Post Number 951: London Calling!
Hello lovely people! It's Friday, and that means it's time for a brand new #PinkTutuBlogLondon post! I'm so excited to be back in London, the city that never sleeps…or, at least, never sleeps when it comes to amazing ballet performances and stylish shopping!
This week, I've been on the road (and on the rails!), taking a little trip from my Derbyshire home, to soak up all the amazing vibes that London has to offer. You know how much I adore London; it’s just a magical city full of glamour and possibilities!
For those of you who don't know, I'm Emma, the Pink Tutu Girl, and I love everything sparkly, girly and… well… PINK! But most importantly, I absolutely adore ballet and the graceful magic that happens on stage. And I can't forget about my signature pink tutu – it's not just an outfit; it's a way of life!
I love to dance, to see beautiful ballets, to dress up, and to explore all that this wonderful city has to offer! I’ve managed to get to London by train – and I just adore train journeys! The views are spectacular – the English countryside whizzing past is truly breathtaking.
From Derbyshire to London's Embrace
After a perfectly pleasant train journey, filled with daydreaming, admiring the rolling hills, and people watching (I was so inspired by all the stylish Londoners on board!), I arrived in London's Kings Cross Station! You could practically feel the city’s energy buzz around you; the energy was positively electric! My plan was to go for a delightful morning stroll through the historic and fascinating Covent Garden, take in the lively street performances (ballet always on the lookout, of course!), do some window shopping, have a yummy lunch at one of Covent Garden's amazing cafes (and maybe some pink cupcakes!) and finally, hit the stage, at the London Coliseum, for a fabulous performance of "Giselle!"
It was going to be a fabulous Friday!
A Pink Tutu in Covent Garden:
London was dressed in its finest. I slipped into my favourite tutu - a stunning pale pink creation (that, naturally, had the perfect amount of sparkle!) to start the day with some London style, it just always puts me in the mood to dance!
Covent Garden is a truly inspiring place for someone with a passion for dance and fashion. It's an absolute whirlwind of sights and sounds! From the lively street performers to the chic boutiques and art galleries, Covent Garden had it all.
Ballet Encounters in the Street:
You know me, I'm always on the lookout for ballet! Covent Garden, for me, is pure magic! Street performers – talented dancers, singers, actors, acrobats – there is nothing better than a little bit of spontaneous street theatre, to inspire creativity!
A trio of street dancers were working their magic in the centre of the courtyard! It was almost like a ballet performance on the street – there was the grace of classical moves mixed with some contemporary style – I just loved it! As soon as the first movement began, a whole crowd gathered around, mesmerized. It was so inspiring to watch them dance – and so moving to see how much joy they brought to those watching! I think I even caught a few people tapping their feet to the rhythm of their dance – even a little tut-tut here and there!
Shop 'Til You Drop – Pink Tutu Style:
After watching the talented dancers, my shopping instinct kicked in, and I was so excited to explore the independent boutiques that are unique to Covent Garden. Covent Garden has such a cool vibe, and is the perfect place to spot the latest trends and fashion picks for ballet dancers like me.
And I just love shopping for things that I can incorporate into my dance outfits – gorgeous jewellery, shoes (ballerina flats, obviously!) and all things pink and sparkly!
The most exciting thing was that there were SO many new designers who I'd never heard of. They were absolutely on-trend – it was just so refreshing to discover all the creativity. My favourite shops had such amazing colour, and that fabulous, individual, eclectic Covent Garden flair.
*But the highlight of the whole shopping experience, was the pink boutique - called 'The Pink Lady'! It was like stepping into a dreamland of blush pinks, pale pinks, raspberry pinks and fuchsia! It felt like my personal pink paradise! Of course, I found so much lovely pink merchandise! I simply couldn't resist adding a fabulous pair of pink high heels to my wardrobe – perfect for my next big performance! *
A Royal Afternoon Tea: A Perfect Pink-Tutu Style
I wanted to take the quintessential “English afternoon tea experience,” to experience the elegance and grace of London, a sort of celebration for all the wonderful sights I’d seen in the city!
My tea at the elegant Ritz Hotel was truly decadent - delicate sandwiches, tiny cakes and beautiful tea served in a delicate teapot – and even dainty pink macaroons, in shades of pink and gold, perfect for a pink tutu princess. You’ve got to do an afternoon tea at the Ritz at least once in your life! It’s a quintessential British experience.
The highlight of afternoon tea was the most delicate scones - fresh and fluffy with jam and clotted cream – it’s just heaven.
The ambience was sublime! It was such a relaxed setting, with live piano music that filled the air – such elegance! All of this was perfect to take me into the world of “Giselle!” I needed a sophisticated, beautiful vibe, to get myself into the mood to enjoy my evening performance.
Dancing at the London Coliseum:
“Giselle!” The moment I’d been waiting for – the excitement was just electrifying! You can practically feel the electricity as you walk through those grand doors of the Coliseum.
From the moment I saw the London Coliseum stage (it's just absolutely enormous and so breathtaking!) I was in my happy place. I took my seat in the audience, got out my tiny program and, you know what, it's even better when you’re at the Coliseum, than seeing a ballet at a bigger theatre, like The Royal Opera House. You can practically feel the passion for the dance!
It was as though I was whisked away on a journey to a fairytale world. The dancers were so captivating – they really poured their hearts and souls into the dance. I loved watching them glide and twirl and dance with such passion – it was so graceful and beautiful. I was just transfixed watching every move, every gesture! Their dedication and hard work made it all so real, so powerful, and so incredibly moving!
Every little detail in the sets and costumes - everything was so stunning and magical! I felt as though I'd just been to the land of the mythical.
An Inspirational Evening:
I found myself lost in the world of “Giselle” the classic story, the characters, and all the incredible dances were simply breathtaking. The entire ballet took my breath away, as though the characters and the dances came to life – right in front of my eyes! “Giselle” always gives me such an appreciation for the power of storytelling – in ballet, the beauty of it is that the words aren't necessary. I can understand every nuance in the dances and moves and every character is so fully brought to life!
The performance left me speechless – the dancing was captivating, the music was soaring, the atmosphere was simply magic! It’s what we do best – telling the stories that we carry in our hearts through dance!
After the final curtain closed, I just stood in awe for a while, soaking up all the magic – I was utterly transfixed. “Giselle” had inspired me. This whole evening at the London Coliseum gave me such passion and energy – for ballet – it just reaffirmed that my whole reason for being here is to keep telling the stories, through my dancing, that we love so much – and hopefully, inspire others to love it as much as I do.
Heading Home – With a Pink Tutu Glow:
After a long, eventful, magical, pink-tutu-filled Friday in London, I took the train back home. My head was buzzing from the performance; my heart was full; and I knew there was no other place I would rather be, than right back at home in Derbyshire, feeling creatively inspired – I was buzzing – like a real, little Pink Tutu Powerhouse, with a big dream of making ballet reach the heart of every city.
If you want to join me on my pink-tutu adventures, you can follow www.pink-tutu.com where I’ll be posting weekly blog updates of my adventures around the world! I'm always here to share my ballet journeys – and hopefully inspire people to try something new, something exciting - and perhaps to give them a reason to wear a pink tutu, at least once in their lives!
