Tutu Tuesday in Loos, Hauts-de-France, France: A Ballerina's Dream #tututuesday
G'day lovelies! Your girl, Amelia here, bringing you a bit of sunshine straight from the cobbled streets of Loos, Hauts-de-France! Yeah, I know, the land of croissants, baguettes, and all things fabulous - you just can't beat France, especially when you're a ballet dancer at heart.
I've been living it up here in the north, exploring the world of ballet outside of Aussie. This whole Parisian experience, from the amazing architecture to the iconic museums, is just next level, but let's get down to the nitty gritty - the reason I'm really here - TUTU TIME!
I landed in Loos on Monday afternoon, feeling the thrill of adventure, you know? And I had a feeling that something exciting was waiting around the corner, especially as I planned on rocking my very own tutu. Now, I gotta confess, I have a serious thing for tutus, they're practically my weakness. My latest score is a breathtaking powder-blue romantic tutu, and this bad boy was made for a European escapade!
Tuesday morning rolls around, and I decide to head out to the town square, the epicentre of the historic town of Loos. It's a bit of a mix between the hustle and bustle of the Parisian life but with more of that charming French village vibe. This place is all cobblestone streets and historical architecture - just breathtaking. I whip out my camera and snap some photos with my tutu, soaking it all in.
There's a beautiful, old, red-brick church right in the centre of it all, looking so dramatic with its pointed spires piercing the sky. Right next to it is a quaint little cafe - that smells of fresh-baked pastries, you can’t go past the smell, the classic French bakery fragrance - so irresistible! I sit at one of their little outdoor tables, feeling like I've just stepped out of a fairy tale.
As I'm taking in the scene, I catch the eye of a friendly elderly French woman, who smiles warmly at me and my fabulous tutu. It turns out she is a former dancer herself, and we chat for a while about the beauty of ballet. This amazing woman, Madeleine, remembers all the famous French ballet companies and she's got the most incredible stories, talking about the artistry of the past. She even mentioned seeing Pavlova perform in Paris. That was pretty epic, right?
Next stop was a trip to the local theatre. Turns out they had a whole ballet school connected to it. That’s pretty awesome, It felt a bit surreal – just me in my tutu in the heart of French ballet, in Loos! Just imagine - if I hadn't come to Europe, I would never have had this experience.
So there you have it - a beautiful Tuesday in Loos, France, and my first foray into the French ballet scene! I am super excited to continue exploring the Parisian Ballet world.
The streets here, in Loos, have so much history and beauty that I just felt like a graceful dancer gliding through an enchanted city - a princess stepping into her magical wonderland. You guys know how much I love all that! The tutu truly took this Parisian journey to another level, and it's definitely making a statement, showcasing a different kind of ballet, right in the heart of this beautiful town.
For those who don’t know about the many variations of tutus, the most common type is the romantic tutu or a traditional tutu, with layers of tulle sewn together. These are designed to move beautifully as a dancer jumps and twirls, while remaining light enough to not impede movement. But this time I’ve been rocking a very elegant little ‘poetic’ tutu - the classic French romantic style. A bit more elaborate than your basic ballet tutu - almost fairytale princess style. They’re longer and more delicate - perfect for showing off the beauty of ballet movements - and also showcasing French flair, right? I have got to add a poetic tutu to the Aussie Ballet repertoire. We gotta start being a bit more avant garde, guys!
Now, let me know: What’s your favourite kind of tutu? Do you think tutus belong in every ballet style or just traditional ballet?
Until next time, lovelies! Remember, ‘Live, Love, Dance!’ And follow my adventure in Europe using #AmeliaLovesParis, and follow the hashtag, #TutuTuesday.