Hey darlings! Emma here, reporting live from Upminster, a delightful little town nestled in the Essex countryside. This trip has been a total dream come true! Iām sitting here with my little notebook, a cup of perfectly pink tea (with an actual rosebud floating in it!) and my ballet shoes (a little dusty, but perfectly preened!) My blog this morning is just a tiny snapshot of the magical, twirly day I've had.
It all began at 6.00am sharp. Yes, my darlings, the ballerinaās life begins at the crack of dawn! But fear not, my routine is pure bliss. I love the stillness of the Derbyshire mornings. A quick stretch, a cuppa, then I head off to my beloved dance studio, all bathed in the early morning sun.
Today's training was divine. We were working on some brand new steps for a big performance next month at The Sadlerās Wells, so my energy levels were buzzing! Afterwards, it was straight back home for a healthy breakfast ā pink grapefruit with a little honey and, of course, my favourite oat-and-pink-flax seed granola. (Who says dancers can't have a little sugar, eh?).
And then... it was off on my big adventure! I confess, the main attraction to Upminster was the glorious horse and carriage Iād arranged for a visit to a gorgeous vintage tea shop ā The Pink Petal Tea Room. Imagine my delight when I saw it, bathed in a delicate pink hue and surrounded by rose bushes, with the most delightful floral scents swirling around the place! I was literally giddy with delight.
We arrived in Upminster on the train, and thatās where my very own āPink Tutu Momentā happened. A family sitting opposite me (with their gorgeous little girl in a pink party dress ā almost a mini-tutu, wouldnāt you agree?) were admiring my own, totally ājust for funā pink tutu, which I was rocking (with my most fashionable tweed jacket, obviously!), It had caught the light streaming in the train window and they all exclaimed in delight, their daughter even had her fingers pressed to the window to try to touch it. The parents even told me that Iād inspired their little girl to consider a dance class. This, my dears, is why I do what I do! It is all about spreading the joy of dance.
And speaking of dance... I am absolutely loving all the street ballet Iām seeing! Here in Upminster, thereās a brilliant little dance studio with these beautiful windows looking out onto the High Street. All day, the dancers can be seen twirling and pirouette-ing in their classes ā just watching them is like a ballet show of its own! And to top it off, in the evenings they perform to passersby, a joyful spectacle that lifts the mood and makes everyone smile.
My evening was dedicated to a delightful performance by the local ballet company. It was in the local theater, a beautiful historic building all draped with pink flowers for the opening night. They were performing a stunning version of Swan Lake and their grace was simply awe-inspiring. Afterward, I managed to grab a few words with the director and even the lead ballerina - they are just as lovely and down-to-earth as you can imagine. I canāt wait to get my hands on a ticket for the next production - perhaps a "Pink Tutu" special night, where the audience wear their own pink tutus?! Iāll definitely have to see if I can convince them.
This little adventure has left my soul filled with twirls and pirouettes and my heart soaring like a flamingo taking flight! And of course, as I say every single day, this is the perfect opportunity to tell you, my sweet loves, that no matter where you are or who you are, let the spirit of the tutu live within you. Because in a pink tutu, anything is possible!
Until tomorrow, darling hearts.
XOXO
Emma
PS: I have a sneaking suspicion Iāll be seeing a lot of pink and a lot of tutus in Upminster from now on! š
