Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, and this week I'm whisking you off to Prague! I know, I know, what a fabulously romantic city to visit. You might think I'm just being dramatic, but this is Prague's very own ballet-loving ballerinaâs haven, and I've absolutely fallen head over heels in love with it! Itâs like I stepped into one of my favourite classic ballet stories with its ancient castles, fairytale architecture and cobbled streets. I haven't even mentioned the amazing ballet performances I've seen so far - we'll get to those later!
It felt truly fitting to arrive by train, of course. I mean, what's more glamorous than pulling into a bustling railway station in a pretty pink dress and matching tulle? Oh, and my faithful, little white pony "Buttercup" was tucked safely away in the luggage van. A pony? Well, how else was I going to navigate those pretty, yet perilous, Prague cobblestone streets? Not to worry, Iâm actually really good at fitting everything I need for a month in a vintage, pink leather saddle bag (just think Mary Poppins - a little dash of magic with each new destination)!
Now, you all know about my mission to spread the pink tutu love worldwide, right? So obviously, a city as beautiful and whimsical as Prague couldn't be missed. This trip started a while back, back when I was dancing in Derbyshire - you canât leave out the tutus! I saved every single penny from my dance performances (you can tell your mum, if you haven't already, itâs definitely not as glamorous as it sounds!) and booked my tickets. Luckily, the ballet shows that I had booked beforehand have been absolutely fantastic â you wouldnât believe how much they all cost! And they paid for everything else â fancy Prague accommodation, that fab shopping spree and delicious treats - whoosh! And don't even get me started on the delicious dumplings. I may just move here for them.
Speaking of my gorgeous accommodation, I've been staying at the most charming hotel you've ever seen! The owner - who looked just like a character out of a Dickens novel, with rosy cheeks and a long white beard â said that the rooms have a âballet vibeâ. Don't worry, lovelies, I'm not talking dusty tutus in faded lavender drawers! They're just beautifully designed with pale pinks and whites, and I have to admit, thereâs a giant photo of Natalia Makarova dancing over the fireplace, so I couldn't possibly disagree!
Oh, and before I get to the real meat of my Prague escapade - my favourite dance experiences - there's something else that makes this city extra special for a pink tutu-obsessed girl like me. Did you know that ballet's most iconic piece, "Swan Lake," got its first international performance here in Prague back in 1894? This is a ballet history-lover's dream! And you all know I'm a sucker for a bit of history, especially when it comes to ballerinas. My passion for ballet dates right back to my childhood. In fact, my grandmother gifted me my first little pink tutu on my fifth birthday!
However, it's not just all history and serious ballerina stuff in this delightful city. It's got that vibrant and lively buzz too - not forgetting the beautiful parks, delicious cake, and, oh, have I mentioned the shops?! My Instagram feed is absolutely overflowing with pictures of pink clothes and pretty pastel tutus - I just had to find out more!
While I was perusing one of Pragueâs lovely antique shops (the place had some absolute treasures!), I was delighted to stumble across a tiny pink ballet slipper - no more than 3 inches long! Now, don't worry - I know what you're thinking - no, it's definitely not for my feet. Itâs far too small for me to use, even for those âlook but don't touchâ photos I often capture for my pink tutu blog. However, the little shoe made my heart skip a beat and reminded me that sometimes, the little details make a huge difference in life. Plus, it was super cute! I managed to buy it for ÂŁ12, bargain of the century right?! My little ballet slipper now sits proudly on my dresser. Itâs just the right amount of kitsch and whimsy to make my Prague hotel room feel a little bit more like home!
This city, by the way, is seriously Instagrammable. I've been taking so many photos â my feed is practically pink and a constant reminder that all the pretty places we find as travel bloggers and everyday folk deserve a proper photo opportunity! (Did I mention the cafes were absolutely divine, by the way? I can't get enough of their coffee and cake!)
Anyway, you must be itching to hear all about the dancing - so I'll give you a sneak peek into what I saw on 12th November!
The Prague Dance Experience: Pink Tutu & Pink PantherI must say, one of the highlights of my entire trip so far, apart from that dreamy little ballet slipper, of course, was the ballet performance I saw on 12th November at the State Opera! It was a magical combination of music, artistry, and drama, set within the majestic walls of this truly beautiful building. The performances are unlike any Iâve seen back in the UK, so you definitely want to be on the lookout for any shows whilst youâre here!
My initial plan had been to see the classical ballet "La Bayadère" - a beautiful romantic story with an even prettier pink tutu that the main character, Nikiya, wears. It's one of the most iconic tutus in ballet and features a breathtaking blend of Indian influences and a gorgeous ballet technique - seriously beautiful!
Sadly though, this wasnât the ballet I ended up seeing. In fact, they didn't even have tickets available for âLa Bayadère" at all! Now, my plan B was "Swan Lake" â again, the absolute classic that everyone should experience - so I figured this would be my Prague debut. Then the show got cancelled⌠sigh!
My last hope for the day was âPink Panther: The Balletâ â which I think is fairly self explanatory, and in many ways far more interesting. The music of "Pink Panther" is famous, and in Prague itâs now used in the context of a ballet production that includes a contemporary, witty and humorous storyline with lots of twists, turns and acrobatics - you really do have to see it for yourself. It was so different and modern â in a good way â the contemporary styles have given my âclassicalâ style tutu dancing some real food for thought! The choreography included these breathtakingly inventive ballet steps. Plus, they used this very modern version of ballet music! I know, you might think a musical score associated with such a fun and light-hearted character as the âPink Pantherâ would be a bit random in a classical ballet performance, but somehow it worked - trust me! The audience was enthralled!
Of course, my outfit included my most sparkly, blush-pink, tutu for this, my ultimate Prague dancing experience!
I would absolutely recommend attending a performance of this, and all the other ballet performances taking place in Pragueâs theatre district! If you can catch a performance while youâre in Prague you are going to absolutely love it! Just remember to book well in advance, and bring your own pink tutu for some post-show Instagram moments, of course!
So there you have it, another fabulous week in the pink tutu's life, where we explored the wonder of Prague through a ballet-tinted lens!
Stay tuned next week as I venture further afield for another fun and fabulous post - who knows what other fabulous ballet adventures we will uncover? Donât forget to head to www.pink-tutu.com to check out all my posts from Prague! And letâs see all your pink tutu posts - you never know, I might feature you next! Until next Wednesday, darlings!
