Oh darling, hold onto your hats! This week has been utterly pinkalicious! After weeks of being glued to the studio floor (not literally, thankfully!), my dance shoes were finally ready for an adventure, and boy, did we have a blast.
Today's stop? The charming, historic town of Burton Upon Trent, renowned for its... beer, yes! But let's not forget the other things this place holds dear - a rich cultural heritage, a vibrant arts scene, and drumroll please… an abundance of photo opportunities! It's basically the Tututopia of the Midlands, and my trusty camera was ready to capture every single delightful detail.
I had always dreamt of journeying to Burton Upon Trent via the horse-drawn carriage, but the frosty February weather decided against it (bless its fluffy cotton socks!) Instead, I opted for the majestic glamour of the train. Just picture me, resplendent in a shimmering, lilac tutu (it goes so beautifully with the railway station's architectural stone, don't you think?) sipping on a pot of freshly-brewed Earl Grey. Such class, darlings!
Arriving in Burton Upon Trent felt like stepping into a time capsule, a beautiful mix of quaint cottages and grand Victorian buildings. My first port of call, naturally, was the Burton Art Gallery & Museum. It wasn't the ballet, but there was a fascinating exhibition about local wildlife! They had a display about how to encourage hedgehogs in your garden, so now my pink tutu-wearing self has plans to turn my patio into a hedgehog heaven. I have no idea how they feel about pink tutus, but if you could imagine my disappointment if they'd be offended, I’m sure it would make you sob.
But the true reason for my journey was about to be unveiled: the breathtaking, jewel-toned, jewel-toned splendour of the Burton Town Hall. Tonight was the night! The much-anticipated ballet performance of Giselle, and darling, this show truly exceeded all my expectations! From the haunting beauty of the choreography to the exquisitely trained dancers, Giselle was an enchanting, ethereal ballet that left me in a state of pure ballet bliss. I particularly loved the haunting ethereal choreography of Act 2, you know, when Giselle is trapped as a Wili - the female spirit of the forest. How could I have ever left Derbyshire to experience the delights of this theatrical gem?
The costumes were to-die-for, a whimsical blend of rustic elegance and gothic drama that complemented the set designs perfectly. I even spotted a young lady wearing a shimmering pink tutu in the audience, proving my dream is steadily inching closer to reality! She even stopped to chat to me and told me how much my blog has inspired her to take up ballet. What a moment!
The most remarkable moment? My meeting with the local ballet school owner, an utterly divine woman with an effervescent spirit. We discussed our shared passion for all things ballet, and she told me the school runs weekly sessions, even offering ballet en pointe for adults! Oh, the dreams I have for Burton Upon Trent! A town filled with people pirouette-ing down the street, where tutus are a everyday item, where everyone wears pink! Imagine… A tutu revolution is coming!
Naturally, I couldn’t leave Burton Upon Trent without indulging in a little local fare, could I? So, after a delightful plate of creamy mashed potato with cheese, cauliflower cheese, and, of course, bangers (all that fancy food gets your blood sugar down after a full performance) and an endless cup of milky tea (nothing less, darling, just ask the Queen!) we hopped on the train for home, tired and giddy after our day out.
I cannot rave enough about this wonderful town. The locals are so kind, so warm, so utterly charming - the most gorgeous town folk, they are. And, for a ballerina in search of cultural treasure and tutu-inspiration, this was absolutely the perfect weekend trip. It has inspired me. Burton Upon Trent will surely be the star of next week's blog. What could we do next? Should I organise a group visit with all the ladies who read my blog? How fun would it be?
My message today, my lovelies? Embrace the magic of ballet wherever you are! If you're in the UK, and if the train to Burton Upon Trent is calling your name, follow it! It’s worth a trip for a tutu-licious adventure, and you may even find yourself doing a jeté through the station… a pink tutu clad ballerina will have to start the revolution somehow!
Until next time, lovelies, let's dance!
Emma xoxo
