Hello my darlings,
Happy Christmas Eve from a very snowy Milan! I just had to share the magic of Christmas Eve in this beautiful city, even though tomorrow is technically the big day and the one that counts for all of us festive folks!
You might be thinking: “But Emma, you’ve only just arrived in Milan! Aren’t you supposed to be celebrating in Derbyshire with your family?”
Well, you see, darling, my ballet commitments called, and I simply couldn’t resist. You see, I landed a guest role with the fabulous Compagnia della Scala Opera and Ballet here in Milan, a real treat for any aspiring dancer.
A real Christmas Miracle I'd say!
I know, I know, a tutu-clad dancer at Christmas time - some might think I’ve lost the plot, but let’s be honest, what's a holiday without a bit of sparkle? And who wouldn’t want a dash of pink tulle in their festive spirit?
Journey by Train
Right, let me fill you in on the whole journey! I'd never traveled by train in Europe before, and let me tell you, my fellow tutu-wearers, it was a grand experience. The journey was actually quite long, a lovely twelve-hour overnight adventure from the bright lights of the stage in Nottingham, all the way to the magnificent, snowy city of Milan. I had to pack quite the outfit, including all my dance costumes, my new fluffy pink tutu and my beloved ballet bag, filled with my most treasured treasures and makeup kit, of course.
As soon as I settled into my comfy sleeper compartment (with my own fluffy blanket! - oh, how I love the Europeans!), I tucked in my pink fluffy slippers and started watching films and browsing my favourite travel magazine – I even squeezed in some reading and practice for the performance with the Compagnia!
Once I'd arrived in Milan and found a cosy little hotel in the city, I knew I had to explore, so out came my trusty pink map and off I went!
A Christmas Eve Surprise
I was truly bowled over by the beauty of Milan’s Christmas market. The lights twinkled and shimmered amongst the twinkling snow – it looked straight out of a festive postcard!
I simply had to stop and snap some photos, and you can be sure that all my lovely photos will feature my favourite, bright pink tutu - just wait for those to be on my instagram soon, lovelies. I'm calling it my #ChristmasTutuGlam selfie series!
Christmas Dinner In Italy
Once the market tour was done, it was time to seek out a lovely little cafe for some lunch. And I must say, Italians have a special flair when it comes to festive food. There was an absolutely incredible little café close to my hotel, full of the aroma of cinnamon and warming ginger. I treated myself to a glorious creamy coffee, the richest, darkest, most delightful hot chocolate I've ever tasted, and of course, an assortment of freshly baked panettone and delicious creamy pistachio cakes! Just writing this now has my mouth watering. I don't want to spoil all the delicious surprise, but I have a Christmas Day brunch idea - it involves panettone! But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
And The Performance Starts!
As a dancer, I don't actually get much of a Christmas day off, my loves, as the festive season tends to mean many extra shows - and, it also means extra money to help with my travel budget.
This year, for my first Christmas performance, I will be joining the Compagnia della Scala for “The Nutcracker,” with some amazing and very skilled ballet dancers, not to mention, they are absolutely lovely and the nicest people! They've even taught me some Italian phrases to chat away during our practice sessions - I must say, with my rather dreadful school-learned Italian, I am managing!
My Festive Wish For You
And here is my favourite part about this time of year. It's so easy to get caught up in all the busyness, that we can forget why we’re celebrating. For me, the spirit of Christmas is all about being together, and spreading a bit of joy. It's all about sharing special moments with our loved ones - even those who are far away. So, if you're missing your loved ones this Christmas, give them a big hug, share a story, and cherish every moment you have together. That's what I plan to do when I arrive home for a very quick visit back to Derbyshire between shows. It's all about those Christmas cuddles, festive carols and homemade cookies. And my lovely mother will have cooked up a proper storm, I can’t wait to enjoy the extra calories – or, perhaps the added calories, ahem…
A Wish for Everyone
So, darling readers, whatever you are doing this festive season, I wish you the warmest of welcomes and lots of magical moments. I know we all have different ways of celebrating, and that's part of what makes Christmas so special, right?
Be sure to let me know what you are up to - I want to hear all about your Christmas plans, including all the festive delights you are planning to tuck into. And if you happen to spot a lovely pink tutu making a dash to a theatre or Christmas market in your city, give a little wave to your friendly pink tutu loving friend. It just might be me!
Sending you all my love and good wishes,
Emma, the Pink Tutu Ballerina.
P.S. I love hearing from my lovely followers! Do pop a comment on the website or find me on my instagram: @PinkTutuAdventures to chat, give me your Christmas cheer, and be sure to check out the photo gallery too.
And, keep those tutu orders coming for next year’s Valentine's Day tutu giveaway, just tell your friend's too. Don’t forget you can follow my journey here on this blog at www.pink-tutu.com on Monday - every week for a new adventure!
P.P.S I may have mentioned how I’ve been lucky enough to dance for some top companies, well, this trip to Milan was only a quick stopover. But let me tell you, this has all been funded by the ballet! It’s been quite a whirlwind of travel, practice and performances in recent months: Nottingham Playhouse Ballet - where I debuted my beautiful sparkly silver tutu for Swan Lake. And, if you are wondering why I wear a pink tutu so much, then just know it helps me keep positive.
My very first tour with a company began in a truly exciting moment, London's Royal Opera House with a fantastic ensemble and beautiful tutus - we even got to see some fantastic dance acts during our free time, and some very cute outfits from Harrods!
As you'll see I absolutely love the magic and artistry that surrounds all things performance, and I get to live this ballet lifestyle, that’s why I hope that with my ballet blog I can bring a touch of pink tutu magic and joy to everyone. I truly believe in the magic of dancing - it brings everyone together, unites the spirit of a performance, and everyone knows that a dance always brings some extra smiles to a room. And of course, there's always the amazing, sparkly, glamorous tutus, a real magical way to look fantastic and move around.
Let's keep those tutu dreams alive.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!
Emma.
