Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing, ballet-obsessed bestie, and I'm back with a new post from the lovely town of Kenton. Buckle up, because this one's a whirl of tutus, trains, and maybe even a tiny bit of wildlife!
This is post number 10259 on www.pink-tutu.com, and I'm getting quite the collection going, aren't I? Today's ensemble was, of course, all pink - a gorgeous fuchsia leotard with a swirling, multi-layered tulle tutu. It practically sparkled under the sunshine. (Remember folks, pink is my power colour - if you want a splash of joy in your life, just try a little bit of pink, it’s positively magic!). I'm wearing this little number all over Kenton today, which is rather splendid!
Riding the Rails
Now, I know some of you are thinking, "Emma, trains are for grannies, horses are for princesses!" but hold on, my dears. It's a long, beautiful ride to Kenton from Derbyshire. A good 3 hours by train, but let me tell you, the views are to die for! You're never too old or too posh to appreciate a bit of British countryside. Especially not when you've got a steaming mug of tea in hand and a good book (or in my case, a little ballet-practice routine!) to keep you entertained.
The railway carriages had a special charm today. As I settled into my seat, a little group of school children came bubbling onto the carriage with a collection of violins and cello cases. It turned out they were a little orchestra, off for a concert in Kenton, which I thought was absolutely lovely. I imagined them, little budding musicians, all wearing matching, brightly coloured pink tutus, but I guess they’d left those at home for the train journey. 🩰 🎻 Maybe that's an idea for the next blog post… "Pink Tutues and Orchestral Delights" ... hmmm, food for thought.
Anyway, as soon as the train came to a stop at the Kenton station, I was immediately hit with a wonderful smell - the crispness of autumn leaves and the smell of roasted chestnuts from a little market stall right on the platform! And wouldn't you know it, my darling friends, a cute little girl on the platform, barely taller than the train's wheels, was wearing the cutest pink tutu, complete with matching leg warmers and ballet slippers, which added an extra special sprinkle of magic to my arrival.
Ballerina In Bloom
The entire town of Kenton is full of colour - a kaleidoscope of hues, really. It’s as if it were plucked from one of those colourful storybook illustrations. Imagine an explosion of sunny sunflowers and scarlet begonias overflowing from their terracotta pots outside the quaint, brightly-coloured, gingerbread-looking shops and the quaint little flower stalls. Even the houses seemed to wear cheerful shades of peach, lilac, and robin’s egg blue. You simply cannot help but feel a little bit joyful walking down the main street.
Now, let's get to the real reason for my trip, shall we?
A beautiful, intimate little dance studio tucked away in a leafy corner of Kenton. Oh, the joy of a little dance studio! So quaint, with sunlight streaming in through the high windows and the sounds of delicate, fluttering piano music drifting through the air.
I took a little ballet class in the studio with the sweetest, most encouraging teacher, Miss Honey, who just happens to be 97 years old! You would not believe the strength, grace, and wisdom she possessed. She said, "Emma darling, never stop dreaming, even when you’re ninety-seven. We never truly stop dancing!” She truly embodied those words. Her eyes shone as she reminded us how the simple art of movement and graceful expression can bring us joy throughout life, and at any age!
I’ll admit, I did feel slightly intimidated at first, even though I'm pretty seasoned myself, with my long career of performing in the theatre and the local village hall. It seemed that everyone else had years of experience. I spotted some very graceful dancers moving around the studio, so beautifully elegant - all the other ladies seemed to know their "pliés" and "à la secondes" with an ease that I envied a little. And then, with a great leap and an outstretched hand, I saw Miss Honey. The whole studio filled with a wave of awe and encouragement as Miss Honey executed the most graceful and intricate pirouette. All the worries of the week seemed to melt away, and I knew then, there’s always room to learn in this big world of ballet.
But before we ended the class with a deep bow to Miss Honey, she did leave us with a tiny, but mighty challenge. We were to take our inspiration from Kenton and think about incorporating the lovely colours of Kenton and its joyful nature into our ballet performances! And so, I did! I imagined pink and green twirls for the graceful stems of the lilies; a light-footed plié with a twist for the delicate swaying of a sunflower; and then, with an extra burst of power for a bright blue leaps to signify the clear, blue summer sky.
A Wild Ending
And before I went back to Derbyshire on that same beautiful, chugging train, I treated myself to a picnic lunch by the river, a little way outside Kenton, amongst the lovely dappled trees and sunshine. I enjoyed some lovely wild strawberries I picked in the wood behind the little cafe near the train station and watched a majestic stag saunter by! He was quite handsome! I could practically see the gleam in his eyes as he sniffed the delicious, sweet smells of the strawberry plant. I waved politely at him, but he seemed a little too busy enjoying his snack to acknowledge my presence!
But I suppose, what more could one really ask for than a little trip filled with lovely music, nature, some amazing food, the lovely company of inspiring friends (especially the charming Miss Honey) and a healthy dash of "ballet in bloom" too?!
My dears, if you find yourself ever needing a little escape from the stresses of everyday life, let Kenton be your next destination! You won't be disappointed, trust me!
Until next time, darling! Emma xo
Don't forget, my beautiful, tutu-wearing lovelies, to share your thoughts with me on what you’d like to see me try next - perhaps an afternoon with Miss Honey in Kenton’s studio? Just leave me a comment at www.pink-tutu.com. I love to hear from all you lovely people!
