Oh darlings, buckle up your sequins and grab your feather boas, because your favourite pink tutu-clad queen is taking you on a whirlwind journey to the enchanting city of Rochester! This fabulous frock-tastic trip is all about pink perfection, graceful ballet, and the glorious pursuit of tutu-wearing dreams.
Rochester has been whispering sweet nothings in my ear for ages. This beautiful city has been on my TutuQueen tour list since forever, with its history, its architecture, and its thriving artistic scene - it truly sings to my soul. And of course, no trip to Rochester would be complete without a proper ballet show. Did I mention I absolutely adore ballet?! There's just something so breathtaking and powerful about seeing a beautifully crafted dance come to life on stage.
I flew into Rochester (who knew there was an airport?!) feeling like a princess in my new blush-coloured tutu and matching pink sequined top. I felt a bit out of place amongst the grey-suit-clad businesspeople at the airport but darling, life is all about making a statement! I let the flight attendant know “TutuQueen in the house!” which went down rather well. The passengers were all rather subdued for a Thursday morning so it certainly brightened their day, and made my own a whole lot more colourful too.
Once in Rochester I treated myself to a decadent tea and cake in a delightful little tea shop named ‘A Spot of Tea’, a glorious nod to my Derbyshire heritage. Their selection of pastel-coloured china cups were a true delight and their freshly baked scones went down a treat. The afternoon sun shining through the window made for the perfect picturesque Instagram snap. I did, of course, post it with the caption “Life is a tea party with a dash of pink sparkle!”
Later that evening I made my way to the Rochester Ballet Theatre for an incredible performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. My heart melted at the dancers' graceful movements and powerful expressions. It reminded me that no matter what life throws our way, we can always find beauty and inspiration in art.
Of course, I had to dress for the occasion. I chose my sparkly white tutu and paired it with a matching feather boa for an added touch of magic. Even a couple of ladies next to me commented on my fantastic costume, “What a fantastic tutu!”, said one of the women. It made me giggle; she clearly recognised a fellow tutu-lover. The best part was, they asked for their picture taken with me!
Speaking of magical experiences, I had the pleasure of taking a class at Rochester's prestigious ballet school, Rochester Dance Academy. There is something so utterly sublime about being surrounded by other ballet lovers. We shared a space of focused elegance, learning from experienced instructors, and expressing ourselves through the beauty of dance.
As a ballet dancer at heart (well, by night at least, as Alex, the scientist by day in the laboratory) I loved getting the opportunity to experience it all – the music, the grace, the movement - all that pure energy. You should have seen me executing a perfect “port de bras”. And all this, with a glorious hot pink tutu with added sparkles. I tell you, even my tutu was proud of my work.
No trip to Rochester is complete without visiting its breathtaking historical sites. So naturally, I hopped on a train – first-class of course, in a pink tulle shawl! I always try to travel sustainably and the train offers an elegant journey and provides wonderful opportunities for people-watching, I spot loads of potential future TutuQueen ambassadors - all they need is a little encouragement!
I did enjoy myself looking fabulous on the train ride, with other travellers giving me knowing glances - a mixture of amusement and admiration. At one stop, I even ended up chatting with a delightful lady who happened to be a retired ballet teacher - we exchanged stories and experiences and even giggled at some hilarious tutu-related memories. She had me laughing and it was wonderful to hear the stories of how she got involved with ballet, so fascinating. I did try to persuade her to give drag a try, but I suspect a full pink tutu with a feather boa would be too much for her now!
The magnificent Rochester Castle had to be seen, with its ancient walls and dramatic towers - I imagine the Queen visiting with her royal court - you know they must have loved tutus! The grounds of the Castle were fabulous; they reminded me of an ethereal garden setting from a fairy tale! The lovely people who work in the gift shop complimented me on my tulle skirt.
I couldn't resist treating myself to a little afternoon treat of cupcakes at a quaint café “Rochester Bakery” (I recommend the pink buttercream, darlings!). The cupcakes are utterly scrumptious and perfectly complimented my outfit - in fact, I couldn’t leave without a gift box for Alex! The baker told me it is the local baker’s pride and joy, which explains the superb flavour! What I love is how it’s not just about the ingredients and how they are baked but also how a small cafe is so welcoming and delightful.
On the final night, it was time for the most fabulous performance - ‘The Circus in the City’ at Rochester's iconic Cathedral! It was utterly fabulous and I even tried a trapeze on a small-scale version for a laugh! It’s all in a night’s entertainment in Rochester; from ballet, castles, museums, bakeries to… a circus! Who knew?!
I think Rochester is just perfect; a fabulous mix of history, culture, and delightful friendly people - what a fabulous way to spend a few days, the highlight for me had to be meeting an entire group of ballet students who were utterly thrilled with my pink sparkly tutu – some of them are now aspiring to become TutuQueen wannabes - they will all be sporting pink tulle soon! I was absolutely honoured to be an inspiration! There is something utterly transformative about a vibrant, fluffy tutu - it makes people see the beauty in everything!
As I depart, I’m already looking forward to coming back – there’s so much more to see! I think I will plan another tutu-themed visit soon! And now, I leave you darlings with this message – always wear a pink tutu with pride, spread love, laughter and glitter everywhere you go, and be sure to catch your TutuQueen on the road. I’m off to Leeds tomorrow for a festival. You might spot me there if you are quick enough!
See you on the next leg of our tutu journey!
Yours in Pink, Pink Tutu Sparkles x
www.pink-tutu.com
