Hello darlings! Emma here, reporting live from Planet Earth! As you know, this little ballerina has been travelling the cosmos for the last couple of months, and honestly, my little cosmic heart is bursting with excitement because…well… we're back in my home town of Derby! That's right, we've traded in the glittering spaceships and alien dance floors for familiar cobbled streets and cosy pubs. And you know what? There's something quite lovely about coming home.
A Week In My Favourite Derbyshire Town!
Now, before we dive into the delicious memories I've made this week, let me just say, it's been fab-u-lous! Derby’s been a delight. We started off by revisiting the Derwent Valley Mills. What an amazing reminder of our industrial history and just how vital Derbyshire has been to the development of the whole nation, let alone this planet! But beyond the industrial bits, I was all about fashion, of course! You just have to know what is on trend and what's about to come out in Derbyshire's stores! I just knew my Derbyshire visit would be the perfect opportunity to scout for new pink tutus for my next performance! Cue dramatic *I’m-not-a-princess-I-am-a-ballerina hair flick.
But enough about my tutu wardrobe - for now - what I’m really dying to share with you are the incredible events I managed to squeeze into this fabulous Derbyshire week. Now, being back in the motherland usually means two things: delicious roast dinners and amazing ballet!
Oh, and I did say we were talking 'delicious' - the Derby Markets had me swooning!
Derby is the sort of town where you can just amble down the high street and get lost in the smell of roasted peanuts, fresh flowers, and everything delicious you could imagine. The Market Hall’s one of those charming historic spots - where all the artisans sell their crafts and all those stalls overflow with fruit, veg, cheese, meat, flowers, spices and enough home-baked goodies to make you weak at the knees. I've stocked up on enough yummy local treats to last me for ages, and if my little space capsule wasn’t already stuffed with costume ideas for upcoming shows, it would be stuffed with food too! I even managed to get some fantastic souvenirs. My favourite? A little vintage pottery bear wearing a teeny-tiny pink tutu. Too cute!
Let’s Talk Ballet - Oh, Yes!
Now, I know you’re all wondering, what has this fashion-loving, pink tutu-clad space traveller been doing in the name of the divine art of ballet? Let me tell you! This trip to Derby, was truly tutu-ful! My first stop was the beautiful Derby Theatre. A haven of theatrical wonder, a jewel box of artistry. I even had the pleasure of taking in a show, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a thrilling tale and a brilliant performance – my ears and eyes were treated to a fantastic experience. Now, it’s time for my favourite part… a visit to Derby’s very own Danceworks, where I had a truly inspiring experience watching an ensemble of students in action. These young performers brought an almost spiritual quality to their dance; it was heavenly.
This amazing dance studio brought back a flood of memories from my childhood, spending endless hours perfecting my moves. From piqués to grand jetés, the experience was pure bliss! And talking of bliss, how amazing is it to feel so at home in Derby and be a part of such a vibrant, culturally-rich scene? Especially for someone with a heart for ballet like mine.
This Week's Highlights & My Big Dream:
And guess what else was happening on Planet Earth while I was there? This Saturday, 28th October 2017, Swan Lake was showing at The Hippodrome Cinema. As one of my all-time favourite ballets (and let’s be honest, the absolute epitome of all things tutu!) this would have been an epic experience, and a great reason to visit the Hippodrome. It’s a shame I missed it, however, * I know they will show other ballets in the near future! (Hopefully *The Sleeping Beauty, fingers crossed! 🩰 ).
Speaking of things to dream about, and it might sound strange to you lovely earthlings, but it’s a huge part of why I travel the galaxy, why I go to shows, buy amazing clothes, wear tutus in space! I love what ballet gives people - that sense of grace, confidence, that sense of something beautiful to look forward to and something so joyous and amazing to participate in! You know my ultimate mission? To bring the magical joy and glamour of ballet, and those super fabulous tutus (you know my penchant for a gorgeous, sparkly, bright pink one!), to every corner of the universe! My hope? To have the universe bathed in the sparkle of pink tulle and the infectious rhythm of ballet, making every star in the Milky Way tap its feet!
So, until next time, remember, “Stay sparkly, my darlings! ✨“
Emma.
P.S. Make sure you check out our new Pink Tutu World website - www.pink-tutu.com! - and get involved with my mission to take pink tutu power into outer space. This blog is posted every Wednesday.
