Helloooo my darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-wearing space explorer, Emma, and I'm back on planet Earth after a whirlwind adventure! It's been a little while since I last touched down in Derbyshire (honestly, my space travels take me on such exciting adventures!), but I'm finally back, and my feet are so excited to be touching solid ground, even if it does involve a certain amount of mud!
The universe is simply overflowing with amazing experiences, and this week's escapade had a touch of the theatrical, sprinkled with the dazzling allure of fashion, and finished with the graceful enchantment of, well, you guessed it – ballet!
My Planet Earth ItineraryThis week on planet Earth was a glorious mix of traditional ballet delights and a few modern, shall we say, surprises.
Monday
First things first, I made a beeline for my favourite London boutique, "The Pink Peacock", to stock up on new pink tutus. You simply cannot be a serious pink tutu aficionado without a vibrant and varied collection! I found an exquisite tulle creation with pink and silver sequins, a vibrant cerise dream with delicate feather accents, and a classic black tutu adorned with hand-painted cherry blossoms (the detail was utterly stunning, of course!) Now, tell me you haven't suddenly felt the urge to break out a sparkly tutu for a spot of cosmic ballet practice?
Tuesday
To say that I love my pink tutu is like saying a bee loves honey! My next stop, on Tuesday, was the fabulous Ballet Exchange, which is an absolute haven for tutu history and ballet enthusiasts. I got to meet some of the sweetest, most delightful old dears (you know, those people who actually remember when tutus weren't de rigueur for ballerinas!) We gossiped about the evolution of the tutu, the iconic tutus of legends like Pavlova and Fonteyn (oh, the stories they could tell!) It was so inspirational, and I even found an original ballet slipper from the Victorian era. Talk about a vintage gem!
Wednesday
On Wednesday, I took to the streets of London for some "ballet street"! You wouldn't believe it, my darlings! I wandered into Covent Garden, where the real magic of ballet took over! There were these street performers, all clad in elegant tutus (pink ones of course!), executing amazing choreographed routines! They were just phenomenal, especially considering they were battling a rather hefty wind and an ever-growing audience of squealing children. But their spirits weren't dampened; they even incorporated the gusts of wind into their moves! It was just breathtaking, and honestly, it set me off on a tutu twirling frenzy right there in the cobbled square!
Thursday
After a very pink-tinged afternoon of exploring vintage shops for ballet treasures, I attended my first ballet class in years! My limbs were protesting loudly after all my travelling, but it was so much fun, and the tutor was simply amazing (and also wore the most adorable pink tulle scarf with silver sequins!). Turns out, even after travelling across the universe, the classics never go out of style. A pirouette in Derbyshire is just as charming as a pirouette on Neptune, believe me!
Friday
The highlight of the week? A spectacular ballet show in London's majestic Royal Opera House! It was "Swan Lake", one of the great classics, with an impressive cast, incredible sets, and that iconic white tutu! (Seriously, those swans are such graceful beauties in those tutus, and so inspiring!) It was absolutely phenomenal and just the thing I needed after the very hectic week I'd had. And my darling friends, everyone was in a pink mood - even the orchestra had a couple of pink accents!
Saturday
Feeling inspired and bursting with creative energy after the Swan Lake performance, I took my very pink ballerina bun (topped, of course, with a shimmering pink hair bow) down to Hyde Park for some fresh air. (Well, let's face it, mostly to show off my new pink tutus to all the passerbys). I found a fantastic local crafts market where a charming woman even sold handmade ballet-themed trinkets! I managed to secure a delicate ballet dancer brooch (sparkling with silver stones, of course!) and a miniature, hand-painted ballerina doll, which now holds a very special place in my tutu collection.
Sunday
And on this day, as the celestial sphere began to bathe itself in the golden light of sunset, I gathered with a group of friends for a delightfully pink-tinted supper party at the most adorable tea shop in London! Imagine this: tables covered with pastel pink linen, delicate china plates adorned with cherry blossoms, and, yes, pink champagne. The delicious cupcakes (complete with pink icing, of course!) were the final touch.
