Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, reporting live from Grantham!
You know, it's funny, sometimes life takes you on the most unexpected adventures, and this week was no exception. Now, Grantham may not be the first place that pops into your head when you think "ballet," but hear me out! The little town, tucked away in Lincolnshire, held a little surprise that made my tutuing heart skip a beat...and a twirl.
Let's rewind a bit. This past week, my diary was crammed with excitement. A whirlwind of rehearsals for "The Nutcracker," a new barre class that was just divine, and, of course, a sneaky peek at "Swan Lake" on stage - those ballerinas are absolutely breathtaking! It felt like I was flitting between stages and studios like a sugarplum fairy on caffeine, but it was truly bliss.
Then came the call - a spontaneous trip to Grantham. My friend, Olivia (who I swear was secretly sent to me from ballet heaven) is starting up a ballet class there, and she invited me down to visit and to spread the tutus. I don't think she knows that spreading the tutus is literally what I do. You see, the good Lord above decided to make my dream job my reality - I get paid to wear tutus! It doesn't get much better than that. Olivia always says it's all the good deeds I've done in past lives, that I was blessed with this joy! She's got a point.
I'm not gonna lie, travelling to Grantham by train took me back to my Derbyshire childhood days. Those scenic journeys where the countryside whizzes past the windows and your imagination takes you on a magical adventure are truly something else! As I watched the landscape scroll by, I felt a touch of nostalgia and a surge of excitement all at the same time.
Arriving at Grantham, a feeling of calm washed over me. I adore exploring those quaint towns, steeped in history, with cobblestone streets and charming tea shops that smell like lavender and cinnamon. Oh, the possibilities! I almost wanted to leave my tutu in the hotel room and just wander the shops with my nose to the window of the patisserie.
But of course, a ballerina can't live life just for tea and cake, as glorious as that sounds. I had a tutu to flaunt, and a class to teach. The dance studio was a small, intimate place, full of the energy of burgeoning talent. They had the most adorable collection of leotards in every shade of pink, you know I had to take a photo! (You can find it on Instagram under #PinkTutuAdventures, obviously. 😉) As soon as I arrived, my favourite part was the music - that beautiful, enchanting ballet music that I love so much, that instantly takes me to a world where everything's in pointe! It makes my soul sing.
The students were wonderful! Every age group, all bursting with passion and joy. You could tell that Olivia has a special knack for making them feel like a true company of ballerinas. They loved trying on my tutu – well, as much as Olivia allowed them! We had to make sure it survived the journey, obviously! It was such a bright, sunny orange, and the most fun tutu I own! Even with the colour orange, the tulle fabric danced in the light in the way I always hope it will - and the sheer fabric of a tutu always has an air of magic, and of pure elegance.
The class was an absolute delight! We focused on barre exercises and some fun centre floor combinations - even some beginners tried pirouettes and managed a few turns! Watching the sparkle in their eyes as they nailed a tricky move or balanced on one leg was honestly the best part of my day. It's amazing what a bit of ballet magic can do. I am so very proud of my beautiful ballet community, you're truly the cream of the crop! I'll have to see what the rest of the world has been up to – I’m going to try to fit in a little online dancing after my afternoon nap, then I’m on a mission for cake!
Grantham might not be on the classic ballerina route, but it turned out to be the perfect little escape - full of good people, yummy cakes, and lots of beautiful pink tutus (with a dash of orange). Oh, and my heart's always filled with ballet! Because, even in a town with cobblestone streets, there's always room to dance!
Don’t forget, you can catch up with all my daily adventures on my website, www.pink-tutu.com, where you can find tutorials, my travel logs, and a heap of ballet-themed positivity. Don’t forget to find me on Instagram too – I’d love to hear about your ballerina stories, wherever in the world they happen!
Until next time, dear ones, stay strong, stay stylish, and stay sparkly!
Love, Emma 💕
