Tutu Tuesday in Hitchin: A Day Dedicated to Dance and Delights
It’s Tuesday, which can only mean one thing - Tutu Tuesday! Every week, I get so excited to unleash my inner ballerina and strut my stuff in a twirly delight. This week, I'm taking the excitement to Hitchin, a quaint and charming town nestled in Hertfordshire, known for its history, cobbled streets, and… well, frankly, not a lot of tutus.
So, I decided to shake things up. I set myself a mission: to bring a touch of ballet elegance to this lovely town. With my trusty, vintage-style, blush-pink Romantic Tutu in tow, I set out to spread some Tutu Tuesday cheer.
The plan was simple. First, a morning coffee and cake (naturally). Now, I am a girl who likes to dress up for every occasion, even just for a coffee with the girls, so I went for the Romantic Tutu with its frilly, dreamy look paired with a white cotton top. I received a mix of confused, surprised and rather delighted glances. The best was a man with a shocked, “Well, I’ve never seen that before!” – mission accomplished!
Next up, the Market Place, where farmers market was in full swing. Here, my tutu took a little more of a starring role, it's playful, flowy, layered tiers just begged for a whirl, and, you bet, I gave it. The local market traders definitely had to look up from their stalls, smiles rippling around the whole market, and one man (definitely in his 60s, sporting a lovely handlebar moustache) called out: "A tutu for a good cause, well, I must say that's quite an impressive bit of fancy dress!"
To make sure my tulle adventure was one for the books, I headed to Hitchin Priory for an afternoon of splendid gardens and a bit of photo shoot opportunity. Now, the priory has a lovely Gothic style and it was the perfect backdrop to my very ballerina photoshoot, it really allowed the romance and movement of my tulle to flow! I even struck some cheeky poses, inspired by all my favorite ballet stars. My very favorite shot is one with me reaching towards the clouds (it felt a little surreal and rather ethereal - a touch of Degas!)
Tutu Tuesday – Why I do it, and what it means. For those wondering, what’s the big deal about a Tuesday dedicated to tutus?
It's much more than just about looking the part. My Tutu Tuesday ritual reminds me to bring joy and laughter to my own day. To celebrate a little bit of extra magic. Sometimes the simplest things in life can brighten our days – like a splash of color, a touch of playfulness or simply taking time for yourself to twirl in a soft, frothy, beautiful, ballet skirt!
There’s also a practical aspect. Since I dance, I tend to favour practicality over fancy dresses – jeans and trainers on most days. It’s my Tuesday excuse to have some fun and embrace a little bit of ballet in my daily life, in all its glamorous glory, in my everyday life. Plus, it makes for amazing content – for my blog and Instagram (@dancethedayaway).
Types of Tutues and how to choose the right one
For the uninitiated (I know there’s still quite a few!), a tutu is not simply just a tutu – and in this realm of dance and elegance there are actually several styles of tutus to choose from:
- Romantic tutu: My personal favorite! (The one in this blog). The Romantic Tutu is known for its long layers of tulle and its flowing, dreamy silhouette, often creating a voluminous and billowing skirt with extraordinary volume and elegance, particularly suited for soft, flowing movement and often used in the Romantic and neo-classical ballet repertoires.
- Classical Tutu: Another classic choice. They feature multiple layers of tulle that are meticulously sewn together with careful attention to detail. It boasts a shorter, tighter style that enhances elegance and structure, designed to accentuate sharp, controlled movements, with a specific focus on highlighting leaps, pirouettes, and other grand techniques. It is a staple in classical ballet works like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
- Pancake Tutu: A slightly less known but super cool style of tutu is the Pancake tutu, which resembles the shape of a flat cake, featuring a stiff base made with layers of fabric, meticulously cut and sculpted to create a streamlined look, used predominantly for contemporary choreography where you want a striking silhouette, bold design and structured, impactful movement, but can be used in other works too - often, for its modern take on traditional dance.
Tutu Tuesday Inspiration
I would love to see the wonderful creations everyone will come up with to spread a Tutu Tuesday! So do not forget to post a photo of your tutu or outfit (and feel free to share with me! You can use hashtag #tututuesday, but most importantly – go out, spread ballet magic and show the world a little bit of the magic that you’ve got.
And let me know in the comments what kind of tutu you like best - romantic, classical, or pancake, (and why!)
#tututuesday