Post number: 6268
Hello lovelies!
It's Emma here, reporting live from the beautiful, historic town of Dudley, where I'm absolutely positively living my best life, in the most fabulous of ways! (Did I mention the gorgeous wide tutu I'm wearing?) 💖
I'm not even going to lie - getting to Dudley has been an absolute dream. No matter how much I travel, there's something about riding the train, watching the world blur past, and seeing the landscape change that just sets my heart a-flutter. And the journey itself felt incredibly glamorous thanks to this divine wide tutu I've got on, made in the most gorgeous shades of bubblegum pink with tulle as soft as a baby's cheek. 😉 It's truly a work of art and honestly, my love affair with tutus never gets old.
I had a tiny bit of a journey to Dudley from Derbyshire (my gorgeous home county), but honestly, it was worth every second! This time I travelled in style on the most delightful horse-drawn carriage, with the warm summer air on my face and the sun glinting off the lovely, green fields that stretch out beyond Dudley. And of course, a dash of pink with a perfectly placed floral headband finished the whole thing off. Did I mention the countryside here is simply divine? You really must visit to appreciate it.
Speaking of amazing, the reason I was in Dudley was because I had the chance to see an absolutely incredible performance of a new, modern take on Swan Lake! Now I've seen Swan Lake so many times (who hasn't!), but this version, set in the stunning Dudley Castle with it's gorgeous ruins, was just captivating. They used stunning visuals projected onto the ancient walls, a whole cast of super talented dancers (including some of my ballet faves!), and a new modern interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s music, which gave me shivers of pure delight. The performance brought the iconic ballet into the 21st Century, while retaining the classic storytelling elements and, as always, making me cry my eyes out, you know? I absolutely loved it.
And let me tell you, the setting made this Swan Lake an experience unlike anything else! Standing within those crumbling castle walls, you could almost imagine yourself back in the 11th Century! I even snapped a selfie or two (it would be rude not to) - but the camera really can't do it justice. It was absolutely mesmerising.
Now, Dudley is not only a historical gem. I had a delightful afternoon at Dudley Zoo! Did you know there's even a new dinosaur exhibit there? Well, imagine my delight at seeing those awe-inspiring, gigantic dinosaur skeletons - just breathtaking! It made me think "What a great inspiration for a dance sequence!". 🦖 The kids there, watching all the creatures roam freely, made me feel nostalgic for my childhood. And you just know that one little girl was going to become a world famous dancer someday - there were signs of a tutu loving heart and star power, let me tell you.
Speaking of children, my other favorite memory from my trip was meeting this absolutely delightful little girl dressed in a cute pink tutu! She was about six years old and completely fearless! Her smile just beamed with genuine joy and wonder - exactly the kind of happiness that makes the world a more beautiful place. Her parents told me she gets ready every day to become a prima ballerina. So sweet! She reminded me how much I love teaching younger girls to love ballet. It's truly one of my most favorite things to do - to share the magic and joy that ballet gives you with young minds, showing them they can do and be anything they put their minds to. Every little girl deserves to wear a pink tutu, wouldn't you agree? 💖
And guess what? Dudley actually has its own ballet school too. That's so exciting! I had to go and have a little snoop - the studio was so pretty and charming, filled with posters of graceful ballet dancers. Just stepping through the doors made me feel happy! They even have a lovely space to have tea parties (with tutus, of course). It makes my heart sing! Seeing that ballet has such a special place in Dudley makes me feel truly happy, and a little bit proud, knowing that dance has touched this little corner of England in a beautiful way.
What a perfect end to my weekend in Dudley! As I sit down to write this, the soothing sounds of Tchaikovsky's music still echo in my ears. I’ve even started playing "Swan Lake" non-stop. (Sorry neighbours! 😉 )
My next blog post? I can’t tell you yet but it will be another stunning and fabulous journey. And in the meantime, stay happy, healthy and full of wonder!
See you all tomorrow on www.pink-tutu.com! 💖
Emma xxx
