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Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, writing to you from the charming town of Crewe, Cheshire! Now, you all know I adore a bit of train travel – it’s the perfect time to catch up on my blog, grab a spot of tea, and dream about tutus – and this trip to the North West was no exception!
The journey from my lovely Derbyshire home was a delight. The train carriages, bathed in morning sunshine, seemed to sigh with the gentle sway of the rails. I had my trusty pink headphones on, playing the soundtrack to my absolute favourite ballet, ‘Swan Lake’, which I always say is the epitome of grace and elegance! And speaking of elegance...
I’m sporting a brand-new tutu today! It’s a lovely cyan blue number, with a swirling ombre effect that fades into a soft powder pink at the bottom. Honestly, I just can’t resist a good tutu, and this one is simply divine. I was inspired to wear this today after visiting the beautiful Crewe Hall – imagine, a grand Victorian stately home with acres of gardens. Talk about elegant! I even took a photo in front of the main entrance, swirling my tutu and hoping that some fairies would flutter down from the sky. I'll pop it on my Insta later!
After the breathtaking visit to Crewe Hall, I thought to myself: ‘What’s a ballerina to do next in Crewe?’ And you know what? There’s more than meets the eye in this lovely town! First, we popped into the Crewe Lyceum Theatre. Now, I know I’m a bit obsessed with all things stagey – my parents will tell you that the first word I uttered wasn’t ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ – it was ‘dance!’ But this theatre just had an incredible vibe. The ornate details, the rich colours, and the whispers of countless plays and musicals performed on that very stage. Oh, and the beautiful ballet barre on stage – chef’s kiss It simply beckoned me to twirl! I’ll definitely be back for a performance – hopefully a ballet this time!
Next on my list? The Crewe Heritage Centre. I’m a sucker for history, especially local history! The Victorian carriages, the steam engines – it’s all so enchanting. It was like stepping back in time and watching a grand Victorian train leave the station. My favourite exhibit was a collection of antique costume and dance accessories - they even had some gorgeous old tutus. The history buffs among you will definitely love it! I even got a cheeky snap wearing one of the Victorian dance outfits. Let’s just say I'd definitely be rocking a giant bonnet with my tutu for a day out at the museum!
But let’s get back to my passion, ballet! I was incredibly excited to find out about a local ballet studio - Crewe Academy of Dance! Now, this was right up my alley – it even had an adorable vintage ‘Welcome’ sign in the window, a sign with a pair of pink ballet shoes that reminded me of my childhood dancing classes. While I can’t go through all my ‘Swan Lake’ moves in front of the mirror just yet - (saving that for my own ballet practice, of course!), it felt fantastic to chat to some lovely locals and even catch a glimpse of a couple of ballet classes happening. You just know that this space holds so many incredible stories about dreams of dancing on big stages.
Now, no trip is complete without a bit of nature, am I right? And Crewe didn’t disappoint! Just a short hop away was the magnificent Queen’s Park. Oh, the colours! The park bustled with life - children giggling as they played hide and seek in the hedges, dog walkers enjoying the sunshine, and even some cheeky squirrels stealing walnuts! You wouldn't believe, darling, there was a cute little squirrel who even did a tiny 'plié' – it was too cute.
But what really made my heart sing were the gorgeous swans on the pond! They had the most elegant, flowing movements - just like ballet dancers! They even preened their feathers and fluffed their tails in perfect harmony! Honestly, the world seems to slow down a little when I watch them. They say swans are a symbol of grace and beauty, and they totally lived up to their reputation.
I ended my lovely day in Crewe with a delicious pink (of course!) cupcake at the town’s very own ‘Cakes by Karen.’ Honestly, a cupcake worthy of a Queen - the fluffy sponge was as light as a ballerina's leap and the frosting as smooth as a dancer’s pirouette! I am in love with my cyan tutu, this sweet town, and this absolutely wonderful day.
Crewe, you've charmed my socks off! You are, truly, a town with a heart of gold, a spirit that truly lives for its art and community, and an atmosphere that will certainly bring out my inner ballerina, wherever I am in the world.
Oh, and remember darlings, my mission in life is to make pink tutus as popular as leggings and convince the whole world to take a ballet class. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a pink tutu, and let’s go for a twirl!
Till next time,
Emma.
(PS, check out the #pinktututrail on Instagram to see my tutu travels around the world. Don’t forget to share your favourite photos with me. I love seeing all the lovely ladies and gentlemen rocking their tutus!)
