#TutuBlog 2005-03-24 in Rugby with a german tutu.

Darlings!

Another glorious day, and guess what? Emma’s in Berlin! I arrived on the most fabulous train journey. There’s nothing more romantic than a long train journey - a nice cup of tea, the rhythmic rumble of the tracks, and lots of opportunities to observe the passing scenery and people. I’m such a train person – well, I do like a good gallop on a horse, but that doesn’t quite cut it when travelling through Europe, does it? Not with my suitcase, that is, unless you know of a particularly friendly steed who wouldn’t mind hauling my ballerina gear and makeup!

I did manage to sneak in a few ballet classes in between all the exciting things I’ve been getting up to, though.

Dancing at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Right now, Berlin is all about ballet and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. This magnificent opera house is hosting the prestigious "Internationales Ballettfest Berlin" – a whole month celebrating ballet from around the world! Naturally, I simply had to pop in to catch the amazing "La Bayadère" ballet. It was such a feast for the senses – exquisite dancing, the dramatic music, all played out in this glorious historical building with its magnificent chandelier – pure spectacle! I’m quite sure even the decorations were watching!

And of course, I couldn't leave without indulging my passion for all things pink – what a perfect chance to finally see the iconic Berliner pink flamingo statues up close at the “Mauerpark” (which means "wall park"). These cute little flamingoes are absolutely everywhere around Berlin. They are almost like little pink tutus on a stick for our beloved pink colour.

The other pink highlight in my day has been the absolutely glorious “Berlin Pink Ladies” afternoon tea at the luxurious “Grand Hyatt Berlin.” I just love how they managed to infuse this English classic with that iconic German flair. We sipped pink lemonade, savored strawberry cakes and were treated to a special pink floral arrangement – talk about a truly memorable experience, darlings!

Berlin's Ballet Culture & Beyond

Oh, how I’d love to share every minute detail with you, but my time in Berlin is flitting by faster than a pirouette! Here’s just a tiny taste of what else has captured my fancy:

• I have absolutely loved the gorgeous, elegant architecture – it really is something special.
• And the atmosphere here is quite incredible - all so cosmopolitan, with a definite buzz and excitement about it, you know?
• Berlin is an amazing mix of historical and modern and just full of life, so much fun to explore.

There’s this wonderful, historic area called "Friedrichshain," with cool shops, a lively open-air market and charming café culture. It's where Berlin’s artists and free-thinkers gather. They definitely have a very artistic energy and spirit about them - and their tutus are, shall we say, unique! Quite a lovely contrast to my classical pink ones. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t mind the individuality – but I do always make sure there is a good sprinkling of pink involved. It does just help bring that touch of glamour and femininity into anything. After all, we can’t all just be “white swan,” can we? There's a whole world of colour, glitter and sparkle just waiting to be discovered - in the same way, every ballet performance should have its unique element, its touch of magic, that makes it truly unforgettable. It's like adding a delicate dash of your favorite color to a carefully crafted ballet dance. There's something captivating and elegant about the way the dancers blend the classical moves with the exciting, new interpretations – it’s quite magical.

And speaking of unique elements – did I tell you about the time I discovered the sweetest little vintage tea shop in the middle of “Neukolln” – such a gem. It’s called “Kaffee, Kuchen und mehr.” The owner – who has got this wonderfully whimsical style – told me about a famous Berlin ballet street artist, called “Ballet on the Move.” Now that sounded fun!

Well, it turned out to be just as intriguing as her beautiful pink floral teacups and cake display. He had done a piece – all pink ballet-inspired graffiti - near a small public park on “Kastanienallee,” with these gorgeous ballet tutus all painted on the side of the building. And guess what? He'd included an inspirational quote – “If life was a dance, would you dance with me?” Talk about romance! I couldn’t resist taking some photos of it in my pink tutu – and you’d think it was meant to be, because this street performer in his tutu, a real character, started a dance-off with me! What an unexpected surprise. Well, who wouldn’t want to have a little dance in the street – in Berlin with an amazing Berlin street ballet performer – and who says pink tutus aren’t cool enough for Berlin?! It definitely added a little magic to my day.

A Dance with Nature - Exploring the Berlin Zoo

One lovely thing I’ve discovered on this trip – aside from all the wonderful people and the amazing food – is the beauty of Berlin's wildlife. I mean, even a city as exciting and energetic as Berlin still makes space for nature, with all these fabulous parks. Well, I have to say, Berlin Zoo is something extraordinary. From the most fascinating penguins to beautiful monkeys – oh, and some quite elegant deer!

It’s truly fascinating how wildlife and human culture coexist in this vibrant city. It makes you wonder, if you know what I mean. All that grace and strength and beauty. Like those graceful animals, I see ballet as a way to explore life – a language of movement that can inspire and communicate and share stories from the human heart – just like wildlife connects us to nature, ballet connects us to each other on a deep level – it’s something magical!

What’s Next?

I’ve really enjoyed my Berlin adventure – all this amazing ballet, fabulous fashion and charming city scenes – it’s a bit like being in a dance of its own.

I can't wait for my next journey. Perhaps I'll be off to Vienna soon! Or maybe Paris? Wherever I go next, I'm bringing my pink tutu – a splash of pink is always welcome, a reminder of my passion and love for ballet, and I believe it has the power to transform even the most ordinary places into extraordinary ones, making people’s day brighter – one twirl at a time!

Keep dancing, darlings, and don’t forget to wear your pink tutu, even in Berlin. It really can change everything, you know!

Love and glitter,

Emma x