Hey lovelies!
Emma here, reporting live from the delightful little town of Kettering! It's a bit of a change from the usual London ballet scene, but let me tell you, this place has charm in spades. Plus, it wouldn't be a proper trip without a pink tutu, right? ;)
You see, this adventure was all about the magic of travelling. As a proud Derbyshire girl, I love nothing more than hopping on a train (or perhaps riding a magnificent horse) to discover somewhere new. This time, it was Kettering, a town in the East Midlands. Now, Kettering isn't exactly known for its world-famous ballet scene, but hold your horses – it does have its own little gem. I popped into a beautiful independent dance school tucked away on a quiet side street. The little school has this gorgeous old building and inside, I was greeted by walls decorated with twinkling fairy lights. And as you can imagine, I simply had to spin in my pink tutu while the twinkling fairy lights reflected in the large windows - sighs dreamily. I was just imagining myself as a young girl twirling happily in the dance studio as the old teacher (with the brightest smile you've ever seen!) smiled warmly at me.
Now, before you start thinking "Emma, why Kettering?" It's a little more involved than just picking a town on a whim. You see, there's this little-known ballet school hidden away in Kettering, which, let me tell you, is well worth a visit. The teacher, Miss Flora, she's a real legend! Not just in Kettering, but for anyone who loves ballet. You'll catch her spinning around the room with more energy than you'd ever expect from someone so... well, so 'Flora'! You wouldn't be surprised if she turned into a fairytale fairy during a grand jeté, just saying. 😉
Miss Flora, bless her cotton socks, is actually from a famous dance dynasty – seriously, she’s royalty! But despite being steeped in ballet history, she still wears those bright pink fluffy slippers, and always wears her signature floral print dress - she's all about being authentic and kind, which you really appreciate when she gives you advice on that tricky fouetté sequence! I mean, I'm pretty sure even I, with all my pink-tutu-clad ballet brilliance, could learn a thing or two from Miss Flora!
But wait, there’s more! Kettering has its own ballet heritage, and it wasn't just Miss Flora, There was an amazing young dancer, named, you'll never guess... Alice! 😲 She's an absolute star – just discovered in a local talent show, she had the grace and strength of a professional! The audience loved her. I really do wish I'd seen the performance, just to imagine the way she would have danced across the stage with her head held high, the audience entranced. I can practically picture her leaping with this pure joyful spirit – her tutu swishing as she moved with ease! Isn’t it amazing what you find in unexpected places?!
The day in Kettering wasn't all about ballet, though. (I know, I know! What's a ballet-obsessed blogger like me doing outside the dance studio? Shocking! 😲 ) I mean, a girl’s got to indulge in a spot of shopping, right?
Well, Kettering, you may be a small town, but you’ve got a charming little high street, lined with vintage shops! Now, vintage and ballet are like a match made in heaven - I literally found the most gorgeous antique tiara. Perfect for my next tutu performance! 😉
So, the verdict, my lovelies? Kettering – totally worth the trip! I'd recommend going for a weekend if you can. Just remember, don’t forget your pink tutu (you know you want to!). If not a full pink tutu, even just a touch of pink, just to keep the spirit of things.
Next up, I'm off to Brighton for a spot of seaside fun - can't wait! Will be posting updates of all the seaside dancing – keep an eye on www.pink-tutu.com for more, but keep up your daily dose of pink!
Sending love and tutus!
Emma 🩰❤️💕
P.S Don't forget, there's always time for a bit of wildlife! Kettering, you're home to some stunning woodland, and you can't escape the wildlife in a small town like Kettering. My walk to the train station involved watching some very energetic squirrels flitting across the pavement in front of me – talk about graceful moves! 🐿️😂 I mean, the squirrels would make a ballet dancer look clumsy! 🐿️
