Hiya, darlings! It's Friday, and you know what that means? It's time for another London adventure!
This week I decided to ditch the car and take a trip by train. I just love the atmosphere of a train journey. All that hustle and bustle, and the beautiful views as you zoom past the countryside. But even better? A whole train carriage full of eyes on my fabulously pink tutu, that's what! It's the perfect outfit for a train ride - twirling between seats, a delightful little spectacle. It certainly made my fellow commuters smile.
So, a little background for those of you new here, you might be wondering how I afford all these fabulous adventures in London, and the answer is - my tutu! Yes, it’s true. I make a little bit of money performing in ballet shows and ballet classes, and it allows me to take little trips, like today’s journey from Derbyshire to London! Honestly, you'd be surprised how many people need ballet teachers – every week I get asked to do more gigs.
I know, it all sounds like a fairytale – the glamorous performances, the dazzling city escapades, the pink tutus – and the best part? I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world!
Fashion Fun on the Platform
My train trip was already filled with so much pink energy, it felt like I'd arrived in London, and that's before we even got there. The moment I stepped on that train platform, it was clear I was in the right place – I felt like a bubblegum explosion waiting to happen! My outfit, of course, was on point - a vibrant pink tutu, paired with a shimmering blush-coloured top and sparkly pink ballet shoes. My hair was tied up in a ballerina bun, adorned with a tiny pink bow, of course!
And as I was boarding the train, who should I bump into but a young girl, about seven years old, wearing the cutest little pink tutu I'd ever seen. You'd think she was a little doll – adorable. The moment she saw me, her face lit up and she let out a squeal of delight. And me, being me, I just had to say hello. We talked for ages about tutus, and ballet, and of course, the joy of pink.
“You're like a real-life ballerina!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"And you're the most stylish seven-year-old I've seen today!" I replied. "Are you going to a ballet show too?"
“No!” She giggled. “It’s my birthday and we're going to see the theatre performance of ‘Matilda'! Oh, do you know the songs? We learned them all at school!”
And she continued telling me about this incredible "Matilda" and all the magic and mayhem it was going to hold. My heart melted! My time to shine will come – but what a wonderful example of the influence of these performers, bringing this beautiful show to life! Oh, my word, it got me thinking… Maybe I could include a "Matilda" costume as part of my future collections! Who knows, that might be the start of something brilliant. The inspiration is endless here.
But, sadly, I couldn’t hang around for long. My journey to London was calling. The train was now getting ready to depart, and with a quick kiss goodbye and a promise to be back in time for another conversation, I bid farewell to the little pink ballerina.
I took a deep breath, gathered my bag, and sat down at the window seat, twirling my tutu as the train picked up speed, excitement bubbling inside me. London, here I come!
The Ballet Class I Never Knew I Needed
London's a city of endless opportunities, but you already knew that, right? The one thing that took me by surprise, even after all this time, was the street theatre that’s constantly happening.
I saw this fantastic little act - the busker wasn't playing an instrument or singing or anything. This gentleman, who couldn’t have been older than 25, was mimicking, like really, really mimicking – the ballet classics like “Swan Lake”, with every move perfectly choreographed and even in an elaborate costume. I stopped in my tracks to admire his dedication and his skill – the moves, the poses – oh, it was magnificent. My cheeks flushed and my smile broadened. My ballerina instincts got the best of me, and, oh my, I just HAD to see him do another performance!
Now, you all know me by now – a true believer in all things pink and tutus – I was so entranced, I forgot all about the London attractions on my list, completely. My head was filled with balletic dreams and pink hues. I imagined all the beautiful tutus, the bright colours, and all the lovely patterns that would be on my tutu – how the fabric would move with his every step.
Then suddenly I remembered - my next class was a ballet workshop at the famous Royal Ballet School! What was a ballet class for beginners compared to watching this performance of magic! It really struck a chord in my heart, and oh, this street performance - it’s already a part of my repertoire! I had to grab my phone, grab a photo of this performance and upload it to Pink Tutu! You’ll see it soon. It was almost, as if, this amazing street performer, and his inspiring movements, had spoken to my inner ballet princess and she’s ready to rule the streets.
