#TutuBlog 2007-09-15 in Deal with a german tutu.

Hello my darling Tutu-Lovers!

Emma here, signing in from the fabulous city of Berlin! Can you believe it? I'm actually here, living my ballerina dreams! I mean, the architecture is divine, and everyone wears the chicest clothes! Plus, you just can't beat the street life here. So, today's post is a double-whammy. Not only am I going to tell you about my grand ballet adventure, but I'm also going to share my experience with a German tutu, yes, you read that right. A German Tutu! It's a wild ride, my darlings, but bear with me...

You know how I've been dreaming of visiting this incredible city? It's practically a ballerina haven, with ballet schools around every corner, fabulous theatres and…well, tutues, tutues, and more tutues.

I got to Berlin the traditional way, my loves! Travelling through the countryside on a beautifully appointed train carriage. Think plush velvet seats, endless cups of tea (naturally!), and windows that gave me a view of rolling green hills, sheep and the occasional magnificent horse! It really did feel like a fairy tale, honestly!

Of course, I couldn't resist putting on my Pink Tutu. You see, there's something special about that colour, and I just adore wearing it. Especially in public! The smiles and the “Oohs and Aahs” I get always bring a joyful tear to my eye! This time though, as I'd packed my tutu in a super stylish vintage travel suitcase that my Nana gave me (and wouldn't let me take anywhere else) the Pink Tutu went on after the journey was over! I knew the stares, even the Oohs and Aahs were going to be multiplied by ten once I stepped off the train! It just felt right to get my tutu going when I was standing on German soil!

So, now, about the German Tutu! I'm absolutely fascinated by the concept. It seems like, over here, they have a real different approach to tutu-wearing! In Derbyshire, well, my beloved Derbyshire, you know it's pretty much all about a perfectly pink tutu – full, voluminous, twirling… And it's absolutely lovely! I couldn't imagine anything better myself. However, German tutus – well, let's just say they're more… bold and experimental, shall we? I mean, you've got black tutus, brown tutus, tutus with polka dots, and even ones that look like they've been made from shredded old curtains (which, to be fair, kind of adds a cool vintage vibe, don't you think?). It's like a rainbow of tutu inspiration!

As soon as I got into the heart of Berlin, I knew this was a city ready for a proper Pink Tutu party! My heart leaped in excitement when I saw the first tutu store! There was a shop, just across from a traditional market hall where they had this magnificent giant pink teddy bear in a pink tutu! It was actually on top of the shop entrance and all around it there were little pink and red teddy bears dressed in matching tutus, wearing little fairy wings and holding up hearts and flags! You have never seen so much Pink, it was heaven!!

Well, of course, I just had to pop inside. The shopkeeper was a lovely woman with a name so German it was impossible to say but the biggest smile ever and I think we instantly connected!

We talked about tutu design – the joys of fluffy pink, the thrills of dramatic drapes (which, yes, you know are going to make an appearance on Pink-Tutu.com tomorrow, just watch out for my super fabulous tutorial!). And then we started talking about... the German tutu. I tried to ask, very diplomatically, you see, if it was ok to just try it on. It’s such a new idea to me! The first tutu the lady gave me to try on was really dark, the fabric was sort of soft and drapey and it really was almost like an old fashioned dark grey, black dress, I think maybe it would have looked lovely on the “Pink Lady” when I’m on holiday by the beach!

My eyes then found an even more wild creation – this little black number. But instead of being full it had lots of pleats and these sort of ribbons that made it float a little on the bottom, just imagine that sort of flowing shape that would make you go, “wow!”

We got talking and I discovered she'd made these from scraps of materials she found at the back of her workshop, she said something like “oh, it must look very ugly to wear.” I smiled at her and said “No! I just want to learn a new kind of ballerina. It’s not a problem with the black it's more a kind of art-project to me, a bit like “street-dance ballet!”. She just looked at me very intently, said, “I like this,” in her thick German accent and then nodded and started handing me other styles and designs of the tutus…

Well, now that you're getting a glimpse of German tutu coolness, my darling readers, you just have to come and check it out yourselves! My blog wouldn’t be a success without some incredible adventures! The shopkeeper said that most Germans wouldn't understand why I was interested in Pink Tutu but my darling, this isn’t about just one kind of Pink Tutu. We are all about that sense of wonder. Every single woman needs a Pink Tutu – to celebrate all that she is in her life, whether she’s a ballerina or simply living the dance! That’s my aim, to inspire you to grab a piece of tulle, find your happy pink and then twirl!

### Tutu on Tour - The Performance

And talking about dancing, my lovely tutu-lovers, it just wouldn't be a Berlin ballet adventure without seeing some world-class dancing! So, of course, I had to head over to the iconic State Opera House - it’s just breathtaking! The interior is spectacular, full of golden detail and grand stairways – and you can imagine my joy, when in the corner of the lobby I found the cutest little gift-shop - and of course, *Pink Tutu could not leave it without the perfect souvenir! This is a place you absolutely have to add to your "must see" list, because Berlin ballet is simply an explosion of grace and beauty, a testament to the passion for ballet that lives here, and in every ballerina’s heart!

It wasn’t just The State Opera House though! Berlin really has everything! I’ve been to see a traditional ballet performance - all swirling tulle and elegance and even discovered a little troupe of Street Ballerinas performing in a city park (my darling Tutu-Lovers you simply have to follow me on Twitter for the sneak peeks!). I even had the opportunity to take a German ballet class, and, oh boy, let me tell you - it was quite the workout! They use a lot of “floor exercises” I even managed to make my own tiny little performance by a pretty fountain (and found an absolutely amazing horse that seemed to take a liking to me)! It was so good that they called me back out the next night!

As the city of Berlin twinkles all around me and I almost manage to avoid tripping over my own Pink Tutu, I just feel so joyful. There's something incredibly inspiring about being in a place where the beauty of dance, in every form imaginable, is everywhere you look, where even the trees are dancing and I really, really think it’s time for all of us to get dancing. If Germany can make a black tutu with ribbons, then you can definitely make your way to your local shop and pick up a whole lot of Pink Tutu to go with it. Don't forget my Tutu-Lovers – *dancing is an adventure! *

Don't forget, darling readers, you can follow me on Twitter (@pinktutued) and Instagram (@pinktutu) for all the latest updates from Berlin (and who knows where my tutu adventures might take me next!)

Twirl on, and see you tomorrow!

Emma x