Saturday 2002-04-27
Oh, my darlings! Bonjour from the City of Lights, the fashion capital of the world, the place where even the pigeons have an air of chic – PARIS!
You may not be surprised to know that a big, glamorous Parisian adventure has been bubbling on my Pink Tutu radar for quite a while. After all, this city just practically screams “tutu” with its abundance of elegance and theatre, its romantic atmosphere and charming cafes…and let’s face it, with that wonderful Galeries Lafayette! squeals with delight I can practically hear the “oo la la”s coming from the pretty frocks hanging in their windows.
As a dancer, a girl who believes in pink, and someone who simply loves life to the fullest, how could I not visit the French capital? The fact that the EuroStar whizzes you right into the heart of the city only adds to its allure! I just adore trains – they are such a charming, graceful way to travel, like a ballet in its own right, gliding along the tracks, a magical ballet of movement. It was an absolute joy to arrive at Gare du Nord, feel the Parisian air brush past me, and know that I was finally in this magical city.
You’ll have to imagine me at this point – I was wearing my trademark pink tutu of course (a beautiful, fluffy creation with just a hint of lavender lace), a cherry red beret, and my faithful Chanel-esque black handbag (a souvenir from a performance in Milan last year - it was a fabulous ballet featuring three different versions of Swan Lake!)
The Show Must Go On…and I Am a Star, Baby!
The reason I could afford this trip, you may be wondering? It's a secret - shhhh! – let’s just say a little birdie (actually, it was a rather formidable headmistress at the Derbyshire Ballet School) mentioned a possibility for me to get involved in a production at the famed Theatre du Chatelet – just imagine, darling, my dancing shoes in that spectacular theatre, the magic! I could hardly contain my excitement, and just a touch of nerves - the ballet world is a very competitive place! Thankfully, it seems that my dazzling moves on the dance floor impressed them - my last audition piece involved an elaborate pink feather boa, after all! It would be impossible not to make a grand impression!
Thankfully, everything went incredibly well. I got the lead role in a wonderful new production called "L’amour en Rose," (loosely translated - "Love in Pink!") featuring lots of beautiful tutu moments and scenes inspired by the rose gardens of the Luxembourg Gardens, which I, of course, made a point of visiting, right at the start of my Paris adventure, a little "research" for the role, if you will!
Shopping, Dancing, and All That Jazz!
Speaking of research...one of my favourite Parisian "research projects" was, of course, shopping! It's impossible not to fall head over heels with the clothes shops in Paris. From the stunningly high-end boutiques of Avenue Montaigne to the independent designer havens tucked away on charming little side streets - oh darling, the choices were just too divine for words! And for a ballet fan, Paris has just SO MUCH to offer. The Opéra Garnier – what a building! And of course, a visit to the Palais Garnier for a beautiful performance - I was so inspired, I could practically hear the tutu whispering!
This whole Paris adventure is just so exciting that I'm practically bubbling with joy – and, let’s be honest, that joie de vivre can be rather tiring, even for a Pink Tutu blogger on a mission to bring more pink, more sparkle, and more grace into the world! I’m going to sign off for today and grab some of that glorious, fresh baguette, some cheese, and perhaps some more macarons – I’ve always been a fan of those delightful, colourful confections!
Stay tuned, dear readers! More from the magical City of Lights to come next week!
Adieu for now!
Emma
PS: Find me at: www.pink-tutu.com
