I was rather excited when I heard that choreographer Philippe Lafeuille’s hugely acclaimed, award winning and successful show ‘TUTU’ would be in town this month, completing a run at London’s Sadler’s Wells East London.

I love a dance spectacle with a sense of humour and this has that in spades. And it is, of course, a celebration of the tutu, the enduring symbol of classical dance. But the show itself is not limited to ballet – expect to experience myriad genres of dance and music. 

To find out more about the show, I spoke to Philippe about his creative process, his company Chicos Mambo, his career in the arts and more. 

CM: Can you start by telling us about the content of ‘TUTU’? What is the show about? 
PL: ‘TUTU’ takes you on a hilarious journey through the icons of classical ballet, contemporary dance, ballroom and acrobatics. It presents dance in all its forms and in all its moods. It’s a delightful show that everyone can agree on.

CM: What style of dance does the show include? 
PL: ‘TUTU’ features many different dance styles: classical ballet, contemporary dance, tango, dance like you see on TV, gymnastics, and other things simply born from my imagination.

‘TUTU’ demonstrates that not just one style prevails; ‘TUTU’ offers dance with a capital D and perhaps seeks to break down labels; ‘TUTU’ presents dance in all its diversity and richness.

CM: What kind of music can we expect? 
PL: For ‘TUTU’, all the music I chose is related to dance.

Either because it’s music from famous choreographic works like Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ or Ravel’s ‘Boléro’, or because it’s music that people dance to, like the tango and the cha-cha, or it’s music from dance-related films like ‘Dirty Dancing’.

The majority of the music is very well-known, but there are also some lesser-known pieces.

CM: How would you describe it in terms of its tone? Serious or funny or reflective? 
PL: ‘TUTU’ is simply a joyful yet rigorous show, because humour is a very serious matter. It’s also rigorous in its technical execution. At times, certain scenes can be quite poetic. You’ll find a wide range of emotions in ‘TUTU’.

CM: Can you tell us about the creative process of putting the show together? How do you go about choreographing the different elements and what inspires things like the choice of music? 
PL: When I start creating a show, I immediately think about the title and also a material – in the case of ‘TUTU’, tulle – because the visual aspect, the costumes, is very important in my shows.

I already have certain images and very concrete ideas in mind that I want to bring to life. And I arrive at rehearsals with a pre-established music list.

Then comes the creative work with the dancers, because I choose very creative dancers, and then the work on the characters is added. The final touch is the lighting, which enhances the performance.

CM: What was the inspiration for this? What made you want to focus on the tutu? 
PL: I chose ‘TUTU’ as the title because, for me, the tutu is the iconic symbol of dance.

I wanted to create a show for a wide audience, for everyone, and perhaps especially for those who think dance isn’t for them or that they don’t understand its nuances.

‘TUTU’ is a two-syllable title that sounds simple and direct.

CM: Can you tell us about Chicos Mambo and its history? 
PL: Chicos Mambo is a company that was founded over 30 years ago in Barcelona.

When we created this company, we were contemporary dancers, a little tired of creations that were sometimes too abstract and sometimes too difficult for a wide audience. We wanted to have fun and bring joy to the audience.

The choice of the company’s name was simple and direct: Chicos means boys and Mambo means dance. I think it was a good choice, because for over 30 years the company has toured the world.

CM: Can you tell us about your own pathway into the arts? What led to this career? 
PL: What sparked my passion for dance, almost 50 years ago – OMG, I’m so old!!! – was a Maurice Béjart performance.

I began my career as a dancer. I danced with neoclassical and contemporary companies, in a very diverse career that led me to dance alongside Rudolf Nureyev and Madonna.

When I moved to Barcelona, ​​it unleashed, to my great surprise, a tremendous creativity within me that I hadn’t suspected. And for over 30 years, I’ve been creating shows with this Chicos Mambo label, but I also collaborate with other companies.

CM: What have been the highlights of your working life thus far? 
PL: ‘TUTU’ is a significant milestone in my career. This show has enjoyed enormous success for over ten years everywhere.

I’m the first to be surprised by ‘TUTU’s success. I often ask myself: what did I put into this show to make it so successful and to have it tour the world with such acclaim?

It’s very rare for a dance show to achieve such global success, and I’m very proud to be returning to London and Sadlers Wells.

CM: What aims and ambitions do you have for the future? 
PL: I will continue to create shows and bring joy through them.

I see the world growing darker and darker, everything becoming more polarised. This motivates me to keep creating these bubbles of light and to champion dance.

Because I am convinced that if the world danced, the world would be a much better place.

CM: What’s coming up next for you after this?
PL: I continue to tour my shows: I currently have four shows touring simultaneously. I follow my artistic instinct, which hasn’t let me down so far.

I’m preparing a new creation, perhaps in two or three years, and I’m always open to new encounters or potential collaborations that life may offer.

‘TUTU’ is on at Sadler’s Wells East London from 11-15 Feb. For more information and to book tickets see the venue website here. 

LINKS: sadlerswells.com | instagram.com/chicosmamboofficiel 

Photo: Michel Cavalca