Wednesday 21st February 2024
Hello my darling darlings, and welcome back to another delightful installment of Pink Tutu World! As you know, this week I'm back on Planet Earth, after a truly cosmic ballet adventure through the Andromeda Galaxy. (Spoiler alert: I’ll tell you all about that next week!) But before we jet off to those exciting interstellar realms, let's delve into the world of earthly ballet… and my absolute love for the glorious colour pink, of course!
Oh, what a whirlwind the past few weeks have been! My trusty spaceship, 'Tututopia,' landed at the grand Derbyshire airport – (you all know how much I love my home county!) – after a rather lengthy intergalactic trip. And what do you know? It's been raining sequins and shimmer here on Earth!
So, as soon as my feet touched terra firma, I grabbed my pinkest suitcase (of course!) and headed straight for the world-famous Royal Opera House in London. It's simply impossible to resist a show at the Royal Opera House, even when you've seen it all before. You know me, always a sucker for a beautiful stage, glorious costumes, and oh-my-goodness, the music! Let me tell you, they were performing the timeless classic, Swan Lake, and I just fell in love all over again.
My heart danced along with the graceful dancers as they flitted across the stage, their delicate movements echoing the romanticism of the story. Even my heart felt a little fluttery. Honestly, how can anyone not fall in love with the passion and drama of a traditional ballet production like Swan Lake? It's a theatrical masterpiece!
As for my fashion choices, you can always trust me for a look that's quintessentially pink tutu. For the occasion, I opted for a dreamy, pastel pink tulle skirt (can you tell I'm slightly obsessed?) a chic, sleek black top that perfectly complemented the swirling layers of tulle. I added some sparkling embellishments, and a little pink feather boa for an extra touch of glamour! Of course, no pink tutu look would be complete without a pair of matching pink sparkly shoes. I was positively twinkling under the Covent Garden lights, and my dear fellow tutulovers gave me all the heart-eyed emojis in the theatre – how sweet is that?
Afterwards, we headed over to Fortnum & Mason for a celebratory spot of afternoon tea. I couldn’t resist popping into the food hall for a peek, because, darling, you know how much I adore gourmet treats! Everything was absolutely delightful - delicate sandwiches, warm scones with lashings of clotted cream, and my absolute favourite, a truly divine pink macaroon. (Oh, did I mention my weakness for the colour pink? Clearly, I do!)
Of course, I'm always on the lookout for inspiration in London, particularly for all things tutu. A visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum was simply a must! You won’t believe the number of incredible costumes from ballet history they have on display. There were glorious silk dresses and velvet costumes, and all kinds of tutu designs throughout the years - from fluffy to frilly, to absolutely spectacular. They're like pieces of art. You’d think a ballerina like myself would know a thing or two about the evolution of tutus, but I was utterly surprised at just how much there is to learn about this captivating subject! It was almost a shame I couldn't squeeze all of these treasures into my suitcase – but what can you do when there's just so much to love?
Speaking of tutus, I was thrilled to stumble across a small but incredible vintage ballet shop called "Le Papillon," nestled in a charming cobbled alleyway. It's truly a hidden gem. My oh my, the tutus they had! Imagine a vintage 1930s lilac satin tutu with intricate lace detailing… Absolutely breathtaking. They even had the cutest little pair of miniature tutu slippers with real pearl detailing for my collection. And for all my ballet-mad friends out there, they stock a fantastic range of ballerina-themed gifts – the perfect way to spread a little bit of pink tutu love!
But that's not all! I was lucky enough to catch the most sensational street performance from a young, up-and-coming ballerina in Soho. Her street ballet piece was contemporary and modern with amazing use of urban spaces. It's exciting to see how ballet is evolving and becoming so much more accessible for everyone. Oh, and have I mentioned, I always love watching a talented dancer wearing a gorgeous pink tutu! It's my personal, little bit of pink perfection!
My London jaunt ended with a whirlwind trip to Harrods for another essential shopping spree. I know I’m already an ambassador for pink tutus, but I always look for fresh inspiration to ensure I’m truly embracing the power of the perfect pink. You never know, I may have even snagged myself a new shimmering pink tutu (or two!) You just know I’ll have my sights set on new fashion treasures, and that a sprinkle of pink sparkles is the way to go!
As for today, I'm finally getting around to settling back into life at home in Derbyshire. That means a very important visit to my favorite local dance studio. It's not just the perfect place to work on my plies, jetés and tour – it's actually become something of a cultural centre for our community! The energy there is absolutely buzzing! Not to mention, the staff are all incredible, the space is so well-maintained and, naturally, they have a great selection of pink tutus for everyone!
You just know I'm going to slip into my favorite pink tutu (a delicate tulle number, with delicate floral embroidery!) and join a class. You see, dancing always makes me feel so happy! And maybe I'll even catch up with the Derbyshire dance crew and hear about all the exciting dance projects they have going on. There's so much to love about this beautiful form of art!
My dear followers, I hope my adventures have inspired you to get your dancing shoes on and embrace all things ballet! There’s something truly wonderful and exciting happening within the world of dance all over the planet. After all, as long as there's a ballet shoe, a pink tutu, and a passion for the art, there's so much fun and magic to be had!
*Until next time, happy dancing, and remember – a pink tutu is never a bad idea! *
Emma xoxo
PinkTutuWorld.com
