Ballet Reviews // Russian Ballet & Sleeping Beauty

I was lucky enough to be invited to review two ballets recently - the Russian Imperial Ballet Company's A Festival of Russian Ballet and The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company's Sleeping Beauty. I decided to attend both in Dunedin, as my pool of available ballet-loving friends is slightly larger than what I have in Invercargill!!

I went to see the Russian Ballet on the 5th of November and took along a friend I used to do ballet with back in the day. You can read my review here! I enjoyed it but found some bits a little hard to follow, nothing a bit of research on the interent couldn't fix though! I met up with some friends afterwards and we had some quiet drinks in town which was nice!

I went to the RNZB's performance on the 12th of November. I absolutely loved it! It has been in the works for a couple of years so it was so well rehearsed with beautiful costumes and cool sets! Here is my review. I took my sister this time and she enjoyed it too so that's good!!

I love getting to see all these awesome ballets and dance performances - it's pretty cool!! Here is a link to all the reviews I have done so far. I'm looking forward to doing a whole lot more next year!!

If you want to go see a performance of any kind in New Zealand, chances are there is a review of it on Theatreview. It definitely helps to see what you might be in for!

Instagram Fest // The Week That Was

I realise I have been a little absent lately! Between sorting my internet, trying to get rid of the pile of cardboard boxes that are still littered around my new house and frequent trips to Dunedin in the weekend blogging has been at the bottom of the heap over the last couple of weeks! I have plans to get back onto to it ASAP though, so no worries!!


I went up to Dunedin in the weekend and reviewed the Imperial Russian Ballet Company's 'A Festival of Russian Ballet' which is touring New Zealand at the moment.You can read my review here if you like! also caught up with a couple of friends and had a quiet drink in town which was fun!

So you all know what else I've been up to lately, here are some lovely Instagram pics to fill in the gaps. I love how my phone is always there to capture little moments and entertain me when I'm bored!

 A pretty thrifted playsuit I bought off Trademe, making hot chocolate at home on my espresso machine, a pair of thrifted silver mary janes I plan to do a DIY on, the dress pattern and material I am using at dress making class (middle right!), my old ballet shoes I found when moving and wore while doing plies using my dresser as a barre, the view from my awesome seat before watching the Russian Ballet Company perform (read my review here!), a cheeky cherio lunch yesterday, an awesome vintage tutu I just bought (I've been looking for one for ages!!) can't wait to get it!!

If you have Instagram too look me up sometime - my username is sparkleylining. I'd love to see what you take photos of!!

The rest of this week will involve looking for storage solutions for my sewing/dressing room and cake studio, baking some tasty treats to take to Dunedin this weekend  when I go up to see Sleeping Beauty (yes, more ballet!) beginning to sew my dress at dressmaking class on Thursday and waiting by the phone in case my little nephew decides to make an appearance this week!!

What are your plans for the rest of the week and the weekend?