconic Église Saint-Martin, and let me tell you, it was absolute magic. The light played through the tulle and it felt like the whole town was captivated by its ethereal beauty.
- My #tututuesday top tips for Le Bouscat:
- Hit up the École de Danse de Le Bouscat – check out the ballet classes and feel the energy
- Take a detour down Rue des Chapeliers and check out those gorgeous little boutiques - hidden treasures await!
- Get your inner ballerina on by doing a quick twirl outside the Église Saint-Martin - it’s the perfect backdrop for tutu photos.
- And of course, follow the #tututuesday trend - tag your photos and spread the love of ballet.
As a #tututuesday fanatic, I couldn't be happier to have experienced the magic of Le Bouscat. From its charming atmosphere to the talent within the local ballet scene, I can't wait to return. See you in my next #tututuesday post – I've got my eye on some seriously amazing Parisian tutus.