Hello darlings! Emma here, reporting live from Mitcham, a delightful little corner of South London. Now, if you're thinking "Mitcham? Really, Emma?" – trust me, this place is a hidden gem! Especially when you're a pink-loving, tutu-obsessed ballet fanatic like me! 😉
Today, my love for travel, my penchant for all things pink, and my undying passion for ballet collided in the most magical way. I hopped aboard a train (one of my favourite forms of travel!) and found myself waltzing into Mitcham. Why, you ask? Well, you see, Mitcham has a wonderful community ballet centre that’s absolutely bursting with energy.
Now, the journey itself was a little bit of a dance in its own right. I spent the whole train ride twirling in my feather-trimmed, hot-pink tutu, humming along to the music that was playing on my vintage cassette player. I always feel so much more powerful and graceful when I’m wearing my pink tutus - I guess it's just a magic trick I’ve discovered over the years!
My outfit today was an explosion of all things girly. My pink feather tutu was dancing around my legs with every move, catching the sunlight and making me feel like a real-life ballerina. My delicate white top was an ode to my inner ballerina, and my dainty pink ballet shoes (sparkly of course!), well, they just added a sprinkle of magic to my steps. Honestly, darling, you couldn't miss me in a crowd, which was kind of the point!
Mitcham, you see, is one of those little places where the magic of the everyday still thrives. There's a bustling market full of vibrant colours, and charming tea rooms serving delightful afternoon treats. But most importantly for me, it boasts that heart-warming ballet centre!
The studio had that enchanting, old-school charm with wooden floors, a worn mirror, and a big, bright window that let in the sun like a spotlight. The smell of wood polish and freshly laundered dancewear filled the air, you know the kind of comforting scent that always evokes memories of ballet class. I swear, darling, just being in that space transported me back to my own childhood, to those early mornings at my local Derbyshire dance school!
As I walked into the class, I felt a familiar thrill, that feeling of anticipation just before a curtain rises. The ballet teacher, a woman with warm brown eyes and a twinkle in her smile, welcomed everyone with a big, warm hug, like a second mother to every single student in the class.
The class itself was a delight! It was a combination of ballet basics, some beautiful ballet choreography, and a few moments where we even incorporated some ballet street, which is something I'm just starting to experiment with and adore! It's just such a wonderful, dynamic and contemporary expression of ballet! I know, some of you are probably wondering: what on earth is ballet street? It’s this amazing movement that involves taking all the fluidity, grace and strength of classical ballet and putting it to urban and street-style dance! I think it's brilliant because it keeps the movement really natural, but combines it with powerful and bold styles - just my cup of tea!
Afterwards, we all enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea at the “Pretty Pastel Cafe,” which I discovered by pure chance thanks to some local, sweet old ladies who pointed me in the right direction. The owner, an elderly gentleman with twinkling eyes and a handlebar moustache, even treated us all to a slice of homemade lemon meringue pie, which I’m told is one of his best sellers! And trust me, darling, the deliciousness was a masterpiece!
Of course, no trip to Mitcham would be complete without a stroll through the local wildlife sanctuary. The air was fresh and alive with the sounds of birds chirping and ducks quacking – quite unlike the bustling life of the city. As I meandered through the lush green meadows and woodlands, my tutu fluttering gently, I couldn't help but smile. I even spotted a cheeky fox peeking at me from behind a tree trunk, giving me the best kind of wild greeting you could ask for!
Darling, you can't deny that Mitcham is a place of contrasts, where the pace of life slows down and where simple pleasures become the greatest joys.
To conclude this little journey, let me leave you with this thought, my darlings. Life, like ballet, is all about balance, grace and movement, about trying new things and embracing all the beauty that life has to offer.
And if you haven't already, grab your pink tutu, darling, and let's make this a world of dance!
Until next time,
Emma xoxo
