Post #6649
Oh darling, you won’t believe where I’ve been!
Billingham! Yes, the very place I've dreamed of visiting since I was a little ballerina twirling around my living room in a pink tutu and dreaming of dancing with swans on the River Tees. Okay, maybe the River Tees bit was a tad far-fetched, but you get the gist. 😉
I know, I know, it’s not the most glamorous place on the planet (sorry Billingham, no hard feelings!). But for a pink tutu-loving ballerina, every place becomes a wonderland when you're chasing the magic of dance!
So, let’s rewind a little. I’d been hankering for a ballet-related adventure for weeks, something to really get the creative juices flowing. Now, I'm not talking about your usual dance class, I was yearning for something truly unique. Enter: The Billingham Forum, a venue boasting a “Community and Arts Centre,” as the website says. Sounds promising!
Instead of catching a train (don’t get me wrong, I do love a good railway journey, but I felt a touch fancy this time), I decided to go old school - I hired a carriage for the day. Can you imagine my sheer delight as we galloped across the rolling countryside? Horses, wind in my hair, sunshine on my face - absolute bliss! (Don't tell my vet though, they might have something to say about the whole 'running wild on the open moorland' thing...but let’s just keep that between us!)
Anyway, after what felt like an exhilarating blur of country lanes and the odd squirrel (we do live in Derbyshire, remember!), we arrived in Billingham. And let me tell you, they’d definitely embraced the pink! Think neon pink street lights, bubblegum pink shopfronts, and even a pink-tutu-clad statue by the park. It was as if Billingham had just stepped out of one of my most colourful dreams!
Now, this Community and Arts Centre promised dance, theatre, music, and so much more! They had a fantastic program going on, but naturally, I gravitated towards the dance classes. Ballet barre? Check! Contemporary class? Check! A whole workshop on dance improvisation? Double check!
I couldn’t resist taking a ballet class, even though I had a suspicion my fancy tutus wouldn’t quite fit into the “no tutus allowed” dress code. (Honestly, sometimes I wish they’d just give me a standing ovation just for showing up! 😉). But, I dug deep in my wardrobe and opted for my gorgeous blush-pink leotard and leggings. It was all about blending in… or not, depending on the day!
The class was fantastic. The instructor was encouraging and knowledgeable, and it was a brilliant reminder of how much I love to move! It was also a lovely break from my own routine and it certainly rekindled the spark in my dancing. The fact that the whole class had pink in their leotards (seriously, is Billingham full of ballet dancers?!) just made it all the more perfect.
After class, I headed to the cafe. Honestly, I can't resist a good scone and cuppa! This cafe was just adorable, too, with vintage china cups and teapots galore! I found the perfect corner table, my fluffy, pale pink ballet bag perched on a chair beside me, and immersed myself in the lively chatter of fellow art enthusiasts.
My trip to Billingham reminded me just how important it is to try new things, embrace spontaneity, and get out of your comfort zone. It reminded me why I blog. You just never know what adventures await around the corner, and when they do, embrace the colour pink, the tutus, the music, and the movement, all the while making sure you enjoy each moment for all it’s worth!
Oh, and keep an eye out for more posts about my Billingham adventures, I might have some behind-the-scenes gossip about some seriously talented dancers that I met! You’ll want to keep checking back at www.pink-tutu.com for more of my ballet adventures!