This had to be my new pink tutu-infused adventure!
So, there I was, an hour later, skipping into the Royal Ballet School, my heart a whirlwind of excitement and pink inspiration! Of course, I wore my most stunning pink tutu (after a quick outfit change in the toilets – oh the glamour of being a professional!) and felt confident and beautiful.
The teacher, an elegant and very beautiful ballerina, was so welcoming. And I knew then and there I’d made the right decision. It was such an amazing feeling to be in a space dedicated to the beautiful art of dance – the smells, the sounds, the colours – the feel. Oh, it's so unique, I can’t even explain. It is such a wonderful world we’re stepping into!
The workshop was about ballet history, focusing on the history of women in ballet, which I loved, as you know how much I admire ballerinas like the greats of the 19th Century, Marie Taglioni, who introduced the very idea of tutus – the epitome of female ballet performers!
It wasn't easy though, that's for sure! But I've always had an undying passion for ballet and the more I dance, the more I enjoy every move. My moves just naturally flow as my tutu spins around me. The workshop focused on learning some of the movements, positions and gestures from the different styles of ballet – which, believe me, my ballerina brain totally absorbed. And there's no better feeling than working those ballet muscles, even when they are screaming in protest!
But even the most experienced ballet performers always need a bit of help from their favourite pink tutu to keep going. Oh, don't worry – we have more pink on the menu at the end of this blog. We need all the positive vibes we can get, don’t we?
An Evening of Pink Theatre Dreams
I really can't tell you just how tired I was after all this – but hey, the more tired we are, the more we get to have that lovely, relaxing soak in a hot bath at night, and I had my Pink Bathrobe to look forward to! Yes, my darling readers, we’re all about that “comfort wear” here! I would never forget that pink bathrobe – It’s truly my favourite colour of all colours! And I can tell you, it made this day extra special!
However, after that relaxing hot bath and that heavenly pink bathrobe, it was time to venture out, and head to the theatre for an evening of ballet-inspired drama. Tonight’s performance? “A Chorus Line” – it is just a little bit of a showstopper, I’m telling you! The stories told in this performance are all about the stories of those dancers auditioning for their spot in the theatre – It just hits so many heartstrings for me. The stories behind every dancer’s performance – from that initial nervousness to the final performance! The dreams of every dancer, and then you watch it unfold - it’s all in front of your eyes. And it really shows the heart behind every performance! My love for ballet is off the scale tonight, and, as always, I couldn’t resist – but I had to put a photo of my amazing dress I chose tonight for the show. And don’t you know what color I chose to wear to this show – It was my “starry pink” number – it is my showstopper number! It has these delicate sequins all over it – that really, really shine!
To my eyes, ballet is more than just dancing - it's an art form full of beauty and power! The sheer talent of the cast members – that dedication – that precision, they moved me. The performance had me thinking about how my ballet performances were more than just a way to get funding for my London adventures! I could use this platform – and the stories behind every dancer, every single one of them – for inspiration for my own Pink Tutu fashion.
It gave me a new vision for a collection with so much to share about how it is being a professional ballerina, about finding that passion for something you love. But oh my, there's no need to worry my darling readers – if I am thinking up designs, we’ll keep you in the loop – no fear! But in this post we’ve had quite enough of fashion from me. There’s only one way I know to end this post and to let the pink, ballet and theatre fever flow over my dear readers – Let’s just say I think it’s time to dance!
Well, darling readers, that's my London Friday adventure for you – a day full of fun, ballet and so much pink, and maybe a new inspiration or two for a new collection! Next week I will tell you all about the amazing photoshoot I have lined up in my next Pink Tutu London Post, with the lovely team at www.pink-tutu.com - you are in for a treat, but until next Friday, stay fabulous and remember to always add a little bit of pink into your life!
Catch you on the other side, lovelies. xx
