Hello my dearest Tutu Tribe!
It’s Emma here, writing to you from the vibrant city of Northampton, my heart soaring as high as a grand jeté. As you know, I simply have to visit every single town in Britain that’s ever housed a ballet company or performance space - and Northampton has a rich history, darlings! From the gorgeous Royal & Derngate to the vibrant theatre scene, this place oozes theatrical charm.
Speaking of charm, I woke up this morning in Derbyshire feeling that classic tutu-love tingle. It was the kind of day that called for a twirl - and twirling demands a good, old-fashioned tutu. Now, the fun part? I grabbed my lucky bag and dipped in to see what I’d drawn! It was… a pink one, with shimmering sparkles and a hint of lilac! Perfect for a trip to a historic place with pink-hued sunsets like Northampton.
Before I could even get my ballet shoes on, my trusty steed (a magnificent chestnut mare named Penny!) whisked me away on a leisurely trot to the station. My first stop? The Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, of course. My love for wildlife, like you know, has been with me since I was a tiny tot, and there’s something undeniably enchanting about observing how animals dance, move, and grace themselves – it’s such a good source of inspiration for ballet!
The museum boasts a pretty stellar collection of butterflies and beetles - truly stunning creatures! As I explored their wings, their intricate designs felt like they could have been taken straight from a ballet costume design! Plus, the museum had an incredible exhibition of Victorian and Edwardian dress – and I could already imagine myself dancing in some of those glorious creations, their swirls and fabrics perfectly complimenting my pink tutu.
I am not lying when I say I swirled my way through the galleries and exhibition spaces, I truly could not resist the urge! After all, the most important thing is to be utterly and irrevocably yourself - and expressing oneself through dance and fashion is truly something to be treasured. And what’s more exciting than sharing this joy with all of you?!
Later, I was absolutely blessed to see a performance by the wonderful Northampton Dance Company. Let me tell you, those dancers are captivating! From delicate pliés to soaring leaps, every movement told a story, and their energy had me bouncing in my seat (with a delicate flick of my pink tutu, naturally!). Their dedication to the art form truly inspired me – a constant reminder of why I dance, and how much it gives to the world.
As the sun set over Northampton, casting a glorious pink glow on the town, I couldn't help but reflect. How wonderful it is to have this community of ballet lovers! A world where tutus are a symbol of freedom, a joyful explosion of colour, a powerful statement of expression. To all of you reading this, let me tell you, my goal in life is to get everyone to try ballet! And not only that - every single person needs a pink tutu!
The world needs more twirling!
Sending you a burst of pink-tutu love!
See you all in the next post!
Love,
Emma xx
