Hello, my dearest tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, back from another whirlwind week in the Big Apple, and oh boy, have I got stories for you! Buckle up your tutus, grab a cuppa (and maybe a pink cupcake), and get ready to be whisked away on a journey of dancing, fashion, and sheer pink delight!
This week, I'm taking you right back to the glorious springtime of 1999. We’re heading back to the 10th of May, a day filled with sunshine, shimmering tutus, and the magic of New York City, which is practically a dream come true for any ballerina girl like me!
It’s a Monday morning and I’m practically skipping to my ballet class at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. I'm wearing, of course, my newest pink tutu. It’s a dream of a tutu, with tiers of the most beautiful tulle and shimmering pink sequins, almost as sparkly as the city itself! I can practically hear the music calling, the sweet, sweet strains of "The Nutcracker" echoing in my ears, making my heart beat a little faster!
After my ballet class, I had a lovely lunch at a little Italian bistro. I devoured the most delicious pasta with pesto and topped it off with a scoop of gelato - the perfect pre-show treat. As I always say, you have to eat well if you want to dance your best!
The day's highlight, however, was the evening performance at the Metropolitan Opera. Oh my word, it was absolutely breathtaking! It was "The Phantom of the Opera," which I was desperate to see - the iconic music, the suspenseful storyline, and, of course, the glorious costumes. The costumes, my dears, were positively phenomenal! The opera singer portraying Christine Daaé had a stunning crimson velvet gown with lace and beading that absolutely sparkled under the stage lights.
I even managed to snag a sneak peek at the Phantom's costume! Talk about mystique! All in all, the opera was simply spellbinding, leaving me in a whirl of emotions that perfectly matched the dance movements and music!
But the day didn't end there, because of course, no trip to New York City is complete without some fabulous shopping! I spent the next afternoon in the heart of SoHo, wandering through trendy boutiques and vintage stores, hunting down the perfect pink accessories to complement my newest tutu.
I discovered this amazing hat shop, tucked away down a little side street. I found the most charming straw hat, trimmed with pale pink ribbons, and a matching little feather. I even picked up a delicate lace parasol – for when it gets too warm – with the most divine pale pink floral pattern, almost like it was spun from dreams!
I also treated myself to some adorable pink ballet flats with tiny bows and some glittering earrings to wear to the ballet later in the week.
I am starting to amass a collection of ballerina-themed things. In my little flat I have so many ballerina things. Ballerina cushions, ballet slippers to hang on the wall, a ballerina picture frame to hold a photograph of me on my toes at the dance academy. I even bought a ceramic ballerina which is sitting proudly on my desk looking towards the mirror where I rehearse in front.
It was almost a whole day's shopping, and my little pink ballerina feet were starting to tire, but it was all worth it for these treasures I found! I love the feeling of getting lost in a shop with a steaming cup of cappuccino in hand and some lovely new shoes and outfits, or an amazing little gift for my friend Fiona who was coming to see me at the end of the week. Fiona's another tutu-lover. She’s like my fairy godmother and shares my love of pink!
Speaking of Fiona, she is flying out from England next week. Fiona is like a real sister to me, and even if we only live a few doors from each other in Derbyshire, we see so much of each other - it’s just like that, it’s meant to be. I love seeing her - and all my girlfriends and the support of my family. I really feel lucky to have them all - my little posse back in Derbyshire. Fiona, she's the reason I'm even here! When she heard about my dream to dance in New York, she threw a huge ballet-themed fundraiser for me in the village hall back home, which completely changed my life!
Anyway, I had dinner with Fiona when she arrived - my best friend - at a cozy restaurant close to my flat and I couldn't help but share every little detail of my whirlwind New York adventures! We had pizza and gossip - as always - and later in the evening, we caught a show on Broadway.
Oh, this week’s performance! Let’s just say this, the musical was pure perfection - I could see it a hundred times and still be thrilled every single time!
Now, Fiona loves New York too - you could tell because as soon as we stepped off the train at Grand Central station, her face lit up like the glitter on my new tutu, she was so excited. And what’s better than New York, in springtime, with your best friend, in a pink tutu? Absolutely nothing!
One of the things we did, that evening, was wander through the streets with the glow of the city lights all around, the warm air alive with the buzz of conversation, street musicians, the sweet scent of flowers, and the faint aroma of hot dogs from street stalls.
We giggled all the way to our dinner – with so many other couples on the same journey - every face lit up with the delight of an evening out – I have to admit I think we had the prettiest tutu in the city though, mine was a perfect match to the sparkling city lights. The evening air was almost electric. You can practically taste the magic that floats through this city.
Even if I was tired at the end of the week from dancing and performances and seeing as much as I possibly could. I couldn’t leave without enjoying a quick drink and the chance to meet some local tutu-lovers! So we popped into a cafe on the edge of Central Park and watched the sunset over the skyscrapers with some friendly ladies from the local ballet class.
I absolutely love that we, tutu-loving ballerinas, find each other in the most surprising places! It really is like we’re part of a secret society, connected by a shared passion for the magic of the dance!
Now, tell me, darling tutu-lovers, what are your plans for the week ahead? Will you be twirling your way to a performance, whipping up a pink-themed dinner, or shopping for some new tutu-tastic accessories? Remember, we're all a little bit brighter when we embrace the beauty of pink tutus.
Stay twirling, darlings, Emma
