Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Blog NYC! This week, I'm bursting with excitement after a whirlwind weekend in the Big Apple! New York City always feels magical, but this time it was even more so thanks to a spectacular ballet performance, some amazing shopping finds, and the endless possibilities that this city offers.
It's hard to believe it's been just over a year since I first set foot in this incredible city. Back then, it was a nervous first step, but now it feels like a second home. Itās funny, when I told my family and friends that I wanted to move to New York to pursue my dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer, they looked at me with a mixture of concern and amusement. "What could possibly take you to New York? Surely there are ballet schools in Derbyshire, right?"
I knew it wasn't a conventional path, but I was determined. I knew I had to push my boundaries and face the challenges head-on. Iām so grateful to my family for supporting me, even when they had doubts. And it worked! Now I dance regularly for different companies, sometimes for big performances, sometimes smaller, and sometimes for just one show. This allows me to fund my trips to all the fabulous cities in the world. New York City was my first trip, but I hope to get to travel further as time goes on!
As always, my journey started with my trusty tutu ā a stunningly vibrant, candy floss pink, perfectly full, and absolutely necessary for any New Yorker! I canāt imagine entering the city without it! I love to wear it everywhere! It brightens even the greyest day. I swear people smile more at me when I wear it - and I like to think Iām adding a bit of sunshine to their day!
On Friday, the energy in the air was electric. You can feel the city's pulse quickening as the weekend begins. Of course, a weekend in New York isnāt complete without a trip to Broadway. This time, I saw āMoulin Rouge! The Musicalā and let me tell you, it was phenomenal! The costumes were amazing, and the dance sequences were simply breathtaking! I felt like I'd stepped straight into the film. And seeing it on Broadway gave the whole experience a new dimension!
After the show, I treated myself to dinner at a charming little Italian restaurant tucked away in Greenwich Village. It was a perfect ending to an already magical day! The city lights sparkled through the restaurant's windows, and I could feel the energy and vibrancy that only New York can offer. I swear, just sitting and looking at the scene, I could see the stories of countless lives unfold in those windows, from those first moving moments when they are babies to the triumphs of later years. It truly is an amazing place to be!
On Saturday, I joined the throngs of people wandering through the heart of Manhattan. A walk through Times Square was an overload of neon, street vendors, and street performers! I even had the joy of being a spectator in an impromptu ballet dance session in front of a well-known burger joint. Turns out some street ballet can be surprisingly spectacular! Of course, my own performance didnāt go unnoticed, and by the end, there were a good five people all trying to strike a perfect ballet pose in their own versions of the pink tutu look. It seems I have my work cut out for me - that everyone wearing a pink tutu might just take a lifetime. But thatās alright - Iāve got the rest of my life to do it.
In the afternoon, I headed for one of my favourite destinations: Macy's! This is where I found the most fantastic pair of sparkly pink ballet shoes, perfect for dancing in the city streets, with a subtle pink shimmer. I had to snag them immediately, of course! And as fate would have it, there was a store-wide sale that day, which allowed me to stock up on a few more gorgeous items that added the perfect touches to my existing wardrobe - think cute, ruffled pink tops, a shimmering pastel-pink handbag, and a beautiful pair of floral printed trousers. Honestly, sometimes I just get swept up in the magic of fashion in New York - there's just so much colour and creativity to inspire!
Of course, a trip to New York would not be complete without exploring the heart of the city. A ride on the subway, for me, is a real journey through the city's underbelly. I am forever fascinated by how this iconic, rumbling system brings the entire city together. For once, the commute was a lot more pleasant than I had expected. Maybe the pink tutu is having a more widespread impact on the world than I even imagined! I sat by a window and watched the people rushing by. Each person looked so interesting with their own individual stories unfolding in that space. This time I had the opportunity to meet a very friendly elderly woman who was wearing the most extraordinary, beaded headband and she gave me her favourite bagel recipe in exchange for a little impromptu ballerina performance.
Sunday was the perfect opportunity for a leisurely stroll through Central Park. This was a day for relaxing and just enjoying the sunshine. And by chance, a very friendly street performer who I bumped into asked me to join in her performance ā which of course, I jumped at! She was fantastic! She taught me a bit of what she called 'balletic street' and I had such fun with the whole performance! She said that people love the tutus and it gave a fantastic sense of wonder. As we wrapped up, I was told a heartwarming story by another audience member who said he had a particularly tough day, but that we had brought the sun to his day. And that made me incredibly happy.
I know my goal to make the world a more pink and tutu-filled place is a big one, but as I wandered the streets of New York City, I felt hopeful. Each little interaction, each smile I received, each bit of joy I shared felt like a step closer. And who knows? Maybe one day, you'll be seeing tutus all around you.
Thatās all for this week! Stay tuned next Monday for more from the world of Pink Tutu!
See you soon! Love, Emma x
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