#PinkTutuMilan Wednesday 2012-01-18 ballet blog from Milano Italia

Ciao, my lovelies! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad ballerina blogger, Emma, back from a whirlwind trip to Milan! 🩰🇮🇹

This week, we're heading to www.pink-tutu.com for my eighth hundred and sixty-seventh blog post - can you believe it?! A huge thank you to everyone who reads, it truly makes my little ballerina heart dance! 💖

As you know, I fund my travels through my performances - a bit of ballet barter you could say. And Milan, oh darling, Milan has been the most inspiring city for a ballerina! You wouldn't believe the fashion, the food, and the incredible theatres! I even saw a street performance where the ballerinas were dancing on stilts! They had me completely entranced - I'll be trying that myself next time I'm back in Derbyshire.

Now, let's delve into my adventures, shall we? This week, we're focusing on a magical Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 - just me, a pink tutu and Milan, in all its glittering glory!

I woke up in a tiny hotel room near the Duomo (yes, that Duomo!) with a heart full of sunshine. ☀️ Milan is such a vivacious city, the air itself buzzes with energy. My tummy rumbled, begging for a delightful Italian breakfast, so I hopped on a tram - just me and a dozen other commuters in matching pink outfits, naturally! 😉

It's the most fascinating thing - I swear, Italian ladies always look effortlessly chic, even when it's pouring down (which it was this morning, naturally).

We finally found a delightful cafe with croissants, fragrant coffee, and little brioche that melted in your mouth! I just sat and absorbed the vibrant city atmosphere while enjoying my delicious breakfast. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds as we ate, bathing the bustling streets in a warm, golden light.

My ballet life in Milan had to begin at the famous Teatro alla Scala. Yes, you know it! The La Scala opera house! The thought of standing on its historic stage sent a little shiver down my spine, just as it did with every ballet performance back in Derbyshire.

Now, while I'd planned on a relaxing day exploring the city, my inner ballerina demanded a little "bootcamp"! I had a morning of rigorous ballet training at a beautiful studio nearby, run by a retired ballerina with fiery red hair. It was hard work but exhilarating.

That session really warmed me up! And as it turned out, the teacher gave me a backstage tour of the Teatro alla Scala. We looked at the gorgeous chandelier in the theatre’s foyer, it was covered with twinkling lights, then wandered through backstage - what a magical space!

From a morning of artistic energy, we headed for retail therapy! You know me - the tutu loving ballet-addict - Milan is just about heaven for me! We're talking vintage stores crammed full of fabulous feathered hats, velvet shoes, and beautiful, silky scarves in all colours - you know the sort! And there are clothes shops galore - and guess what? Pink seems to be very in this year. Lucky for me, right?

For the rest of the afternoon, I got completely lost in a delightful labyrinth of shops, including boutiques specializing in silk, linen, and wool fabrics. Can you imagine the endless possibilities? I actually managed to score an absolutely perfect pair of black patent leather ballet pumps - with a delicate little pink bow. 🎀

Then there were the stores in Via Montenapoleone, the exclusive shopping street! A world of luxury brands, incredible design and exquisite displays - but I wouldn't trade my quirky find of a perfectly vintage pink cashmere cardigan in a small side street for all the designer bags in the world. It was my prize!

I also spent quite some time with my lovely new ballet pumps. After a delicious panini from a street vendor (pro tip: get one with mortadella - yum!), I decided to break them in with a walk around the Parco Sempione.

It’s this grand green space right by Castello Sforzesco, and it’s so different to the parks back home! There are grand avenues lined with trees, a lake with a romantic fountain, and a fascinating ancient castle that was once home to Leonardo Da Vinci himself! (Don't worry, he's long moved on - thankfully!)

As the evening unfolded, I dressed up, my little heart fluttering. My black patent leather pumps with the pink bow perfectly matched my gorgeous, new pink tutu - because it's a ballet evening! I’ve found myself in love with Milan’s rich opera and ballet heritage. And this evening, I had a real treat in store - the Teatro alla Scala was hosting an exceptional production of Swan Lake, and guess what, dear reader, you're going to be right there with me, virtually, thanks to the magic of my pink-tutu-blog!

Now, a confession. This whole week has been about pink. Pink scarves, pink ballerina pumps, even pink champagne after the ballet show. You just can’t visit Milan, with it’s stylish vibe and artistic grandeur, without adding a touch of the magical pink tutu factor! It adds a little sprinkle of pixie dust to any occasion, and trust me, dear readers, you always need a little sparkle. 💖

Oh, I am absolutely glowing from tonight's ballet show! The atmosphere was simply electrifying - and that opening scene! The lights went down, and the famous theatre became a hush of anticipation.

The first notes of the Swan Lake theme rang out, the conductor lifted his baton - and there I was - completely and utterly mesmerised! The ballerinas' moves were absolutely graceful, so delicate and intricate, you can tell how much practice they'd put in. Their pirouettes and leaps were almost impossible to believe! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ballet quite as powerful as this, with every element from the music, the stage set and the lighting - a magical experience for everyone involved!

But the best bit? This evening, my heart is overflowing with excitement, because it’s finally the opening night of my first professional performance in Milan! I'll be dancing the part of White Swan in Swan Lake. 🦢 Yes, me, a girl from Derbyshire, performing on one of the most famous ballet stages in the world - you know what that feels like?! Pure exhilaration, dear readers! I have so much to share, but I'll leave that for the next blog post, ok?

Until next week, take care!

Emma xx 🩰💖✨