Tutu Tuesday in Vesoul, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
G'day lovelies! Your favourite tutu-loving Aussie ballerina is back with another #Tututuesday post, and this time I'm taking you all the way to France! Yes, believe it or not, I've swapped my usual Sydney studio for a quaint little town called Vesoul, tucked away in the heart of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Now, I know what you're thinking – what on earth is a ballerina doing in the middle of nowhere, France? Well, let me tell you, this little town has a secret: a rich and thriving ballet scene!
I stumbled upon Vesoul by pure chance, thanks to a fellow ballet friend who had a stint here years ago. She raved about the incredible dedication of the locals to ballet, the passionate teachers, and the welcoming community. Intrigued, I decided to pack my pointe shoes and investigate for myself.
Turns out, my friend was spot on! Vesoul has a local ballet school, the "École de Danse de Vesoul", which is absolutely buzzing with talented young dancers. The school itself is tucked away in a charming old building, with polished timber floors that squeak with each graceful pirouette.
The first thing I noticed, and probably the most endearing thing about this whole experience, was the utter lack of pretension. There's no diva-like drama here, just pure passion and dedication to the art form.
What I've been doing here? Mostly I’ve been learning. I wanted to discover how this ballet culture works outside of Australia. And it's been fascinating. The French approach to ballet is different. More focused on classical technique and a deep understanding of the story the dance tells. No flash and dazzle. More substance than show. I've been soaking it up like a sponge.
And speaking of soaking it up, one thing that has caught my eye are the tutus. While I wouldn't call the Vesoul style overly flamboyant, it's a study in subtle elegance. They tend to favour more romantic, traditional tutus. You know the kind - soft tulle layers, with just a hint of shimmer and minimal ornamentation. Very ethereal and classic, like a whispered fairytale. They use some great variations on the classic Romantic tutus and some beautifully-made variations on the " tutu de pointe " - those fabulous, full, voluminous ones - like the famous ones created by famous Russian ballerina Olga Spessivtseva in the 1920's.
This leads me perfectly to my tutu exploration of Vesoul:
- The "Petite Tulle" : This was a classic. It had four layers of delicate white tulle, with a hint of silvery sheen. The skirt fell gently around the legs, perfect for elegant, swirling movements. And of course it was finished off with a ribbon belt tied around the waist. Lovely and very Parisian.
- The "Rosy Romance" : Now this one was a bit more dramatic, as if straight out of a vintage film. A layer of soft pink tulle overlayed a base layer of ivory. A cascade of shimmering beads edged the skirt, giving a beautiful flow as the dancer moved.
- The "Classical" : As you may guess this one was pure tradition. Six tiers of soft white tulle. And the skirt had a wider base than usual giving it an absolutely wonderful, billowing form. Just perfect for grand adagio.
- The "Stage" : The ultimate dance stage tutu but made in white tulle to look quite subtle for daily rehearsals.
Now I am on a serious mission. I've found some local seamstresses who actually make the tutus, including a beautiful, handcrafted one created by a young seamstress, Louise. I've ordered one of her creations in pale peach - can’t wait for it!
One of the biggest surprises has been the ballet community here. Everyone’s been so kind, so welcoming, even a sheila like me with my Aussie accent. I've felt completely at home in their dance studio and in the city too.
So if you find yourself in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, be sure to stop by Vesoul. Explore its medieval history, but take a detour to École de Danse de Vesoul. Go watch a ballet. And of course, don't forget to tag me #tututuesday so I can see all the stunning ballet photography from all corners of the world!
Ciao for now!