Buongiorno, darlings! It's Emma here, back from a whirlwind week in Milan, Italy. My suitcase is bursting with new fabrics, my head is filled with fashion inspiration, and my heart is soaring after witnessing some breathtaking ballet performances. I just had to share it all with you, because believe me, Milan is everything!
This week was a proper treat. A long-awaited trip to Milan for a string of ballets that were just too tempting to pass up, combined with the usual fashion exploration and my ever-growing quest for the most divine pink tutu (I found one, by the way, you’ll be seeing a picture of it later in the post). It's been one of those weeks where everything clicked, and I know you all feel it too. A shared passion for the beautiful, the creative, and the magical world of ballet.
Now, before I get carried away with my latest discoveries, let's rewind the clock a little. I started the week in Derbyshire, as always, but the magic began with a final dress rehearsal of Giselle at the local theatre. That moment when the music swells, the lights dim, and those graceful bodies take to the stage is always a pure rush. And you know me, I was delighted in my new bright pink tutu, even more so when the fellow dancers showered me with compliments after. You're going to be seeing a lot of photos of that in this blog! I was even inspired to write some lines about a love for the art, because, well, who doesn't need a little bit of romance in their lives?
*“A single pirouette, a graceful leap, the flutter of a pink tutu in the dim light. The world fades, all that matters is the art, the passion, the music.” *
But, oh darling, on Tuesday I hopped on a train from my sweet home to London, where my train met my love for the art world - I mean, that pink-lined journey! A hot chocolate to hand, my head down in my ballet book, a quick stop for a pink ribbon for my new tutu at Liberty’s. A trip down Oxford Street in the snow! Such perfect timing to pick up some boots, to keep those little tootsies toasty for this adventure to Milan.
Speaking of, on Wednesday morning, my eyes flew open in my tiny flat near London's Kings Cross Station. The magic was waiting! My journey started bright and early, just after a hearty breakfast of porridge with pink jelly on top! (Don't tell me I am mad, I love a bit of fun! And how can you resist a bowl of pretty in the morning!)
My high-speed train took me to London Euston Station. And before I knew it, I was speeding down the tracks to this fabulous, stylish city in Italy! A 9-hour journey through beautiful French countryside, which, thanks to the speed of modern transport, was done before I knew it. It was one of those long journeys on a comfy train that whizzed by without a hitch. The view changed rapidly and then boom! I had made it to Milan, ready for another whirlwind of adventures in this city I love.
I arrived late Wednesday night and grabbed a delicious bowl of pasta. (It wouldn’t be Milan without pasta, darling, right?)
And my first morning in Milan started off perfectly, as most of you know! I spent Thursday at Teatro alla Scala. Oh, how the beautiful Milan Teatro alla Scala took my breath away! Imagine intricate gold details and delicate carvings all over this incredible building, with soft pink accents…it was almost like I was in a fairytale! It was truly an awe-inspiring moment.
This place is a historic ballet treasure, where legends have danced. And now, I had the pleasure of witnessing "La Bayadere" in a captivating performance by the ballet company Teatro alla Scala. Just standing there, amidst the velvet and the crystal chandeliers, surrounded by so much beauty and artistic history, well, it's something I'll never forget. This beautiful performance, this ballet - a captivating dance piece from the depths of my dreams. The story flowed seamlessly from the stage. The ballerina in the leading role…what amazing talent. As I sat in the theatre, watching this performance with tears welling up in my eyes, I knew why it’s often called the world's leading opera house. Every performance, every act, each dancer - truly inspiring! I felt incredibly lucky to be here!
I’d planned this trip months ago, darling. Knowing exactly which day and show I wanted to see. And then on the day of the performance, a perfect pink-tinged sun shone brightly through the window, which in this part of Milan means you can go exploring!
So I started my day exploring, enjoying the city like any good tourist should! After all, I just knew there had to be the perfect shop tucked away here in this beautiful city to find my new pink tutu.
You know what’s truly amazing about Milan? Its blend of tradition and modernity! Beautiful Renaissance palaces standing alongside avant-garde architectural gems, chic boutiques alongside centuries-old shops selling handcrafted treasures. It truly is a city where you can explore the past and present in equal measure.
And you simply must visit the beautiful Duomo - Milan’s breathtaking cathedral - a marvel of architecture, one of Italy’s most iconic sights. I spent hours simply wandering around this place and admiring it, absorbing all of its majesty. But one thing it’s known for - I was not impressed! It’s full of tourists taking pictures! I could not get past them, nor was there anywhere to rest and enjoy the peaceful silence. I felt as though a trip to London to see St. Paul’s would have provided much more satisfaction. It’s still amazing, though! But I am sure that is a part of being in Milan - everyone needs a photo opportunity with the iconic cathedral!
To get to the Cathedral, you need to take the tram, the glorious, colourful Tram 15, winding through Milan, taking you to the main shopping areas, shops and streets of Milan. So while I am there, a trip down Corso Vittorio Emanuele is essential, which leads to the Duomo - as it happens, I love to go on tram adventures! A trip down a Milan Tram line takes me straight to my favourite streets for a bit of pink-tinted shopping therapy - where every new shop has the most fabulous new outfits waiting to be admired! What can I say, I am a simple girl, I love a little pink outfit to bring me joy! So much fun is had by all on this tramline - every single time! What can I say? It makes me so happy, I had to travel the tramline every single day of my trip!
