Aussies leave tutus out back

Until now the ladies of the Australian Ballet have preferred decorum to d?colletage.

But even they have now joined the ranks of the rugby players and Women's Institute members by stripping off to raise their profile. Traditional tutus and tights have been replaced by - well, not very much.

The new look comes in the latest edition of Australian FHM magazine, which features a spread of five of the dancers posing topless and in bikinis. The move, which has raised eyebrows even in forward-thinking Sydney, is an aggressive marketing ploy designed to raise ballet's profile and bring it to the masses.

The spread was designed by the company's artistic director David McAllister from an idea by magazine editor John Bastick, who said it was a way of "humanising ballet?. He added: "Most people see it as snooty and stuffy, and it isn't often seen as sexy."

Soloist Olivia Bell, 23, said the whole company was thrilled at the chance to take their clothes off and wanted to be recognised in the street. "We don't get a lot of opportunity to do this sort of thing," she added.