Ciao bella! 👋 It's Emma here, your favourite tutu-wearing travel blogger, bringing you a little taste of Italy's enchanting capital - Rome! 🇮🇹 This is my weekly Rome post (don't worry, more to come!) and today I'm whisking you back to the glorious 18th of September, 1996, when a pink tutu-clad me took a stroll through history.
After spending my early twenties touring Derbyshire with my pink tutus (think, Shakespeare in the grounds of Chatsworth, not in pink, I can’t be that obvious… but close, ha!), I realised my dream was a little larger than that… my pink tutus deserved to be seen on bigger stages! I set myself a mission to earn enough to buy my own place in the Lake District. That, and to see the world in pink! 🌎🩰
So, here I am in the heart of Rome, on a journey of artistic discovery, cultural exploration, and definitely lots of fashion, obviously. A girl’s got to keep those tutus in tip-top condition, even in the glorious heat of an Italian September.
From Derbyshire to Dolce Vita:
As a seasoned train traveller, (don’t worry, tutus travel beautifully!) I arrived in Rome feeling absolutely sparkling, fresh off my performance for The Nottingham Ballet Company. They were quite surprised I could still fit in the costume! 😉 I had a whole month to explore this city before I headed to Paris, where a rather fabulous show with the French National Ballet awaited. Oh, did I mention, they love tutus in Paris? It’s an obsession there. I even brought one of my own to be the final “tutu-ing” for the amazing finale of Swan Lake!
Finding The "Perfect" Pink in The Eternal City:
My favourite thing about Rome has to be its vibrancy, its beauty and the feeling it has of time not quite passing, with ancient stones and incredible artwork telling stories from a world so long gone.
I couldn't just “shop till I drop” (not without my ballet routine!), so, I did “shop till my feet twirled”! 👠 Oh, you think that sounds ridiculous? It was absolutely essential, of course! I had to find some authentic Roman pink pieces to add to my collection! 🎀
I must admit, shopping on Via Condotti didn’t quite feel as fulfilling as I thought it would, though, my feet are always more at home dancing. It felt too luxurious… I like a little vintage! The charm of the slightly worn in tutus of “The Perfect Pink” shop in Soho (next to The Groucho Club, for the London lovers out there… so hip!), or finding that stunning pink and red brocade jacket in the depths of the vintage stores of Paris was much more… me. It’s always a little bit of an adventure! 😉
Pizza and Pomposity:
So, while Rome itself felt amazingly authentic and “old-worldly” I wasn’t quite sure it was my style for my kind of "glam" (sorry… had to go with a London pun!) I like something with more… life! And it didn't seem to quite have the pink that it deserved… at least for my particular taste of pink.
It was definitely a bit on the boring side compared to what I was used to. Sure, it had those “iconic” spots like The Trevi Fountain (always good for a twirl!) and the Pantheon. They’re certainly not short on magnificent history… I just wanted it to have more… something more colourful! 🌈
A pizza in the heart of Campo de' Fiori while sitting with an Italian family (yes, I have friends everywhere, my dancing knows no bounds!), and a magnificent sunset behind the Colosseum… I have to say… not the most fabulous of Rome evenings! (But not a bad night… just saying!)
La Traviata - From Opera House to… Pink Party!
Luckily, the next day I saw what my time in Rome was really about… theatre! And, naturally… ballet! I mean, there are few things in life better than seeing La Traviata… I'm almost talking tutus in pink… almost…
The performance was utterly breathtaking. There was that touch of grand, traditional glamour (which I actually do enjoy when done properly). The atmosphere of anticipation before the curtain rises and then the crescendo of the music, that takes the breath away… even more than my daily tutus have ever managed to do, 😉
My #PinkTutuRome Challenge:
I may have not fallen head over heels in love with the entire City of Rome… but one of my dreams of coming here has definitely come true! Seeing La Traviata was, without a doubt, the most magical experience I’ve had in ages… it definitely gave my Roman odyssey the perfect dose of drama and wonder! 💫
It got me thinking about what the essence of this amazing journey is truly about: a tutu in the spotlight in a magnificent setting, the elegance of dance, the vibrancy of the world… and most importantly… the pure joy and excitement it brings me!
I'm on a mission to share that joy. I want to show the world that everyone can have their own pink-tutu moments and be confident to express themselves… wherever they might find themselves!
That's my challenge to all you readers, whether you are in a historic coliseum in Rome or in your local Derbyshire dance studio: go for it, don't be afraid to twirl! 👠
Until next time… #PinkTutuRome is back on Wednesday! Ciao! 💋
www.pink-tutu.com
