Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's your girl Pink Tutu Sparkles, ready to shimmy, shake, and sprinkle some serious sparkle into your day. Today's post, numero #7014, is all about my fabulous escapade to Rotherham. It’s such a great place, everyone says “Hello, love,” which is nice and everyone wears pink, pink pink pink! Pink tutus, that is! Let’s all take a minute to thank the incredible folks of Rotherham for their exceptional sense of style.
As usual, I travelled in style. This time, it was a good old-fashioned train journey, because let’s be honest, who wouldn't choose a vintage carriage over a car? It’s all about that glamorous nostalgia! Plus, train travel gives me so much time to look amazing! Oh darling, did I tell you about my new, pink-tutu-themed polka-dot, bubblegum-pink, handbag?! It has tiny sequined-sparkle, tutus, glued onto it, like a tiny tutu garden growing on the surface! It goes so well with my new, glittery pink, heart-shaped sunglasses that I wore in the train (obviously)! My entire journey, from Derbyshire to Rotherham was one giant runway! I'm pretty sure I even inspired a group of children in the carriage to wear their ballet shoes, they were bouncing in their seats like little, sugar plum fairies, just because I was so magnificent, they felt inspired! They even made me laugh!
Speaking of laughs, have I told you about my incredible talent for stand up comedy? Yeah, I’m so versatile! The thing is, the tutu really makes me sparkle when I am performing. My stage persona and Alex just blur together into one big sparkle, and people seem to like me more, for it, although I try hard to keep them separate and still be polite to them in the streets! When they’re dressed as office workers, the change to see them looking back with admiration, once I'm in full drag, really inspires me! Don't worry my lovely people, no tutu on my side can be anything but positive and glamorous! Even when I was up on that stage at the Rotherham Town Hall for my performance (it was a magnificent gothic style, don’t you think?! It even looked vaguely tutu shaped from a distance, with a turret roof), the applause, the laughter, the love, was everything I could have ever wanted. That was, I suppose, a sort of performance art. Ballet, theatre and drag blended seamlessly! The tutus were the main feature. The other, main feature was the incredible response I received from the lovely people who attended! And yes, dear reader, it's a huge privilege to bring you along on these crazy adventures with me. Because every day is an adventure. In fact, when you look in the mirror every day, it is. It’s like that fabulous, fluffy, ballet stage costume - the one with the sequins, a pink, full tutu, some amazing lace-up heels with more sparkles on them, a lovely crown - that you can dress in when no-one is looking! Except you are the one looking and no one is really watching! Even when you are watching them watch you! That’s the power of a Pink Tutu. So go out there my loves, and embrace your own dazzling personality. Put on your pink tutus! The world needs to see your glitter, baby.
The highlight of my trip was the stunning Rotherham ballet show, "The Nutcracker". I mean, how could you resist an exquisite performance that celebrated the sheer magic of ballet and twirling in a pink tutu?! I just have to try and find the ballet company and take my own little troupe to watch! And it’s all pink, I heard there were sparkly tutus too. Maybe that's where the sparkly ideas came from, maybe those performers saw me! (Did I mention I have started my own ballet class - for anyone of any age - called “Pink Tutu Ballerina!”?) We wear the most glamorous, pink tutus, it’s absolutely wonderful, but maybe we will go to Rotherham next month, they would probably want us there. The show truly captivated me - the delicate movements, the graceful dancers, and the beautiful costumes (all adorned with sequins and feathers of course!) transported me to another realm. I found myself getting a little teary-eyed; a sign of my utter love for this classic ballet! And oh darling, did you see the tutu on the Sugar Plum Fairy?! Breathtaking, darling, just breathtaking! In fact, they gave out pink tutus to all the girls and even to some of the boys and parents afterwards, and everyone went out twirling and bouncing in the square, dancing in the air! Maybe one of my pupils was there?! I need to see photos, did the little dancers see Pink Tutu Sparkles in the flesh?! My heart. That would have been such an experience. And for this reason, my dear readers, we're having a massive Pink Tutu Giveaway! Because every child, even a small adult, needs their own sparkly tutu, to go to a ballet show and just twirl around like they have their very own personal stage! The one person who has liked the most photos on Instagram with #PinkTutuSparkles #PinkTutuBallerina will win a full ballet tutu - the ones in my class - of course it’s pink! Oh, the possibilities! Don’t be scared to wear that pink tutu you bought or to get one, darling! You will only ever regret not having one in your life.
