#TutuBlog 2003-01-21 in Edmonton with a german tutu.

Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad travel-blogger, reporting live from Edmonton, Canada. It's been an absolute whirlwind of a journey so far! (Don't worry, I’ll tell you all about it!). As always, I'm feeling so very grateful for every experience, especially as my dear friend, Olivia, persuaded me to brave a Canadian winter for this one! ❄️

I'm already finding it hard to choose between my two loves: travelling and ballet. I’ve always felt happiest in motion – either whirling around a studio in my tutu, or zipping across continents by train! In fact, Olivia's suggestion to reach Edmonton via a luxurious, long-haul train ride was like a dream come true. Imagine, sprawling across acres of scenery, reading a good book in a soft-padded compartment, enjoying afternoon tea and scones - bliss! It felt a million miles from Derbyshire, that's for sure. I swear I could practically smell the wilderness! (Don't worry, I had a whole arsenal of my trusty "travel-in-style" products to hand - I don’t go anywhere without my trusty travel perfume atomiser and pink fluffy slippers, for heavens sake! You can’t possibly wear those cramped-toe shoes they give you on a train).

Edmonton's streets were a riot of colour, and I was mesmerized by the Victorian architecture that lined the cobbled streets - so much character! The air, too, was electric with an air of excitement and energy that drew me in like a moth to a flame. It felt incredibly inspiring - it reminded me of why I love travelling, seeing different parts of the world and how other people live their lives.

You’ve heard it said, a new city always feels like a new pair of dancing shoes? Well, it’s so true, and there is nothing I love more than taking the city streets as my own personal ballet stage! Olivia was giggling at my impromptu 'street-ballet' moves but I say – if you can’t dance through a shopping centre, when can you? There’s always room for a pirouette on your journey through life!

Now, the raison d'être for my grand trip? To see the majestic "Ballet Edmonton", naturally. It’s no surprise I was buzzing for the chance to see some of the world's best dancers! This, combined with a ballet workshop with their renowned choreographer - well, let’s just say I felt like a little girl in a candy store (the good kind with delicious tutus!). 🍭 I’ll admit it: I was slightly nervous going in to the workshop; a lifetime of being a little shy - well, everyone knows those tales. It turns out the entire experience was magical. This incredibly talented choreographer managed to extract a unique level of creative expression from all the participants, including myself! I even tried a new leap, (I think I can call it 'Emma’s leap’!), much to Olivia’s delighted amusement. That was so much fun and even ended in some rather adorable and utterly disastrous 'on-the-spot' ballet choreography from me. 🩰 Olivia has insisted I try for 'Ballet Edmonton' next year, imagine! 😱 I’m blushing at the very thought - a dancer, on the stage? Perhaps it’s time to start some proper training...

And that leads me nicely to my favourite bit: the actual ballet show! A modern rendition of Tchaikovsky’s "Swan Lake". (Yes, I do love the traditional versions - but give a girl some daring interpretation, and she's in heaven!). Now, my dears, to explain how simply breathtaking it was to watch the company soar across the stage. There’s nothing quite like it! Their fluidity and grace, their ability to express emotion through movement – it just blew me away!

Don't worry - I didn’t forget the most important ingredient of any great ballet performance, the tutu. In this production, it took a classic, romantic shape and was draped in an ethereal shade of soft lavender. Now that was some couture to really catch the eye. As for myself - naturally, I wore a sparkly fuchsia tulle tutu of my own! Olivia insisted on getting pictures as I pirouetted across the theatre's foyer – the woman clearly has a camera obsession. And the theatre itself? Imagine a space echoing with the history of countless dancers and stories, so very reminiscent of Derbyshire's little theatre where my ballet love blossomed as a young child. (Now that’s a thought, how very full-circle this all feels)! It’s almost surreal - it feels like the world’s leading dancers can almost feel your own silent applause as they express emotions you yourself haven't yet put into words. It truly felt like I'd found my soul sister. I just can't wait to step back onto that stage for real, someday, somewhere!

My trip, like all journeys, was punctuated with other moments too: an exciting trip to a wildlife reserve - it had deer! They were all so cute - reminding me of the fawns from "The Nutcracker". So, if you find yourself ever on an adventure across a vast country with a dear friend - it's worth venturing away from the big city! A quick wander through an emerald-green park, maybe stop by the local bakery, have some tea – just those small moments make everything more exciting! (Olivia did find it rather peculiar I insisted on having tea in the sunshine… I don't like to travel far from home you see - some traditions stick).

For now, I'm heading to New York City - another dance adventure, of course! As they say: there’s always a ballet performance to catch, a tutu to wear, and a story waiting to be written. Remember: life is a ballet - twirl your way through it. See you on the next leg of the adventure!

Lots of love,

Emma 🩰❤️💋

P.S. Make sure you’re following www.pink-tutu.com - don't forget, darling: It's your mission in life to try ballet, it’s not too late! I'll be back to tell you all about New York in my next post!