Hello darlings!
It's Emma here, back from another fab adventure, this time to the charming town of Newton Aycliffe. I know, I know, you're probably thinking "Emma, you've been to some fabulous places, what on earth took you to Newton Aycliffe?". Well, let me tell you, dear readers, you can find magic anywhere, and I certainly found it in this little corner of County Durham.
This week was all about ballet, my loves. I just couldn't resist heading to the North East for a lovely weekend filled with dance. After all, who doesn't love a bit of pirouette by the Tyne, eh? 😉
I set off from my lovely Derbyshire home on a rather delightful train journey. Something about trains, particularly the ones that rumble across the countryside, just screams romance, don't you think? A hot cuppa, a good book, and the rhythmic clatter of wheels on tracks – sheer bliss! I do fancy myself a bit of a Jane Austen heroine at times. But let's be honest, I wouldn't swap my pink tutu and dancing shoes for any bonnets and breeches!
After a lovely journey, I arrived in Newton Aycliffe feeling absolutely full of pep. My dear friend Sophie was there to greet me, and I've gotta say, it was fantastic to be back in her company again! You see, she's a bit of a dance fanatic just like me, so we had plenty to discuss – all those latest pirouette techniques, new choreography ideas... you name it!
We checked into a little boutique hotel in town - a proper hidden gem, I must say. All pink, frilly and feminine, and my suitcase, with all my pretty pink tutu's nestled in perfectly, fit right in. They even had a pink chaise lounge! It felt a little like a fairy princess had designed it, which, I suppose, was perfectly in line with my vibe. 😊
Then it was off to the local theatre, all spruced up in my favourite black tutu. You know, just because it's a black tutu doesn't mean it can't be elegant and stylish. This one was a perfect combination of classic and contemporary, and it felt absolutely smashing. I paired it with a pair of sparkly pink heels and, of course, my trademark bright pink lipstick. After all, even black deserves a touch of pink magic!
The show was amazing, darlings! A truly captivating performance. We had breathtaking artistry, stunning costumes, and so much emotion. I was captivated the entire time! My heart just about skipped a beat during the grand finale. And that's not just from the pink tulle shimmering under the spotlight!
We celebrated with a delicious dinner after, the kind with the bubbly and all the decadent dishes. I truly love the energy that the world of ballet brings, and that energy is infectious. Even Sophie, usually quite shy, was beaming like a sunflower. I love that.
After the dinner, we headed back to the hotel, still abuzz from the magic of the evening. We both felt energised, but relaxed, all at once. There’s nothing quite like a ballet performance, a bit of champagne and great company, and you know, sometimes it takes me venturing far from my Derbyshire haven to truly feel like I’ve come alive!
The next morning, we did a bit of ballet spotting. You see, my motto is - the more ballet the merrier! Now, if you’re wondering about the ‘spotting’ bit, we took a walk to a charming little park nestled by the River Wear, where we joined a free, open-air ballet class.
Can you believe it? Ballet on the River Wear! It was simply gorgeous. The sunshine was glistening on the water, the air was fresh, and we were doing pliés amongst the birds chirping. I could imagine all sorts of swans and graceful woodland creatures performing for us, and honestly, if there’s one thing more magnificent than a pink tutu it’s a wild swan! (Oh, but a pink tutu-wearing swan? That would be divine)!
Of course, I managed to spread a little bit of pink magic around the town. I noticed several girls wearing those cute ballerina flat shoes, so I did what any good pink tutu ambassador would do! I gave them each a little pink ribbon to wear with their ballet flats, so they felt extra special. One of the mums actually commented on my little gift, “You know, your tutu has really cheered up my morning!”. Honestly, the power of a pink tutu and a smile? That’s enough to change the world. 😊
After all that dancing, we decided to venture further afield to see a bit of wildlife. Now, Newton Aycliffe might not be known for its bustling animal life, but trust me, you can find fascinating creatures in unexpected places. We even spotted a family of deer in a woodland area. How lovely was that? We watched them gracefully bounding through the trees - those elegant leaps are surely inspired by ballet. Nature, eh? A source of never-ending beauty.
I really hope everyone in Newton Aycliffe felt the positive vibes from our visit! Even if only one person caught the pink tutu bug and took their first tentative step into the studio, it’s been worth the trip!
By the time I boarded the train back to Derbyshire, my head was full of dance dreams and memories, my heart was filled with warmth, and my pink tutu – well, my pink tutu is just happy to be home in the land of charming cottages, Derbyshire fields, and perhaps one day, the Pink Tutu Festival I’m dreaming of organising for my Derbyshire neighbourhood.
Until next time, darlings! Keep it pink and twirly!
Lots of love, Emma. www.pink-tutu.com
