Post #11064
Hello, my lovelies! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad, ballet-loving adventurer, bringing you the latest from my travels, and this time, it’s a little different…
Kendal. Now, Kendal might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think “ballet”, but trust me, you wouldn’t believe the fun I had!
The journey, as always, was an adventure in itself. I decided to swap the usual train for a trip on horseback (who needs carriages anyway, am I right? ?). The wind whipping through my hair as we galloped through the Derbyshire countryside, it was like something out of a ballet performance!
Now, Kendal itself is charming – cobbled streets, independent shops overflowing with lovely things, and enough cake shops to satisfy any sweet tooth.
I stayed at this absolutely divine B&B run by a woman who is also an amateur ballerina! We bonded over our shared passion (obviously!), and she even let me wear one of her vintage tutus. (You’ll find the picture of me on Instagram, @EmmaPinkTutu – yes, that pink tutu! ?)
But let’s get back to the “why” of Kendal. I’ve been a fan of Kendal Calling music festival for years – not only is it absolutely beautiful nestled in the hills, but the lineup is always amazing! It’s not your usual festival crowd either; there’s a real focus on arts and crafts, independent food vendors, and it’s got this incredibly chilled, relaxed atmosphere. And let me tell you, the moment I heard about this year’s theme, "Into the Wild", I knew my pink tutu was coming with me.
This year, I thought: "How can I best embrace the ‘Wild’ theme? Let’s take ballet off the stage, away from the lights and onto the rugged terrains!" So, imagine this… a field surrounded by stunning views of the Lake District, sun glinting off the dew on the grass, and a troupe of extremely enthusiastic wild creatures (yes, that means people dressed up in animal costumes – thank you, Kendal Calling, for your imaginative spirit) having a impromptu dance-off with a single, glorious ballerina. Oh yes, you guessed right! That ballerina was ME!
The reaction from the crowd was truly heartwarming! Even though they hadn’t come to see a ballerina (I mean, how many times does that happen at a music festival, right?), everyone was absolutely captivated! Laughter, applause, someone even offered me a hand-knitted flower crown! The energy was simply magical. It reminded me of the magic of dance – its ability to unite us, no matter what setting, no matter the occasion.
And speaking of uniting, Kendal Calling really embodied the “bring everyone together” vibe! There was this wonderful stall selling “Make-Your-Own-Tutu” kits (you know I bought one, right? ;)). They had so many colors, so many sparkly trims – the options were endless! My day wasn’t complete until I'd whipped up a custom pink and blue tutu with little feathered accents (inspired by the local wildlife, of course! It's a bit of a peacock/robin mix ;)). And what better way to finish a festival day than dancing the night away with the stars above, in a custom-made tutu! (The music was good, but the dancing with a pink tutu? That was EPIC).
But here's the thing, my dear friends, and why I really had to tell you about this adventure: Seeing those other festival goers making their own tutus, embracing a bit of creativity and a dash of absurdity, it really did hit me – my dream is to get everyone wearing tutus! It might sound crazy, but why shouldn’t we have a bit of whimsy and sparkle in our lives? Even amidst a field of festival tents and dancing animals!
I left Kendal buzzing with ideas – more travel, more dancing, and of course, more tutus! Who’s with me? Let’s get everyone on board with the #PinkTutuRevolution! And of course, join me on my daily adventures by subscribing to my blog – I’m Emma from www.pink-tutu.com, and I can’t wait to share my next ballerina journey with you!
Love and sparkles, Emma xx
