You Can Tutu

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[jaunty piano music begins] [Dad]

Time to go Tutu! We're gonna be late! Just coming. So. Ready to go get em kiddo? [hesitant] Um, yeah. Lets do this. Try and not get wet.

Ready? Go. [piano drowns teacher] [teacher] That's it, point and flex.

Really stretch those hamstrings. Well done Rosily,

balance, balance. That's it! [Tabitha] Girls. Shall we begin? [clumsy piano playing] [Dad clears throat] -[Kat] You must be Tallulah.

-My friends call me Tutu. Sorry were late. Still getting

used to the traffic out here. That's OK, we're just about to start. -I'm Dan. Dan Marlow.

-Oh hi, Im Kat. Kat Jackson. Nice to meet you Kat Jackson. Tabitha Montague.

Head teacher of Best Pointe Ballet School. Very nice to meet you Tabitha. -And you are?

-Im Tutu. Im the new girl. I do apologise. This class is full. The under 13s have been working hard on their choreography

for the Regional Competition. There is a Saturday open class

perhaps you could join, Tutu. Couldnt we make room for

Tutu in the routine? The choreography is set, Kat. I know,

but Tutu comes highly recommended. She danced the Swan Queen

in Swan Lake at her last ballet school. Well, I suppose we could do

with a stronger corps de ballet. -Hurry up and get changed pleased.

-Oh thats OK. Just need to put my shoes on. Dan, would you like to stay for the class?

The rest of the mums normally do. Yeah, sure. Thatd be nice. Girls, I would like to

introduce you to Tutu. She will be joining the class. [keys clash] Two minutes girls please

and then we will begin. -Hi.

-Why dont you have a normal bun? [Mariah] Did your mum do that for you? -No. I always do my hair like this.

-Wow. -Im Taniah.

-Im Mariah. -Im Rosily. Taniahs sister.

-Step-sister. -This is Man-orama.

-Its actually Manuela. M. A. N. U. E. L. A. Manuela.

Its Cuban. But my friends call me Mannie. Why arent you wearing

a pink leotard like everyone else? So now she can see? -I like to do my own thing I guess.

-Cool. Oh hi Dan, its lovely to meet you.

Im Janelle, Taniahs mum. And Rosilys step-mum. Nice to meet you Janelle.

[Janelle giggles] -Chanelle. Mariahs my daughter.

-It's nice to meet you. Hello Dan. Im Juanita.

It is very nice to meet you. And you too. I have to leave now

to open the restaurant, but please help yourself

to a little snack. It is OK Kat,

if you to take Mannie home? -No trouble at all, Juanita.

- Gracias. Good woman, our Kat. Adios. It's what gets me through to dinner. [Chanelle] I just wish Juanita

wouldnt bring such strong smelling food. Its not very. social. [Tabitha] Shall we begin, girls?

[feet patter] Good afternoon girls. -Good afternoon Madame Montague.

-Good afternoon Tabitha. [Tabitha] It was my intention today

to have a rehearsal for the Regional Competition. Are you familiar with the music

from "The Russian Dance" from the Nutcracker? Um, no Tab--

I mean Madame Montague. Well, for the benefit of Tutu we shall have to review

the basics before we rehearse, so I can assess her technique. Starting with plis please girls.

First position! On my count girls.

Five and six and seven and eight. [lilting piano accompaniment] [Tabitha]

Very nice, Taniah, Mariah. Slowly Mannie. So, where is Mrs Marlow, Dan? Ah, its just the two of us. Tutu and me. -Oh, I see.

-Youve just moved to Rupert Street? -Yeah.

-Some quite nice, small places there. [lilting music continues] Rosily, hold your gaze.

It might help you to stay balanced. She'll need more

than that to stay balanced. I suppose you need a physique

like yours to do carpentry. Such demanding work. It must be very tiring lifting things

and... hammering nails all day. And then to come home

and take care of Tutu in the evenings. Yeah, well it keeps me

out of trouble I suppose. Fourth with a small cambr back Fifth with a full circular port de bras. We shall have eight counts to end so that we can rise up

and pull into position in fifth. [feet shuffle] [children's laughter] [bell rings] [inaudible chatter] -Hi Mannie, hi Rosily.

-Do you go here too? -Yeah I do now.

-Cool. We all get to sit next to each other

at school as well as ballet. But not for English.

I do accelerated English. -There's Roly Poly.

-She's so clumsy. -It's embarrassing we're even related.

-What's your problem Taniah? Tutu, is such a weirdo.

[all laugh in assent] -She looks kinda cool.

-No she doesn't. Taniah's right, she doesn't Roly Poly and Cuckoo Tutu. Hey. How's my favourite little Tutu? Good day at school?

Made many friends? -Yeah, lots.

-Want to give me a hand with this? -Sorry Dad, lots of homework to do.

-What on your first day? They're like slave drivers aren't they? -Better get started.

-OK, kiddo. Well see you in a bit. [tender piano music begins] Mum. I wish you were here. ["The Garland Waltz"

by Tchaikovsky begins] Light. Light as a feather. Try Rosily. Try to be light-footed.

We all have physical challenges. You don't need to be able to see

the music to be able to dance. Is Tabitha always so... direct? I'm the first to admit that Rosily

does have a problem with her eyesight. We're very lucky to have Tabitha. She was the principle ballerina

at the National Ballet company. -Yes. I was a student of hers too.

-Quite some time ago now. -Not that long ago really.

-[mouths] Very long. [whispers] Go on! [Tabitha] You could all learn a lot

from Taniah and Mariah. See how Taniah holds herself.

So delicate, so poised. And Mariah's strength.

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