Hello my lovely lot! Itās your favourite pink-loving ballerina Emma here, and boy, oh boy, have I had a day! Today's adventure took me to Burton Upon Trent, and let me tell you, it was just so much fun.
As a Derbyshirian girl, it feels a little weird saying āadventureā about somewhere only an hour and a bit away by train. But this wasnāt just any old trip to the supermarket! Oh no, this was a mission! A mission to share the magic of tutus with the good folk of Burton! And it wasn't even my idea.
You see, my best friend, Millie, had just finished a course at the local theatre school there and had been raving about how much she loved Burton. Sheād even sworn there were quite a few people there wearing tutusā¦just casually. Now, Iām not always sure she tells the truth, Millie ā I think she once told me the local birds spoke French ā so Iād taken her claim with a pinch of salt.
However, with the upcoming National Tutu Week in April (and with my aim to get everyone to don a pink tutu at least once, even if itās just in their kitchen), I felt the time was ripe for an investigative mission. And of course, when your life is a whirlwind of pink tutus, any mission becomes an adventure. So, I packed my travel tutu (yes, I do have a travel tutu - for long journeys!) and my super special limited-edition "Pink Passion" tutu from the new "Dancers on the Dancefloor" collection (available online, but you have to be quick!). And off I went!
My heart skipped a beat when I stepped off the train. There, nestled among the beautiful brick buildings and the scent of freshly baked bread, stood a bronze statue of a lady wearing a tutu! I gasped - even in Burton Upon Trent, the tutus were winning! Millie wasnāt entirely fibbing after all. I couldnāt resist snapping a quick photo for Insta ā and obviously, there was the requisite impromptu little twirl around the statue for good measure.
Now, you all know how much I love wildlife. And boy, oh boy, was Burton on point in that area too! I bumped into a whole herd of lovely looking horses, a beautiful swan with a swan necklace (they do know how to dress up!), and even a family of ducks with a dad duck that could do some pretty impressive ballet moves! Seriously! I wouldn't be surprised if the family were descended from an original ballet-loving family from Swan Lake - they had those same majestic swan legs!
There were so many exciting shops and pubs - and let's be honest, any pub where theyāre willing to accommodate you with a giant tutu deserves a standing ovation, especially when said tutu happens to be the āRaspberry Ripplesā design Iād brought with me for extra pink tutu-tastic cheer!
I managed to even fit in a lovely ballet class with a delightful group of women. Itās amazing how, even when we're miles from each other, the joy of movement and music connects us, right? We giggled, we stretched, we moved. There's something about sharing that passion, isn't there? And yes, of course, I wore my āDancing Butterfliesā tutu for the class. Why? Because tutus make EVERYTHING more fabulous, especially ballet!
Even with the day being a whirl of tutus and exciting moments, I couldnāt resist taking the chance to delve into the local history of Burton Upon Trent. The National Brewery Centre is a MUST-SEE, folks! I was absolutely enchanted by their displays of old brewing equipment ā all those intricate tubes and giant vats made me want to shout āEncore!ā at the whole shebang. And letās not even get started on the history of the Burton beer. We can thank the water for their success. Just goes to show that a bit of nature can bring a whole town to life.
By the time I headed home, my heart was bursting with the joy of exploring a new place, spreading the joy of tutus, and appreciating the little (and big) things that make life so beautiful. My travel tutu was even beginning to look like a proper ālived inā tutu! Itās a badge of honour, isn't it?
My tip for all you wonderful ladies? Grab a tutu and a friend (or even on your own), head out there, and embrace the joy of exploring something new.
And just maybe, as you're dancing your way through a town or village, someone else will be inspired to embrace their inner ballerina. Who knows, you might even spot a few people wearing tutus...because as they say, "the world is a ballet stage and you are the lead role!ā
Thatās all from me today. Iām off to pack for my next big adventure (can you guess where? I'll give you a clue: It has something to do with water and beautiful gardens). Keep your tutus close and your pink-tinted spectacles on. You never know what youāll encounter! Until next time!
Lots of love,
Emma
xx
