Hey lovelies! Emma here, bringing you sunshine and sparkles from a tiny corner of Essex – Laindon, to be precise! ☀️ This is post #8443 for you fabulous followers on www.pink-tutu.com, and believe me, this one's a real treat.
As some of you know, I'm a bit obsessed with European ballet. There's something about those cobbled streets and grand theatres, the scent of croissants and the way everyone seems to sway to a graceful beat, even if it's just to grab a baguette at the bakery! And let's be honest, a girl can never have enough European tutus. 💃
This trip was a spontaneous decision – I woke up on a Saturday morning, grabbed a cup of tea (Darjeeling, naturally) and was instantly transported to the magical land of Pinterest boards filled with images of Parisian ballet dancers twirling in the sunlight. Okay, so it was more of a "Where should I go on my next tutu adventure" sort of brainstorm, but you get the picture. Laindon emerged as the top contender for a few reasons. First, the name sounds absolutely magical, and second, there was a delightful local theatre promising an "extraordinary experience." You know I had to see what that was all about!
The journey to Laindon was a delight in itself. A little wander down the M25 and then, as fate would have it, the perfect horse-drawn carriage came along – an absolutely gorgeous white stallion named Chester! (Yes, Chester! The carriage owner was as thrilled as I was, apparently not too many girls jump at the chance of a horse-drawn carriage trip these days!) I could have just sat and let the wind rustle through my hair, watching the fields roll by for hours, but Laindon was calling, and I was ready to dance!
Now, the heart of this trip was that delightful little theatre – The Laindon Playhouse. You'd be forgiven for thinking it was just another "town hall" style venue, but my lovelies, you'd be oh-so-wrong. The stage was surprisingly expansive, and the décor, though somewhat traditional, exuded this kind of charm that feels like a time capsule. This particular performance was something truly special – "Cinderella's Shadow." They had brought together an incredibly talented cast, and the costumes were divine. And as for my European-inspired tutu, well, it was practically stealing the show! It was this delicate shade of pink with hints of lilac, and it just shimmered like a dream under the theatre lights. You've got to believe me, I made a few ballet lovers in the audience that night – I practically had them cheering at my grand jeté! ✨
But Laindon was about more than just the theatre. There was an old, sleepy feel to this part of Essex, and even amidst the quaint, traditional streets, there was a sort of quiet energy, like a town with a story just waiting to be told. You know I'm all about capturing moments, so I popped over to the Laindon Local History Society. Talk about treasures! They had some amazing archive material – photographs, local newspapers, and even maps that brought the history of this place to life. It reminded me so much of my childhood in Derbyshire, how places hold so much history and a touch of magic just waiting to be discovered.
And while I'm not saying everyone should spontaneously combust with pink tutus, I think that sort of adventurous spirit – finding magic in the everyday – is a gift we can all cultivate. We should embrace the joy of being silly, of letting our hearts soar and letting our imaginations take flight! If it means strutting your stuff in a pink tutu, then by all means, strut it, ladies! 👠 (Gentlemen, I'm not judging you either! Your life's a lot more colourful when you don a tutu...trust me!) 😜
Okay, so I’ve got a whole new slew of inspiration flowing! I'll be adding this amazing Laindon trip to my tutu travel map, which, by the way, has gone global. The point is, I want to take the world on a ballet journey! From Derbyshire to the French Riviera, from Laindon to Broadway… It's time for everyone to get their ballet on, everyone to discover the joy of twirling, and for all the fabulousness that comes with wearing a pink tutu.
As for Laindon, I’m planning a return visit. There’s just something special about the energy here, that reminds me to always look for magic wherever I go!
Stay fabulous, my dears, and keep dancing!
With love,
Emma x
