Hey everyone,
It's Emma here, back from a whirlwind trip to Stevenage! You wouldn't think a town known for its roundabouts could be so much fun, but let me tell you, it was a real adventure!
Now, you'll know by now that I'm a big fan of colour and I'm pretty sure my favourite is still pink - so what did I pack? A bright orange tutu, obviously! (It did clash a bit with the colour scheme of the station, but hey, that's what makes a statement, right? 😉). It seemed to work a treat.
This was my first trip to Stevenage. I normally travel by train, but I had a fancy to take the carriage this time - something a bit more glamorous than a noisy train. It was an exciting experience, let me tell you, especially after I stopped giggling about riding a horse in my tutu!
Stevenage itself was just lovely, filled with the hustle and bustle of modern life - cafes with delicious, sweet cakes (I had to try a slice of cherry!), parks perfect for picnics and, of course, lots of amazing shops. And let's not forget the ballet scene! I was absolutely thrilled to find a fantastic little studio tucked away on a side street, run by a truly charming, bubbly teacher called Fiona.
We did a bit of "Street Ballet" (can't you tell I'm trying to be cool, haha!), then, I got my fill of pirouettes and arabesques in the actual "Classical Ballet" session afterwards - a total blast! Fiona said there was a special performance at the town hall, a real "Gala Night," coming up in a few weeks with the famous Stevenage Ballet company and some fabulous guest performers. Oh, the excitement! Maybe I'll even be there with my trusty bright orange tutu - what a spectacle it would be!
Fiona was telling me about all the fabulous ballet companies across the country (and even some in Europe!), and even gave me the details of some of the best ballet street performances she's seen over the years - now those are a real treat! I love the way that the ballet steps become part of the scenery, part of the streets, like you're watching a story unfold before your very eyes. Fiona said I should make a special trip to see a street performance in Edinburgh next time I’m up north, they have some wonderful shows in the summer, usually outdoors on the royal mile! What a lovely idea!
Fiona said they also have an absolutely spectacular Wildlife Sanctuary outside Stevenage which was actually very tempting. Fiona says the birds and animals are absolutely captivating – though they tend to have the worst fashion sense! Not so keen on tutus it seems - it’s all about comfort and function in their world, not about the je ne sais quoi, darling!
I have to admit, after that day in Stevenage, I'm pretty smitten with the place. I can't wait to explore more! And it was a truly fabulous trip to see the ballet side of a town, just proves there’s more to life than just fancy capitals and big cities. It reminded me how much there is to see and explore, and to remind you guys out there - even in the most unexpected of places.
Oh! I nearly forgot to mention. While I was walking to the town centre, I bumped into the most fabulous woman. Dressed head to toe in the most incredible shade of pink, wearing a dazzling pink tutu! A real ray of sunshine she was. She said that after reading my blog posts about being “pinkly fabulous”, she felt inspired to do something to spread a little bit of pink happiness to the world. And boy did it work! I even managed to snag a quick snap with her!
Remember everyone: there's always room for more pink and a sprinkle of tutus in our lives!
Happy dancing,
Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com