Back in the UniverseAs I head back to the cosmos for another thrilling galactic journey, my heart is overflowing with the magic and beauty I discovered on planet Earth.
And before I embark on my cosmic odyssey, I simply must give a little shout out to the beautiful and captivating spirit of ballet, with its graceful moves, exquisite costumes, and powerful emotions that leave an eternal mark on the soul.
And remember, darlings, every single one of you is capable of being a ballerina, and even if you aren’t planning on stepping onto the world's stage, why not dance with the universe? So find your pink tutu (or maybe even a shimmering white one!) and let's celebrate the power of dance and beauty, wherever our intergalactic travels may lead us!
Until next week, my dears, may your hearts be filled with pink and twirl happily ever after!
Your galactic ballet queen, Emma
Now, about that date, 2016-12-28...You might be wondering why this day, especially, was such a fabulous find in the world of ballet! And let me tell you, it was especially fab because... (drumroll please)... it was the very day a ballet-loving penguin called "Humphrey" officially joined a ballet company on planet Earth! That's right! It all happened on December 28th, 2016, and this little penguin made headlines across the globe.
Isn't that simply the most delightful thing? It shows how ballet can bring us all together, whether we have two legs or two flippers, whether we dance on stage or on the frozen Antarctic landscapes.
The best part? "Humphrey" wasn't just any penguin. He was already a little star in the "Oceanarium Ballet" (oh, what an imaginative name!) at a local aquarium. I hear he totally stole the show! So imagine my glee when "Humphrey" finally joined an actual ballet company on December 28th, 2016! Now, THAT is true, pink-tutu-worthy magic!
But honestly, 2016-12-28 wasn't just about "Humphrey"! This date in ballet history was bursting with other exciting events, proving that even though "Humphrey" made the biggest splash (sorry!), every day is a chance to celebrate ballet, especially when you're sporting a fabulous pink tutu.
And speaking of pink tutus... I've got a sneaky feeling you're all about to start browsing online for the perfect pink tutu. Remember my little darlings, pink is more than just a colour, it's a feeling, a way of life. And with a fabulous pink tutu by your side, you too can feel the magic of ballet every day!
A Ballet World Adventure - Some Fun Facts!Planet Earth has many ballet companies. In fact, some say that Earth has the highest concentration of professional ballet companies anywhere in the known galaxy! You’ll find classical ballet companies, contemporary ballet companies, street ballet groups, and everything in between, from the glitziest Broadway productions to those intimate off-off-Broadway venues. It's truly remarkable!
Did you know? *The *tutu as we know it evolved over centuries. And, I just love how it has transformed from the 19th century, where they were much shorter, like little puffs of lace. Then, tutus got longer in the 1850s (think classic ballerinas!) and now, the most impressive ones are called "layered tutus". It's a a multi-tiered spectacle! Oh, and my darlings, did you know tutus can weigh up to **30 pounds? That is serious dancing weight!
Ballet inspired fashion all the way back in the early 1800s. Even back then, the world of ballet was inspiring the designers of planet Earth. But I can assure you, tutus are still fashionable today, especially with all the cool contemporary designers who like to give them a new-age twist! They’re appearing on fashion catwalks, and popping up in street style across the universe. Honestly, I can't get enough of these modern tutus! They're so edgy and cool.
Want to join me on a tutu-fied voyage of exploration through the history of ballet and the fascinating evolution of tutus? Don’t forget to head over to my beloved ballet resource, the Ballet Exchange (it's online and totally user-friendly!) It's brimming with articles, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes looks into the world of ballet.
There you’ll find everything from a detailed breakdown of ballet costumes to the stories behind iconic dancers to a fascinating guide to different styles of tutus. Honestly, you could easily lose yourself (in the most glorious way, of course!) in the wonders of the ballet world!
You can also join the growing number of tutu fanatics across the universe by checking out the fabulous website of the Pink Tutu World Network. This site is chock full of articles, blog posts, galleries, videos and even forums where we can all share our favourite tutu creations and the magical experiences we have while embracing this pink tutu life!
Now, off you go, darling friends, to spread the pink-tutu love across the galaxy! Let’s dance together on planet Earth! See you next Wednesday!