Oh darling, you won’t believe this, but my adventures have taken me to the slightly less glamorous location of Hornchurch! Now, I know what you’re thinking, "Emma, Hornchurch?! Surely not?!" But honestly, it’s been an absolute whirlwind. From horse-drawn carriages to the most fabulous ballet show, my pink tutu has definitely been getting a workout. (Speaking of which, did you know my favourite colour pink can look super elegant even on a foggy day? You’ll have to trust me, the pictures will be on the blog tomorrow! It’s the most beautiful pink!)
This trip started with a journey on the most romantic train journey, of course. It took a whole two and a half hours but it was just a dream – think crisp autumn air, warm light filtering through the carriage windows, and me, happily sipping hot chocolate and sketching in my notebook! I feel inspired just thinking about it. It’s actually funny how the countryside always makes me think of dancing; every tree swaying like a ballerina, the wind whipping across the fields like a swishing skirt.
Once in Hornchurch, it was a chance to go a bit wild (no pun intended). Imagine my delight when I discovered a gorgeous horse drawn carriage ride waiting for me right by the train station! (Talk about making a dramatic entrance.) I got all the other passengers gawking - they hadn’t seen a pink tutu and me perched in the back of a carriage in a long time, and the horses? Oh, the horses were a sight to behold - black as midnight with the shiniest coats. We were totally twinning!
Of course, no trip to Hornchurch would be complete without experiencing the amazing "Hornchurch Ballet Academy," darling! This academy was amazing - they offered classes in contemporary, jazz, and of course, ballet! I decided to go for the classic ballet class, hoping for a bit of classic elegance after all that carriage riding, and it certainly delivered. It felt wonderful to be back in a studio, stretching out those tired ballet muscles. And they had a fantastic range of pink leotards – you can’t get much more pink-tutu themed than that!
Now, the main attraction – a performance at the lovely local theatre. A beautiful, old Victorian building (but, thank goodness, warm inside! We all know how much I love to avoid shivering after class). You know I’ve seen more than my fair share of shows, but this performance truly took my breath away. From the incredible dancers to the heart-stopping choreography – it really was something special. I've never seen the "Sleeping Beauty" like this before. They had this adorable little fairy, so tiny, dancing around, it was almost as though the fairies had sprinkled some magic on us all – including the lovely old theatre building. (The curtains could definitely have been a tad brighter pink but honestly it really was magic.)
I felt like a child all over again, mesmerized by the magic of dance and swept away by the sheer beauty of the art. As I left the theatre, the fog swirling around me like the tulle of a ballet skirt, I realised that even the smallest, seemingly ordinary towns like Hornchurch have secrets waiting to be uncovered – magic moments and unexpected wonders just waiting for someone to dance their way in.
Oh, darling! I am already dreaming of my next pink tutu adventures. Maybe I’ll try another type of ballet - like Irish Dancing or maybe the Highland Fling?! Who knows where these pink tutu travels will take me next! What's the most beautiful, unique or surprising place you've travelled to? Share with me below!
*Stay fabulous! *
Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
