#PinkTutuMilan Wednesday 2003-01-22 ballet blog from Milano Italia

Buongiorno, darlings! It's Emma here, back from the fabulous city of Milan, my little pink tutu in tow. Oh, the adventures I've had this week! Let me tell you, Milan is a whirlwind of fashion, culture, and…well, tutus, of course. This is my third visit to Milan, but this one felt like a real awakening for my inner fashionista.

Before I dive into the thrilling details, don't forget to check out the www.pink-tutu.com website every Monday for my Milan diary. Now, back to our pink-tastic Italian adventures!

Arriving in Milan on Monday felt like stepping into a dream. The train journey from Turin was so romantic – lush green countryside gliding past, dappled sunlight warming the carriage. It was the perfect prelude to an absolutely exquisite ballet performance that evening! It was "Giselle", at the Teatro alla Scala, the most magnificent theatre in the world, and my oh my, I was floored!

The energy of the place was electric, and the costumes were breathtaking. The sheer elegance and passion of the dancers moved me to tears – a good, emotional ballet always does that to me! Giselle was so beautifully heartbreaking, and the "Wilis" – those ghostly female spirits, dancing so beautifully in white tutus – just added to the magic of it all. You know how much I adore a beautiful white tutu – and they were just divine. The delicate tulle, the ethereal elegance, it made me wish I was on that stage with them.

The Italian audience is so passionate about their arts. They just breathe with the music, and they're so generous with their applause! That warm, welcoming atmosphere makes me feel right at home. It’s always an amazing feeling to see people captivated by ballet, even those not accustomed to its delicate language. After the performance, a charming gentleman with twinkling eyes offered to buy me a glass of champagne in the foyer. We spoke for ages about ballet and art. He was captivated by my pink tutu, he admitted. Who can resist a pink tutu, after all?

The rest of the week has been a blur of shopping, sightseeing, and a fair bit of cappuccino-fueled planning. Milan's just begging to be explored. And of course, my shopping sprees have been most productive!

The shops are amazing! It feels like a never-ending stream of incredible fabrics, colours, and textures. My first stop was the gorgeous department store La Rinascente which has some fabulous fashion departments, and that's where I discovered my new favourite pair of shoes! The heel is perfect for twirling and it has the most beautiful blush-pink satin… needless to say, it’s pink, and I couldn’t leave it behind. I can't wait to wear it for my next ballet class!

I found the most beautiful silk scarf in a little shop in the Brera district – it's a deep fuchsia with tiny delicate floral patterns, and just imagine, I bought the same fabric but in a lighter blush pink to make a little ballet skirt. That way I can dress it up for a performance and I can also dress it down to wear in the studio, because it's so elegant but soft at the same time.

For more pink adventures, I strolled through the stylish boutiques along Via Montenapoleone, the heart of Milanese fashion. From classic brands to new emerging designers, the clothes here are divine. It felt like a pink paradise with all the exquisite textures and vibrant hues – especially the beautiful pinks! You can find absolutely everything you could ever want, or need! And who can resist a pink tutu after all that shopping?

On Wednesday I headed to a ballet workshop hosted by Milano Danza , and you'll never believe who was in my class – it was Alessandra, the dancer from that street performance last weekend! I can’t believe how much her work inspired me to explore the beauty of the city through ballet! It's amazing how dance can connect you with the heart of a place.

Alessandra is so lovely – so talented, and just so inspiring! The whole workshop was full of energy. We warmed up with a selection of stretches that actually seemed to make my legs feel longer (I’ve been dreaming about my perfect sissone ever since!) And the exercises were great fun – it’s great how different styles can be blended. I found it really exciting!

To end our Wednesday, we all got on the tram – the tram in Milan is such an adventure in itself, buzzing along its narrow paths. You really see the character of the city when you take the tram. We laughed, we gossiped, and then we danced a little in the aisles, just for the fun of it – it was such a great laugh!

The best thing is, the Milanese seem to absolutely adore our pink tutus! We even had some passengers trying on our tutu. We had to share the pink! Alessandra was laughing along. Everyone’s laughing in pink!

This Friday was all about exploring Milan’s artistic side. I visited the stunning Pinacoteca di Brera – it’s such a beautiful building with gorgeous courtyards full of roses. Inside the Pinacoteca, I spent hours admiring the masterpieces. My favourite? Manet's Olympia – so daring, so provocative! You just can’t beat a classic.

For lunch, I had the most incredible fresh mozzarella sandwich, perfectly paired with some locally produced Italian red wine at a café near the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is absolutely spectacular - the most gorgeous shopping mall ever with its amazing mosaic floor!

Later in the afternoon, I took the metro to the Castello Sforzesco, the city's medieval castle. It's like a portal to another era, imposing but incredibly beautiful! The castle is full of history and the surrounding park has some magnificent sculptures and hidden gardens – such peaceful serenity! It’s like taking a break from the frantic energy of the city and stepping into a moment of peace. And who doesn’t need a little piece of peace in their life!

On my last night in Milan, I wanted to enjoy something unique, and boy, did I find it. At the Teatro delle Arti, I saw a contemporary ballet called A Million Stars with The Vertigo Company which just left me breathless! The performance was innovative and bold, the choreography stunning. It was a perfect mix of the elegance of classic ballet combined with the power of street dance. There was something raw and untamed about it, which reminded me so much of the Milan I love – a mix of classic elegance with a sense of rebellious style!

As I sat in the Teatro delle Arti, watching those dancers move with such energy and freedom, it just hit me - I want to dance more, I need to learn new things, and I just need to follow my passion and do whatever makes my heart sing. The performance was almost spiritual – they used light and shadows, making me feel lost in the moment.

Milan has been magical – like dancing into a kaleidoscope of colour and passion! I’m heading back to Derbyshire next week. And, you're not going to believe this! I'm putting on a ballet-themed party back home, to celebrate the energy I’ve absorbed here! The highlight? A Pink Tutu Dance workshop!

Stay tuned, darlings.

And don't forget to join me on www.pink-tutu.com for another dose of pink, fluffy ballet bliss next week. Until then, may your life be filled with sunshine and pirouettes.

Much love and pirouettes,

Emma xxx