Tutu Tuesday in Narangba, Queensland: #tututuesday
Hey lovelies, it's your girl, Ellie here from Brisbane! So, I know itâs Tuesday, but this isn't your average, mundane Tuesday. This is Tutu Tuesday! A day for embracing all things twirly and graceful (okay, maybe just the twirling for me, but weâll get there). Today I want to talk about the one piece of clothing that defines ballet, the thing that brings smiles to our faces (even after those 6 am classes) - you guessed it - tutus!
Now, we all know the classic ballerina image: the beautiful white tutu, so big and airy, that seems to defy gravity itself. Those are called **Romantic tutus**, for a reason - they look romantic, right? Theyâre actually not all that comfy though - think big hoop skirts on a ballerina's hips - but boy do they look magical on stage!
Thereâs a lot of other tutus though! Have you seen the **classical, pancake tutus?** They have a much shorter, flat skirt (think something a bit like a cupcake skirt) - a little more functional for jumping and stuff. For a ballet dancer, practicality and a fabulous, flowing silhouette is what it's all about, and that's what the classical tutu embodies. If you see a ballet dancer whoâs all up on pointe shoes (they're super tall, really hard to dance in and oh so fancy) with one of these on, itâs basically a sign that they're really dedicated and trained (and itâs likely they've gone through at least a few tears at some point during their journey! Ballet life!).
In ballet school though, things are a little different. A lot of my dance school days were spent with a trusty **practice tutu** in the most vibrant, awesome, crazy colours imaginable. You name it, we had it: from electric purple to lime green and every crazy, crazy shade in between! Seriously though, my classmates looked absolutely adorable in those colourful, short, cotton skirts, that made it easy to jump, turn and twirl and feel confident and playful! Even the grown-ups and some of the professional dancers like to wear practice tutus as it's basically the best mix of cute, fun and practical you're gonna get for ballet (especially when youâre warming up for a show - itâs the ultimate combination of comfort and getting the audience ready for a spectacular!).
And while those âclassic whiteâ tutus can be iconic - think Sugar Plum Fairy (or even that epic white dress on the ballet 'Swan Lake') - tutus can be and are a lot of things: theyâre a statement of individuality and artistry. Every style reflects something unique and speaks volumes of its dancerâs energy and presence, and thatâs what I love the most - they truly bring to life the diverse range of roles and stories within a ballet production. Every style, shape, fabric and colour tells a story. That's the magic of a tutu.
For #tututuesday I thought I'd head over to Narangba (only about 30 mins north of Brisbane), to a local dance studio called Studio Groove. I have to give them a shoutout for bringing up the awesome tradition of #tututuesday, but I wanted to visit and do it in style myself (naturally!) - It's basically what the #tututuesday challenge is all about! As an up and coming ballet dancer, I couldnât resist the opportunity to show my âTutuâ support!
And you know, Narangba wasnât exactly on my map of where to look for ballet fun but you know what? There was so much going on! Studio Groove had a whole bunch of kids in the studio that had gone full-on Tutu Tuesday. There were some young girls doing amazing splits and poses, all wearing some truly beautiful practice tutus in shocking, stunning pink! Then there was another little ballerina dancing her heart out in a full, classic white, tutu that must have had almost a thousand tiny pieces of tulle - so cute and it was clear to see just how much she loved dancing. That's what ballet is about isn't it - that absolute passion? It just felt so beautiful, even with my practice tutu and just simple gym gear!
But hey, you know how it is - the dancer in me was itching to twirl. I've never really met a dance studio I couldn't get some energy going in. As a dancer in Australia, weâve got an incredibly diverse and passionate dance community, and Narangba and Queensland, generally, are no exception - So when Studio Groove invited me to get involved, I couldn't say no, so I did my own Tutu Tuesday âspinâ! (Sorry, I had to throw that in!).
I chose my favourite (practice) tutu, with layers of airy blue and purple tulle. The skirt of a practice tutu is short, like a mini-skirt (think how the âFairy Godmotherâs dressâ went from full to mini skirt when it magically transforms in the Disney film 'Cinderella' (it's like that but a little bit less glitter - and, more likely to end up on the floor after a high jump or some pirouettes!), but let me tell you - even though theyâre shorter and really, really practical - they look stunning for the camera (and just so much more comfortable when you want to move!) .
My dance instructorâs were blown away, and of course, there was a whole lot of laughing, smiling and positive vibes as I got involved in a mini dance session and helped them out by sharing some dance tips and hints, too. So if you're feeling inspired - and really who isnât on #tututuesday - then go forth and find a local dance school and do some fun things. There is just so much to do out there! So, until next time lovelies - itâs time to wrap this one up. Catch ya next time and #tututuesday!!