Oh darlings, Iām absolutely bursting with excitement to share this post with you! It's about the amazing time I had in Harrow, a truly delightful little corner of England, and the fabulous memories I made, both on and off the stage. This little corner of the world, which reminds me a bit of Derbyshire where I was born, simply couldn't have been more perfect. But before I dive into the highlights, let me tell you all about my fabulous journey there!
The Train Ride
You all know my fondness for the railways, don't you? Nothing quite compares to settling into a plush carriage seat, enjoying the views whizzing past, and sipping a good old-fashioned cup of tea. I think this trip, however, topped them all!
Firstly, I was feeling rather festive. As you know, the sparkle fairy loves everything Christmassy, and so my suitcase, as well as being full of gorgeous glittery frocks and all the accessories you could dream of, had an extra corner filled with Christmas goodies! Tiny Christmas ornaments and baubles that I planned on incorporating into my set design, along with Christmas decorations for the dressing room, which of course included the piĆØce de rĆ©sistance, a fluffy pink Santa hat (the only kind I would ever be seen in, naturally!).
But the train journey itself was the real cherry on top of the Christmas pudding! As I sat there, comfortably gazing out at the English countryside, who should board the train but a darling group of elderly ladies heading to a "Pink Tutu Ballet Afternoon" in the same village as I! These sweet dears looked at me as I emerged from the ladiesā bathroom ā pink feathers, sequins, and the signature Pink Tutu Sparkles eyelashes were in place ā with complete wonder! You know I couldnāt resist joining their carriage for a lovely chat. Turns out theyād all been members of a ballet class for over 50 years, wearing their own little pink tutus and they loved my act! The youngest among them, a sweet 70-year-old called Ethel, told me I reminded her of her youth, a time when the world had much more room for pink fluff! How wonderful is that? I donāt know about you, but it made my day.
Arriving in Harrow
We chatted for the entire journey, and they were so welcoming that I almost didn't want to leave their little carriage for my final stop! They promised to come to see my show, which they told me would be absolutely perfect for them as it was at a local town hall. I must say, the town hall was beautiful. Old-fashioned, with a huge chandelier, just the right amount of vintage charm and grandeur for a show by Pink Tutu Sparkles.
Oh, darling, before we get to my show, I just HAVE to tell you about this little vintage boutique that Ethel told me to find. The owner, Mrs. Lavender, had been running this quirky place since she was in her 20s. And her stock? I was absolutely speechless. They had so much old lace, frills and silk, but best of all, they had vintage pink tutus! Imagine! My very first one, as you know, was a pink ballerinaās dream come true! But Iāve grown so attached to this tutu that I didn't dare think of even touching one! Not until Mrs. Lavender herself took one from her stock and wrapped it up, urging me to "let the sparkly magic of tutus shine, dear"! This wonderful, bubbly lady convinced me it would bring her shop luck. I just had to promise that it would never go on a stage for less than Ā£500 ā that will give her some great stock and let me go back next time! How sweet is that? It reminded me why I love my journey as much as the destination ā the kindness of people in this great big beautiful world never ceases to amaze me.
The Show Must Go On!
After the shopping spree and a spot of afternoon tea (because of course!), I was ready to sparkle for Harrow. It's always a joy to perform at the town halls, I always say. Thereās nothing quite like seeing a room full of eager eyes twinkling at the sight of pink tutus, sparkling and spinning in front of them.
My act this time included an interpretive dance inspired by "The Nutcracker", the beautiful music bringing a touch of classical elegance to the room. Iām so grateful for all the time Iāve put into learning and honing my ballet moves. And whatās a dance about dreams without a beautiful new tutu? It was pink and sparkly, as I love them!
And, as promised, my festive side emerged in a sparkling Christmas medley, including some sweet carols and an impromptu singalong that got the entire hall roaring! That was a real highpoint of the evening ā and my favourite song from that set had a special dedication to Ethel! You all know how much I love the vintage tunes and all the magic they hold!
The final bow brought a sea of applause, and some truly wonderful compliments. An elderly gentleman, clearly impressed by my twirling and general joie de vivre, came up to me and exclaimed, āThatās the most entertaining show weāve seen all year!ā and āThose tutus were absolutely magical.ā He must have been my audience's spokesman, for after I gave him a big Pink Tutu Sparkles hug, the whole room seemed to be glowing with pure delight.
After the curtain closed, my very special, sparkly little audience, Ethel and her friends, came backstage, full of happy cheers, wanting to share stories about their lives as ballet students! My heart was full. These dear souls reminded me again why I love what I do, why my Pink Tutu message of spreading cheer is so important, and how much love and fun there is in a world full of bright colors, and most importantly, in being your fabulous, authentic, Pink Tutu self!
Iām leaving you all with a challenge this week: try something that makes your heart sing and your soul sparkle. Be brave, go forth and embrace your pink tutu inner self!
Much love,
Pink Tutu Sparkles
P.S. I have to mention I did a little ballet workshop earlier that afternoon with a bunch of enthusiastic little ladies and their moms. I even got a little dancing group going! Itās amazing to see those little ones already full of dreams! My little workshop reminded me once again how contagious the passion for dance, and for tutus, can be. Keep shining!
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for all my latest sparkly adventures and adventures on www.pink-tutu.com for all my adventures and blogs. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!
