Bonjour mes amies!
It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for another Pink Tutu Vienna adventure!
Iām sitting here in a cafe, bathed in sunshine and sipping a delicious Viennese coffee, as I write to you from this gorgeous city! Vienna. What a place! It's like a giant ballet shoe filled with waltzing waltzes and dreamy fairytale stories. And guess what? Today I saw the most spectacular performance! But, before I tell you all about it, I want to share some of my fabulous adventures from the last week!
Travels with a Tutu
I left Derbyshire a couple of days ago, hopping on a train in a delightful shade of pink and wearing my latest tulle creation: a vibrant magenta tutu with shimmering silver sequins! It was such a joy to watch the English countryside whizzing by.
After an overnight journey, I arrived in Vienna feeling refreshed and ready for another European adventure. Vienna is my favourite city to travel to by train - you simply get so much more time to enjoy the journey. And, as usual, I had many envious glances my way. Itās no secret I love a good ātwirlā and I made sure everyone on board had a show!
I must tell you, the carriages were a tad cramped, but I managed to 'ballet jump' my way through! Everyone seemed to adore the pink tutu and it made the whole journey more magical. And what a sight it was to finally roll into Vienna Station ā such an incredible historical building! I must admit I let out a joyous leap and pirouetted down the platform. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold!
Tutus & Traditions in the City
Vienna, oh Vienna! This city is positively bursting with history, charm and beautiful architecture. Every corner I turn reveals a new palace, a majestic fountain, or an enchanting cafƩ. My heart does a happy pirouette when I explore the narrow, cobbled streets with the sweet scent of Sachertorte wafts through the air! I always try and do something a little different on each of my visits, which this week involved a trip to the Wiener Staatsoper. What an amazing experience!
I learned so much about the Vienna Opera House and the traditions they hold so dearly. I found out it is actually considered one of the most important opera houses in the whole world. There was a wonderful display of opulent costumes and set designs and it really gave me a true sense of the scale of their work. They really have a thing for the elaborate and it felt so inspiring for a tutu-wearing ballerina!
As soon as I stepped inside the Wiener Staatsoper, the history and grandeur took my breath away. Itās not every day I walk into such opulence! I am talking marble staircases, sparkling chandeliers, plush velvet seating - a ballerinaās dream!
I particularly enjoyed the museum's ācostuming sectionā. What an incredible array of shimmering gowns, feathered boas, and ornate headpieces ā an absolute treasure trove! And of course, there were some extraordinary ballet costumes. I imagined myself dancing on the very stage, the air humming with music and the audience watching my every graceful move!
The real highlight for me, however, was the opportunity to witness a special private performance in their backstage area! The theatre manager offered me the most wonderful welcome, even sharing some delicious local pastries and refreshments with me. Then I got the real treat - to watch an incredible ballerina rehearsing a routine. She made the most complex choreography look absolutely effortless. And I was utterly mesmerised by her graceful moves, and those spectacular costumes.
My favourite was the costume they are using for their ballet performance of 'The Sleeping Beauty'. It was made of layers and layers of soft tulle in a blush pink colour and decorated with silver beads, feathers and hand-stitched jewels. I was told that each individual costume takes months to create, and the delicate beadwork was absolutely mesmerising! I imagined myself swirling and twirling in that very same tutu. What a feeling of sheer wonder it brought me!
A Ballerina's Dream at the Wiener Staatsoper
Tonight, I went to see 'The Sleeping Beauty' at the Wiener Staatsoper. You know that saying ādream come trueā? That is EXACTLY what it was.
The music, the performance - EVERYTHING!
The set design was stunningly elaborate! I felt like I had been transported to a fantastical world! I loved how they used mirrored walls and sparkling lights, which helped create such a sense of magical atmosphere. And, of course, the ballerinas' costumes were breathtaking! So much delicate detail and every single costume had been lovingly crafted. The craftsmanship was exquisite! It truly is a testament to their talent, creativity, and hard work.
The story of āThe Sleeping Beautyā unfolded on stage with such beautiful grace and finesse. The ballerinas danced with incredible strength and precision. Their effortless movements were a joy to watch! Each ballerina was so light on their toes and their graceful spins felt like a spell. They are a credit to their craft. And of course, their pink tutusā¦they twirled and spun so perfectly I felt like I was right there, leaping and swirling with them. I even felt like I learned some tips on how to do the grand jete' - a skill I always want to perfect.
The atmosphere in the Vienna Opera House was electric - all so sophisticated. And as I took in the whole magical evening, I just wished that everyone could experience this wonderful artform and all the magic that goes into a performance like this. It felt so enriching, such a reminder of beauty in our world!
The only thing better than the performance was the after-show event. I felt like a princess in a fairytale story. As I wandered out onto the streets, I was instantly transported to the magic of a romantic waltz - thatās what Vienna does to you! I went for a stroll through the park in the golden moonlight, enjoying the soft sounds of waltzing tunes that flowed from the local restaurants and cafes.
* Pink Tutus Everywhere!*
Vienna, my beloved Vienna, always gets my creative juices flowing! For all of you, I want to give a huge shout out for your enthusiasm about the āPink Tutu Challengeā. I had some really incredible entries for last weekās competition. So many of you have shared photos of yourselves in pink tutus in various beautiful locations all over the world. And the #PinkTutuChallenge is becoming quite a phenomenon - spreading some much needed joy, ballet, fashion, and colour wherever it goes!
Keep the photos coming in. Remember, each Wednesday I'm going to feature some of the fabulous Pink Tutu entries on my blog, and if I'm lucky enough to have you join me on one of my travels, you will get featured too!
Until next week, have a very āpink and sparklyā time!
See you next Wednesday for my next blog. And be sure to stay in touch through my Instagram page - where you can catch my daily adventures - I hope you will join my quest to make the world a more āpink-tutu-ful placeā!
Lots of love, Emma xx
