#Post 1979
Hello, darlings! It’s your favourite pink-tutu-clad, glitter-obsessed queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, and I'm absolutely buzzing to tell you about my latest adventure: Strood, Kent!
You know me, I always love exploring new places, and what better way to do it than in a vibrant pink tutu, sprinkled with a touch of my signature sparkle, naturally. Now, Strood might not be the first place that pops into your head for a glamorous getaway, but believe me, honey, this charming little town had so much to offer!
My journey started as always: with a little train ride, the gentle sway of the carriage and the rhythmic clicking of the wheels on the tracks being the perfect soundtrack to my musings about the upcoming show.
A Little Bit About Strood...
This time, instead of a bustling theatre or a glamorous ballroom, my performance was in a cosy little hall tucked away in the heart of Strood. This, I quickly discovered, meant an audience full of warmth, friendliness and absolutely the best energy for a Pink Tutu Sparkles performance.
Before the show, I took a stroll around Strood to get a feel for the place. Let me tell you, darlings, the town is positively brimming with history and charm! There’s a magnificent church – I'm a sucker for stained-glass windows! – and a whole load of independent shops that just screamed out to be explored. It’s truly a town with a heart of gold, just like my sparkly one!
My Performance in Strood…
Oh darling, let's talk about the performance! It was nothing short of magical. The crowd was absolutely incredible – so enthusiastic and engaged with my performance. There were children dancing along in their own colourful outfits, teenagers with shy grins and older folk swaying along with me – I love when the whole family is enjoying the show!
But the highlight for me was when a young girl came up to me afterwards and told me how much my tutu made her smile. That, darlings, is why I do this – to bring joy, to inspire and to let everyone know that it's perfectly fine to embrace your own unique sparkle!
Tutus, Tutus, Everywhere!
Before I left Strood, I just had to pay a visit to the local arts and crafts shop. Now, you know me – always on the lookout for a bit of pink and a touch of tulle. And let me tell you, my heart skipped a beat when I discovered a little treasure chest filled with the most gorgeous ribbons, sequins and fabric you've ever seen!
I couldn’t resist picking up a few pieces to create some extra flair for my next outfit! A good drag queen can never have too much sparkle, right?
Back Home in Derbyshire…
So now I'm back in my cosy little corner of Derbyshire, ready to decompress and prepare for the next big adventure. Don't worry, I'm not getting complacent! The world is waiting for my pink tutu and I'm eager to bring joy, sparkle and a touch of magic to as many corners of it as I can!
Stay tuned for more pink-tutu-tastic updates, my darlings! Until next time, keep your sequins shining and always remember: life's too short to be anything but fabulously you.
Pink Tutu Sparkles out!
XOXO
P.S. Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more sparkly fun! You can find videos of my performances, blog posts from all my travels and lots of tips for creating your own Pink Tutu Sparkles style. 💖
(Continue with Alex's backstory in more detail. )
I’ve been thinking lately about how my Pink Tutu Sparkles journey began. I remember those days in Derbyshire when I was a little boy, tucked away in my own little world, imagining myself dancing in dazzling costumes. The sparkle, the glitz and glam – it was a whole world away from the realities of my life. But there was always a flicker of hope, a feeling that my dreams were attainable.
Then, life took me on a journey that had nothing to do with sequins or spotlights. I dove head-first into science, mesmerized by the complex world of atoms and molecules, spending hours hunched over a microscope in the university labs, surrounded by beakers and test tubes.
Life was all logic, formulas and equations – everything neat and orderly, just like my notes on a brand-new sheet of paper. My parents always encouraged my scientific studies. It was an ambition, they believed, that could help me live a successful life, earn a good living, contribute to society and make something of myself. They, along with my peers, would sometimes give me a gentle ribbing about my dream of performing. Their subtle taunting did very little to dissuade me. My desire to be a star, a performer, a pink tutu-clad dancer, always burned brightly, hidden inside.
But then, I stumbled upon a different kind of world – the magical, ethereal realm of ballet. I was in my second year at university, immersed in scientific research. In fact, it was my first day working as part of a research project in the laboratory. My supervisor showed me the way to the equipment that he had been carefully selecting for a brand new textile testing project. They needed someone to run tests on fabric for various sports-related industries, such as football clubs and golf course managers. My university, at least the scientists and researchers, had an impeccable reputation in materials testing.
