Tutu Tuesday in Coombs, British Columbia: A Canadian Ballerinaâs Love Affair with the Tutu
Hey dance fam! It's your girl, Olivia, and today, I'm all about #Tututuesday! Let's take it back to basics: tutus. Every ballerinaâs wardrobe staple. Yes, we may wear them almost every day during class or performance, but sometimes I think we all take for granted just how incredible they truly are. You see them, you see the big fluffy, glorious romantic tutus for ballets like Swan Lake, and you see the tighter-fitting tutus for pieces like Giselle, but how much do you really know about tutus? Let's have a little chit-chat! Today, Iâm here in my favourite place in all of BC, Coombs. Itâs a magical town in the Cowichan Valley thatâs full of charm and friendly locals, and of course, home to the amazing Coombs Country Market - thatâs where you can find the cutest little goats standing right on the roof of the building, if youâve never been itâs absolutely worth a trip - maybe try to take a selfie while youâre there. Coombs is where I was inspired to put together this #Tututuesday piece, surrounded by some of the finest farm-fresh, wholesome ingredients - not to mention beautiful nature scenery, of course. But back to the tutus - what a better way to take this Tuesday inspiration and spread the word than right here! #tututuesday in Coombs, BC - here we go!
We're lucky in Canada. As ballerinas, our options are pretty great in the country - Canada's got all of the great cities, such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver for sure. In my humble opinion, theyâre definitely up there as some of the hottest destinations in the world for the Canadian dance scene. There's just something about the energy of those three cities and, most importantly, you have everything that youâll need - tons of dance schools, so many performance opportunities and more. The possibilities are endless in these bustling big-city locations! Donât even get me started on the ballet competitions in Canada, thereâs everything from prestigious annual competitions such as Prix de Lausanne, which sends talented dancers all across the globe, to local competitions at every age level across the country that make it so accessible - they're basically all across the nation from Atlantic to Pacific! We Canadians are passionate about dancing, I love that so much - even just looking for dance apparel for a class or to add to a wardrobe, you don't have to go further than the internet to get top quality merchandise delivered straight to your door - in fact, there are amazing retailers like Dancewear Solutions, Canadian Dance Supplies and much more online or right in some of your fave cities - It's really fantastic!
And how are tutus relevant to all of this? In my humble opinion - as a Canadian Ballerina, our dance community in this country is unique in so many ways and truly thrives because of that. With the accessibility and opportunities available here, tutus - yes the staples of dance apparel! - theyâre important and essential, itâs true. Just one reason that makes Canada, well, one of my absolute favourite places in the entire world. For this Canadian ballerina, dancing in Canada has been nothing short of a beautiful journey and it wouldnât have been as magical without tutus!
Back to my Canadian home base for #tututuesday and to the iconic ballerina wardrobe staple: tutus. Of course, this #Tututuesday post is for the ballerina in everyone, not just the one on stage, and it canât end without some love for those tutus that make my life complete. This little blog piece will delve into everything about this must-have item.
There's something about a tutu. Every time I put on a tutu for a show or even just for class, it transforms my entire look, it transforms me! Thereâs really something magical about them - in a way it's like a secret club only we know. For a dance fan, tutus are like that secret ingredient that always puts it over the top! Every single one tells a different story. They all make me want to spin and leap and they feel powerful. Just one reason theyâre so well-loved. They have the power to do that to us - not just on stage. The energy is in the material.
So, how did it all start with these dance fashion staples anyway? Did you know they date back to as far back as 1832! Marie Taglioni, the legendary dancer, changed the history of the tutu when she created her own skirt as her signature performance piece in La Sylphide, a beautiful ballet which, in the 1830s was a huge, life-changing ballet production. The very short, white skirt for her iconic character, became an important part of ballet's fashion history and the design led the way for everything that followed. That was a new trend - the ballet was in such high demand and people were totally loving the short tutu that had a really âairyâ design! They loved how lightweight it was on stage and the movement made it a sensation. To me, that was revolutionary.
Over time, there have been a few iterations. Thereâs the classical Romantic Tutu. Those big, frilly, tiered tulle skirts with multiple layers - all those layers of the soft, netting material that flows with every leap and spin. Every one that sees it is blown away, including me! Then thereâs the neo-classical tutu, which is a lot more fitted. It's often tighter at the waist and it flows all the way out into a big circle as a single layer of netting. You can definitely see that style of tutu a lot on dancers when performing pieces that are about control and strong, sleek, precise movements! That tutu truly shows off how the body works during ballet, all the lines, everything - a complete highlight for the ballerina. I just love both. I mean, who can choose between beautiful ballet history, classic and contemporary - give me it all. Theyâre both iconic!
And you know, the modern tutu is very important for contemporary ballets, youâre definitely seeing a lot of modern pieces that are going a lot more contemporary - the fabric used is super exciting. Even some tutus these days are created with a combination of those romantic elements mixed in with more modern styling elements. Itâs basically like, a modern mix! That's how amazing ballet has evolved. There's so much artistry going into these tutu designs. For ballet fans who don't know - we get so many unique looks now, with fabrics that are sometimes really unusual. Think lace and ribbons and leather and different styles of cuts and designs with a little bit more attitude that's still incredibly flattering.
Another really amazing thing that I think really speaks to the design aspect of ballet is when you think about the tutu's importance to performance. When I look at how ballerinas dress - whether on stage, or off stage! Itâs an incredibly inspiring experience. A classic ballet look from head to toe (and every other little detail, the tights and the bun - every detail is really incredible!) it tells a story in itself. It really does have the power to help express different feelings or convey emotions and characters during dance performances - and if youâre anything like me, then we are absolutely in love with tutus. No wonder they're basically ballet's very own must-have for any dancer or choreographer's vision - so timeless!
- So that brings me to one thing - if you havenât had the chance yet - what is your absolute favourite tutu style? Or your favourite detail on a tutu? Tell me in the comments below. đ©°
- Do you have any tips on the best places to shop for ballet tutus?
- Have you been inspired to wear a tutu today?! You never know - maybe you'll be seeing some ballerinas walking around Coombs BC, just doing their own #Tututuesday in the cutest country town youâve ever seen! đ„° It's the best!
Okay guys, time to wrap up my favourite tutu story in honour of #Tututuesday! If youâre feeling this story - maybe share it with your favourite dance fan and tag your ballerina buddies! That's all from Olivia in beautiful, amazing Coombs, BC - I hope you loved the #Tututuesday edition!