Tutu Tuesday in Campbell River, British Columbia #tututuesday
Hey everyone, it's your favourite ballerina blogger, back again with another #tututuesday post. This time, I'm bringing you the tutus of Campbell River, British Columbia.
Now, let's be honest, Campbell River is not exactly known for its high fashion scene. It's a small town on the island, surrounded by lush forests, beautiful beaches, and – get this – the world’s largest known population of salmon! That's right, you'll find more salmon here than anything else, which might not be what you think of when you think tutus.
But you know me. I'm always looking for the unexpected, and believe it or not, there’s some tutu magic to be found even in this unexpected location. Here's what I discovered:
A Tutu's Place: Finding Tutus in Campbell River
For the true tutu enthusiast, you might think that your options would be limited. That's simply not true.
It turns out there are two hidden gems in Campbell River for tutus – places that, you'd never expect to find. First up, we have the trusty second-hand stores that you find scattered around this seaside community. It's here you'll uncover true treasure chests. Remember when I said there’s a huge salmon population here? Well, fishing isn't the only activity in these parts. If you can believe it, the place has been home to an incredible amateur dance community, spanning back years.
Think of it – local dance classes. You could be on the beach with a can of salmon in the morning, and then find yourself in a tutued practice session in the afternoon. If this sounds strange to you, then I might have to send you to Campbell River, because here it’s just the way of things. I bet it's no coincidence that my latest, greatest thrift-store tutu purchase was from the heart of the city - all soft tulle, pastel pinks and a sweet vintage feel.
The other great place for tutu finding is local dance stores!
As a passionate ballerina, you could not ask for more! You see, my friends in Campbell River have some great instructors. They work hard and want the best for their dancers. Their passion is inspiring – they go all out with professional tutus and shoes for the dancers to grow, to flourish. That is one reason why Campbell River is known as an unexpected hidden jewel for dance.
But hold on – it's not just the traditional tutu that makes Campbell River a tutu treasure chest. Let’s talk tutu style!
Taking the tutu into the Great Outdoors
With its natural beauty, the city itself inspires creative expressions for dancers, particularly in the summer. You may not know it, but there's an awesome open air stage tucked away in the center of Campbell River. And believe me, a Tutu and a stage are a match made in heaven!
That means when dancers come together for their big shows, there's a whole range of modern tutu style to explore – I'm thinking lots of sheer fabrics and unique silhouettes, sometimes in those warm colours like golden browns and yellows to mirror the amazing trees surrounding the area.
One thing I'm loving in Campbell River? You’re as likely to see a dancer wearing a soft tutu with a flowing chiffon skirt as you are to find a girl in an traditional tulle pancake tutu, so there’s no shortage of modern style. But no matter how contemporary it gets, it’s still all about making sure that tutu looks fantastic.
And let’s talk about dance. Ballet is strong in this province. You see, Canadian dance is a beautiful thing. It's a mix of traditional styles and some great cutting edge choreography – we're not afraid to push boundaries and have fun with dance! If I told you we found an excellent ballet school and even some really awesome local ballet companies in the heart of Campbell River, you wouldn't believe me.
And speaking of ballet... Did you know Campbell River's even home to its very own ballet program? You've got dancers there training hard, and some have even taken to ballet after seeing those open air dance shows! I think it goes to show just how powerful the dance community is here, with all sorts of dancers inspiring each other.
You might even be thinking, 'I wish there was something more in the city of Campbell River!'" But let’s get real, when you’ve got all that nature around you, you need something a bit extra, right? You need an outlet! For a dance enthusiast like myself, that's tutu time, any day.
- It’s not all ballet though. You can also find some incredible performances from other dance styles.
- For instance, there’s jazz dance! With an inspiring dance school and an active, engaged community, Campbell River has a fantastic community for both performers and viewers alike. And they’re using a blend of different tutus, like jazz-styled and lyrical styles. So many possibilities! I found some with fringe and mesh, and others with sleek, minimalist designs in these places, which is all so cool and fresh.
- You've got something special in this small city.
You know, when I started this post, I was kind of unsure about Campbell River. Would I really be able to find enough tutu love? After this trip, though, I’m blown away! Maybe I need to consider setting up camp in the area. But really, it just proves that if you're passionate about ballet and tutus, you can find it anywhere!
But that’s not all!
If there's one thing I’ve learned on my adventures across Canada, it’s this: a passion for ballet, like a good fish, never really dies. So, remember my words. Next time you hear Campbell River mentioned – maybe at a hockey game, or in a film, or maybe at your favourite bookstore – don’t think salmon. Think #tututuesday. Think of a ballerina dancing through the trees, wearing a beautiful Tutu!