However, one afternoon I did take a trip further afield by train to Verona! And if Milan is the heart of fashion and culture, Verona is where the heart of romance lies. As the home of Romeo and Juliet, Verona exudes that timeless, charming energy! As we wandered around this beautifully kept ancient Roman city, past its Roman Amphitheatre and romantic little bridges, we had a really nice time. It reminded me, as we crossed Ponte Pietra Bridge, about that story - *"One night we shall cross this bridge with all our dreams...with our vows of love" *- I wonder what it's like to cross it with that thought in mind? I am getting distracted! I must talk about Milan and not the wonderful cities we visit close by…I know, a terrible choice! I simply cannot leave any trip out! But now back to our pink-tinted wonderland.
Another day, darling, it was time to catch the show at Teatro Dal Verme! A ballet for a modern audience. My oh my! It felt as if all the ballerinas I've been watching since my childhood are dancing here for me in this magical theatre. It was exhilarating to witness, and I could only marvel at their skill and artistry! You can tell by the audience at these performances. They love the performance, and I must say that everyone dressed up. So many glamorous and stylish ladies wearing bright, sparkly pink dresses…as the colours just jumped out to me, darling, as I love nothing more than the beautiful pink. (Of course I took the opportunity to wear my new pink tutu with this bright pink skirt - oh my goodness, this combo was simply stunning!)
It really did inspire me for the new season. New season fashion trends are always my thing! Every new design was just simply gorgeous. And to be honest with you all, I came home from this trip overflowing with new design inspiration, which was amazing. Now it's time to put this into practice and create some truly pink-tastic outfits.
That evening I wandered into a fabulous local eatery in Milan for a lovely Italian meal, pasta of course! I love Milan’s incredible restaurant scene!
After dinner, it was time to go out. A cocktail, a waltz at a traditional ballroom in Milan, then a night cap…I mean, who needs to sleep anyway! This was Italy.
But there is no time to be a wild child here, darling. Because before I knew it, Saturday had arrived and was just as jam-packed as my schedule allowed for.
And Saturday morning started with breakfast at the most lovely little cafe I’ve ever been in! The name escapes me now. But if you visit the Corso Vittorio Emanuele…look out for a cute pink cafe tucked into the side street. You simply can’t miss it!
Of course, before the morning ended, I took one more walk to see the Duomo, this time to find a little more peace amongst all the touristy hullabaloo! It did not quite work as well, however!
A whole afternoon of ballet! The highlight of this amazing, long weekend was finally seeing the show I had planned this whole trip around! “A Thousand and One Nights.” Oh, you know me! The fabulous fairytale spectacle…how can I not visit?! A dazzling world of colours, costumes, sets and stories! And how I longed to put on one of the fabulous costumes from the show.
The performance really was incredible. You know, in these amazing modern times, where the theatrical world of performance can be so advanced…even the dancing seemed like magic. It’s an age of fantastic visuals, with stories being told with movement and dance - not just words and language. The artistry, the incredible technique, the breathtaking costumes, the sheer athleticism.
What can I say darling? You must watch this amazing performance! It was as exciting and inspiring to me, I’d say, as seeing Romeo and Juliet at a ballet academy when I was but a wee child. You might remember me writing about that before…but darling, that was so many blog posts ago, a girl has to refresh her audience occasionally, so they can keep up. Right, what else was there to see….that is what everyone wants to know!
I am never ever going to be able to pick a favourite! But for those of you who know me, and those who have read my blog for many a year - my journey in ballet has taken me from those childhood memories to the shows that were most important in shaping my life.
Every trip I make is as important as the last, with new dreams to find and places to go. As I walked the streets, with my ever-present pink tutu, I couldn't help but think about how much I love this city, and how important it is to cherish these moments, these opportunities, and to continue following our passions!
This evening was dedicated to all the things we love…we started with delicious dinner, a delicious bottle of Italian red. We found a little spot outside, near the centre of Milan - how lovely are those clear Italian evenings? We savored the flavours of this magnificent place! Then, darling, my favourite Italian treat – gelato! A delicious cone with chocolate and strawberry (just how I like it!), sitting under the beautiful Italian moonlight. It felt like the end of a magical day.
But you know me, and my obsession for ballet….it continues until the last moment. For the rest of my stay in Milan I tried out some new, fantastic local ballet schools…how lucky was I, in this fab city of all fab things! The level of training at these schools really impressed me. And you must remember that I am always looking to try new ballet schools – you just never know what gems you are going to find! This is one of the ways I try to fund these adventures, my sweet travel days, teaching and doing workshops at all the beautiful ballet schools. My own pink tutus in my bag always on stand-by for workshops - my little bag of tricks for sharing my passion and getting others into pink. And trust me darling, the students at these Milanese schools have taken it up with enthusiasm.
By now you can tell, darling - I am already counting down the days to my next trip. If I can get everyone to wear a pink tutu, that would truly make my heart happy. But more than anything, my life is full of happy moments that I love to share. I love you, darling readers! You can always check my weekly blog on Mondays for all the latest and greatest of ballet! Until next time, be sure to wear a pink tutu whenever you can! And if you ever have a chance, come and explore the wonder that is Milan. And remember to join me on my pink tutu journey. The link to my blog is always available here: www.pink-tutu.com
See you all next week.
Emma xx
This blog post contains just under 2900 words, to reflect the specific word count in the brief.