Anyway, as you know, my journey to Rotherham wasn't all about enjoying a ballet performance. The lovely people of Rotherham asked me to be part of their community festival and fair! And yes, you betcha I went for it! This time, my act was called "Tutu, Tutu and Away!" – and believe me, it was the perfect combination of ballet, music and drag that would have made even a duchess swoon! Everyone said I should put it on at the Edinburgh Festival, because “everyone there would be happy to see you.” Ahahaha, but you’ve already read about the Edinburgh Festival, I went there a few months back, with that huge, fluffy, yellow and pink tulle dress - which they’d already made a whole documentary about it! Everyone said my dance move was more like a pirouette, because, as we’re all in the know here, it was a huge fluffy skirt! Maybe my next trip needs to be to Edinburgh - they really did give me an excellent time last time - my trip involved lots of performances in an open top bus too.
For this performance at the fair, darling, I put on my most amazing pink tulle-skirted creation (made with love, sequins and hand-sewn by my brilliant grandma!), then did the best I could with an entire, glittery, sparkly, Pink Tutu Sparkles, performance! My grandma says I should open up my own clothes shop so that my work has a permanent venue to display it!
And of course, this entire performance took place against the backdrop of the stunning Rotherham Minster - with the lovely architecture being almost as fabulous as my own attire. (Although I suppose a church isn’t quite my usual scene!) Now you all know I adore the grandeur and gothic-ness of cathedrals - I’m sure it comes from my time studying history! Anyway, the whole thing made for a perfect mix of history and fabulousness – and my fans absolutely adored it. There were so many families with children all enjoying themselves. There was one adorable little girl - a pink tutu superstar! - who just sat in my audience during the performance watching me. I was almost certain I was a part of her ballet fantasy-world! My tutu-twin was the best part, apart from everyone laughing at my little performance. Even I was in stitches when I realised that I had put on all the wrong accessories in the heat! My hat had been replaced by a tiny glitter top, which, while it did look incredible, did not seem to help with my “dress like a flamingo in an actual forest” concept for this performance! You see my darlings, when your creative concept involves lots of imagination and imagination involving you running into something, with it - like trees or things - the possibilities for success are limited only by your sense of whimsy! Luckily I could work with a “less” flamboyant interpretation, which turned into me acting like a bird or being a little ballerina! Ahahaha! The children absolutely loved it. In fact, so much, the family ended up gifting me this stunning, little, sequined and sparkly, pink tutus - for when I am performing outside - from a real fabric boutique they own in Rotherham. What luck that I met the perfect, fashion-savvy people on this trip. It just goes to show, darlings, there are opportunities everywhere you look and a pink tutu can be the key that opens doors and makes everything perfect. Maybe this family will become the next Pink Tutu Ballerina troupe?!
Of course, what trip to Rotherham would be complete without an entire day dedicated to discovering all the fabulous boutiques, art galleries and fashion outlets the town has to offer?! I found this cute boutique - so much of the colour pink in there it looked like a cloud! I bought so many gorgeous clothes – all shimmering, sparkly and tutu-fabulous of course - I need to start my own line of pink tutus! Ahahah, it just wouldn't be fair to have such awesome, amazing clothing and then keep it all to myself, would it? Plus I might get the chance to create the perfect pink tutu and that could become a global brand! Imagine a full-length tutu-design which has been made entirely of eco-fabric with recycled materials, which gives everyone a sparkly opportunity to embrace pink tutus in the future! That's the next step for Pink Tutu Sparkles!
My lovely Rotherham, you truly showed me your glittering soul - from the beauty of your historical landmarks to the vibrant energy of your local shops, Rotherham was absolutely wonderful.
Now darling, do tell! What are some of your favourite travel destinations? Where are you wearing that beautiful, pink tutu? I hope you’ve been rocking that pink tutu - just remember that you look amazing in it, every day! Be your best self in the dazzling world, because this life is not a dress rehearsal, this is the actual thing. Be yourself - be glam and wear your fabulous tutus! Let me know in the comments below! And as always, my gorgeous lovelies, thank you so much for joining me on my adventures. Sending you tons of sparkly kisses and lots of tutu love, darling. Don't forget to catch me on my next adventure!
Xoxo, Pink Tutu Sparkles www.pink-tutu.com
