Hello my darlings! Emma here, back with you on another pinktastic day! Today's post is a bit of a double-whammy, because it combines two of my most favourite things - ballet and travel!
As you all know, I'm a massive fan of all things ballet. From the intricate choreography of the Bolshoi to the beautiful lines of the Royal Ballet, I devour every single performance I can. And let's be honest, my little ballerina heart also gets a massive dose of happiness from watching gorgeous ballerinas gliding through the air with such grace and poise. It's a truly magical art form, don't you agree?
But you know me - I don't just enjoy watching the professionals! I'm a keen dancer myself and I make it a priority to fit in ballet classes wherever I go, no matter how short the trip. Because, as we all know, life's too short to spend even a single day without a tutu on!
Speaking of tutusā¦ remember I said todayās post was a double whammy? Well, get this - I was feeling a bit mischievous this week and decided to bring a random tutu with me on my latest adventure.
Just in case you haven't figured out my new favourite mode of transport yet - drumrollā¦ I decided to journey by train to Blackpool! Yes, you heard right! A gorgeous day trip on a lovely old fashioned steam train from my little Derbyshire village, right down to the Lancashire coast. I simply cannot resist the romance of a journey on a steam train. It feels so old-fashioned, like a magical escape from the modern world. I swear the scent of steam always makes me think of a fairytale. Plus, I managed to convince a couple of my friends to come along on the trip, which always makes everything a whole lot more fun!
And you know, the scenery from the carriage window was absolutely stunning, and made my journey even more enjoyable! Green fields, charming villages and quaint stone churches - such classic English countryside sights, and a stark contrast to the Blackpool beaches!
Arriving in Blackpool, the first thing we did wasā¦ head straight to the sea! Yes, my dears, my ballet shoes and my sparkly tutu might not have been the most obvious beach attire, but I simply couldn't resist the lure of the waves. The wind whipped through my hair, the smell of the salty sea air filled my lungs andā¦ wellā¦ I had to do a little pirouette by the pier! A pink tutu, a gorgeous seascape, and me. Perfection!
Now, a little secret I donāt often share - while I love classical ballet and am all for the traditional, I am also a big fan of āstreet balletā. Itās not quite as structured and traditional as classical ballet, but it allows so much more freedom of movement, and even involves improvising and collaborating. For me, the freedom and individuality of street ballet is like another dimension in this art form - so when we finished exploring the pier, my friends and I decided to improvise a little street ballet session in the sand!
And you know what, there was a young couple nearby, obviously smitten and enjoying the view - and after weād finished dancing, we all had such a laugh, watching them blush while they had their photograph taken, completely unaware that we were taking photos of them through the camera lenses of our phones! It was just like one of those playful, quirky, slightly embarrassing but ultimately adorable scenarios you see in those British romcoms!
Blackpoolās got such a charm, though! A vibrant mixture of vintage and modern attractions that never seems to stop bustling. We also took a detour to explore Blackpool Tower, with its impressive views from the top, as well as to visit its fascinating circus, and the wax museum! What a treat! And oh! The amusement arcades and the flashing neon lights... it's all a little overwhelming and rather delightful, like a sensory explosion.
One thing I noticed on our stroll along the promenade ā Blackpool has a massive population of wild ducks and swans who hang out by the pond near the tower! And oh, they are so magnificent, aren't they? So gracefully gliding through the water. It almost felt like a real-life ballerina performance, but with more feathers and quacks! And to be honest, there were some rather adorable swan cygnets around - you just know I had to try to tempt them closer with a few ballet moves. (Itās actually pretty difficult to convince swans to come closer if you donāt have any bread! Who knew?!)
It's safe to say I fell a little bit in love with Blackpool! Itās the kind of place that just bursts with colour and character. And the energy of this beach resort, wellā¦ it reminds me of the joy and passion of ballet itself! And it always reminds me that my ballerina dreams will take me everywhere. Just don't forget, the world is a stage and every one of you is ready for your own starring role. So, let your inner ballerina shine and get out there and do your own āstreet balletā dance ā on the beach, on a stage or in your living room!
So, rememberā¦
Lifeās a ballet - get your tutu on, ladies!
P.S. Be sure to come back for my next post about a lovely little family-run shop I found on my journey back, with some absolutely stunning ballet inspired creations - think: jewellery, gifts and maybe, maybe, a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pink tutu! You won't want to miss it!
