Tutu Tuesday in Childers, Queensland: A Day of Twirling and Taking the Stage #tututuesday
Hey darlings! It's your girl, Chloe, and it's #tututuesday and I am seriously feeling the vibes, especially here in the sunny (sometimes too sunny) Childers, Queensland. This small country town doesn't immediately scream "ballet" to most people, but trust me, there's a hidden talent pool and an incredible love of the art form, which makes the Tutu Tuesday spirit thrive!
Every Tuesday, the town comes alive with tutus in all shapes and sizes. The ladies here are rocking a mix of styles that will make your head spin. You see the classic **"Romantic tutu"** with the delicate layers, perfect for gliding through a classic ballet, and you get to see those with **"big pouffy romantic tutus"** which remind us of some of the biggest and most dramatic ballet classics! It's a symphony of silk, lace and chiffon, and the local women just *love* making a **statement with their tutus!** You know the saying? "The more frills the merrier" - that's their motto!
While the more "conservative" styles still hold their own in the Australian ballet world, there's a whole bunch of us here who love a bit of "punk rock tutus" to really bring a splash of color to every day, even with those "old school, hard core" dancers who embrace **the tutus in black! **
This is a tradition that started just a few years ago, but the hype has caught like a bushfire, and every week the number of twirling tutu'd girls, (and a few brave blokes too! ) increases!
My own passion for the dance led me straight to the heart of the Tutu Tuesday scene in Childers. As a young ballerina, my biggest ambition was to grace the stage of Sydney Opera House. And while I am proud of my time dancing with the Sydney Ballet Company, the sense of community I felt here, dancing with locals, and connecting over our shared passion for ballet - it just blew me away!
Every Tuesday, we take over the main street and show everyone what "grace under pressure" truly means, while still enjoying the beautiful sights, the sounds and the vibe.
It is amazing what a community can do. People are more likely to connect when you have a common interest - and here, it’s about ballet. I mean “Who doesn't love tutus?”
- If you're ever in Childers, Queensland, make sure you join us for Tutu Tuesday. You’ll feel the warmth, the friendship, the support - and, yes, you'll find that we actually *do* love our tutus.
- It's all about taking that moment for ourselves to show that ballet is for every person, no matter your shape or your age, no matter if you're wearing the "standard black tutu", or those awesome pink tutus you found on a second hand shop for your 5th birthday that still fit, or that sparkly "big poofy romantic tutu"!
We’re about making dance a community thing - let’s face it, the whole country loves to be able to support a dancer. We don’t judge you because you love dance! It's a beautiful art, and when you have people from all different backgrounds bringing a bit of theatrical flair to the daily life, the local shops all do that "Aussie thing" and welcome us with open arms.
So, come and join me, in Childers, for Tutu Tuesday. You can share your “ballet love” story and let the world know you’re a passionate ballerini/dancer or a ballerini at heart. Share a photo with the world on Instagram and tag #tututuesday.
And while you’re here, let me share a few of the tutu Tuesday moments. I can't tell you how many "double takes" I get every Tuesday - the reactions are pure gold, It's like people can’t believe what they see!
- **The young woman with her "big pouffy romantic tutu"**: You'll see her swirling in her gorgeous lilac-tinted "big poofy romantic tutu" with the shimmering details that bring all of the light on to the stage, like a "prima ballerina" - and she is actually the local hairdresser who comes out every Tuesday!
- **The mum-and-daughter pair**: She has taken "passing on your passion for ballet to the next generation" to the next level! The mother, in a classic black tutu, and her daughter, rocking her little "sparkly tutu" that seems like it has a mind of its own - but the sheer joy they show - it warms my heart every Tuesday!
- **The group of teenagers with their "punk rock tutu" creations:** They look like a group straight from "a pop punk show", but the look is 100% them! They look so incredibly fierce - and I am totally here for the creative approach they take!
I think that, like many communities all across Australia, Childers and #tututuesday shows that every town and city in this incredible country is filled with creativity. Here it’s not just about ballet - it's a cultural event where we celebrate art, beauty, life - we embrace each other as humans.
Every single week, it's a new, amazing experience and I think that is something to celebrate - not to mention that each one of these amazing women in their tutues - and men too - inspire me and motivate me and remind me that ballet, and all of its beauty, will always find its place in the hearts and minds of people in Australia and around the world!