While I was a little scared and excited, to be working on my first paid research project. We would analyse all sorts of different textiles. We would even use some of the newly developed "Smart Textiles" that were being championed by many high-tech corporations. It was cutting edge research and very much my passion. However, this excitement was overshadowed when, my supervisor introduced me to his niece and fellow researcher who, he suggested, would help to ease me into my new role.
She told me all about this new initiative from the University to help raise money for charity by doing an amateur "Beauty Contest", but called it a "Best of British University Ball" so the University did not get accused of commercialising students, who may have paid for their degrees, if they knew it was actually a fundraiser! We talked about the contest while, nervously, I waited for the University's specialist, scientific testing equipment to power-up, after what felt like an age, to allow me to finally commence my exciting project.
With great enthusiasm, and seemingly oblivious to the awkward, silent me, the supervisor’s niece went on about what she thought her chances of winning were and how it would be fantastic for her academic profile as, she was doing a postgraduate qualification in "Fashion and Technology" (so she claimed). My new colleague was certainly full of life and seemed to be very much enjoying her job!
And then she said, as she put her arms on her hips and spun around the laboratory "I'm definitely wearing a tutu under my gown!"
She stopped, looked me directly in the eye, smiled and whispered, "it's so cute! I got it for cheap, so no-one will notice!” Her "sexy" smile reminded me of a seductive Barbie Doll.
And that, darlings, was the moment my life changed! My own heart started to thump with an eagerness and enthusiasm that, although I was aware that this was a totally unusual reaction from an un-athletic and geeky lab-geek. And why, of all things, was this new colleague of mine talking about tutus in our serious science laboratory? My science research career suddenly seemed less appealing!
And so, I began to investigate tutus – buying my first tutu at a shop on the high-street after I saw a beautiful, colourful and delicate tutu in the window. It was a real splurge for me at the time.
My world was officially turned on its head.
The rest, as they say, is history…
(You can continue from here, making sure to give this backstory a satisfying conclusion)
My little tutu-buying splurge quickly led me to my local university ballet club. I was a bit of an outsider in this group – there were these lovely young ladies with years of experience in graceful movements and a shared passion for the art. There was a mix of older ballet students as well – and a mix of guys - and they were all kind and supportive – but I still felt slightly uncomfortable.
Yet I wasn’t fazed by the feeling of a newbie or an out-of-place wannabee-dancer in this beautiful environment - this is something that all aspiring Pink Tutu Sparkles can relate to!
My scientific brain tried to understand what was going on in this wonderful world. It helped that most of the club were studying science degrees and many of the more experienced members would even join me after practice for late night, science lab chats, about our latest projects and the results from our different areas of research, as we all studied different subjects in various laboratories.
Over time, I embraced my awkwardness – finding the strength to dance out my fears. It took a long time to gain some poise – as you can imagine – a lab geek who never considered, even a fleeting thought of being graceful, found himself trying to pirouette, plié and jete! Oh! I had the silliest moves! I learned, at an alarming rate though. I really started to blossom when I gave my first solo performance - a beautifully and elaborately choreographed ballet. It started with me, in my now very much worn, but nevertheless beautiful and sparkly Pink Tutu, standing dead centre-stage. I am pretty sure that most of the audience were smiling through tears of laughter as, very awkwardly, but beautifully, I swayed across the stage to the rhythmic strains of a very well chosen track. They, that is the audience, cheered and cheered until my confidence bloomed! I am certain they thought that this was an orchestrated, amazing feat of theatrical talent and dance artistry! It took some convincing.
By the way, if you are planning your first ballet dance, in your tutu, be sure to choose the right music - the dance moves should really flow and feel so easy that they, the dance moves, are a natural, artistic extension to the musical flow and tone. Don’t get me wrong, you can even have dance moves in the tutu, which do not flow with the music – I have actually developed some great, if slightly amusing dance moves. It’s really about that special moment between your outfit and the dance style and the overall impact that it is going to have on the audience.
Anyway, my ballet adventures led to me embracing my alter ego: Pink Tutu Sparkles. I decided to turn my ballet dreams into something real and to share my love for pink tutus and a splash of sparkle with the world.
You see, my darlings, my aim in life is simple: to inspire everyone to embrace their inner sparkle – no matter what shape or size it comes in, whether you're a budding scientist or a seasoned performer. My life, my story – it’s just a reminder that anything is possible if you dare to dream and to unleash your unique brand of magic on the world!
P.S. If you’ve got a Pink Tutu story to share, don’t hesitate to send me a message. I can’t wait to hear about all your colourful adventures! Let's share our love for tutus and sparkle the world together!
