Monday.......

Last week I spoke of my new mission to try out Gaynor Minden pointe shoes!  I've had some messages questioning my verdict and after wearing them nearly a week now I do have a more positive opinion than the one of the first few days!

I would recommend to at least try them out.   After wearing Freeds for all of my dancing life, I was pretty sceptical about trying something different...... The first few classes, they felt like foreign objects, I wore them for barre and then chickened out and wore my trusty Freeds for centre and the rest of the days rehearsals.   But today (Monday of all days!) I bit the bullet and forced myself to at least attempt to jump and turn in them and result, I was pleasantly surprised and I think with wearing them for the rest of this week I'll be sold!

No weekend for us this week, we are busy rehearsing '2nd Symphony' and will work a seven day week. As tough as it sounds, I feel it will only benefit me.... after a very long 'summer' holiday I need as much work as I can get!

Plus, I'm so happy that the rest of our things have arrived safe and well from Portugal!  Still have boxes to open, but I was so happy to have more clothes and more of my beloved dance attire!!!!

Love Charlie

xxx

A Place I Heart...

It's funny how you can hardly know a city, be a total stranger, yet find a place that can feel like your own haven.  I probably wouldn't have discovered the race course had it not been for my 2 year old, who spotted the horses peering at her through the high fences.  The moment we stepped through the gate to be greeted by them all happily in their own little fields, we were both transfixed....

It must be in the genes!  People often ask me if my Mum danced.... after all I suppose people presume that with me dancing my whole life, I must have taken it from my Mum.  But, no, she didn't..... she loved riding and it's actually something I have never done but would love to.  Maybe now that I've found this place I'll get the chance :)

I'm so happy that yesterday the rest of our belongings finally arrived. After their very long adventure, being driven all the way from Lisbon via England to Tallinn they are here!  It feels like a thousand birthdays all at once, as even though it was only wrapped and packed a few weeks ago, I've already forgotten what's hidden amongst the tissue paper and bubble wrap and so will enjoy the rest of my Sunday unwrapping my treasures!!!!!

Happy Sunday

Love Charlie

xxx

Busy Brain!

My brain and body is swimming with 3 ballets at the moment!  It's such a good feeling to be busy with something that I love to do and each night I fall asleep as soon as my head touches my pillow!  

Thus why, I already feel ready for bed and will save you all from my tired ramlings!!!!

Sweet Dreams!

  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Love Charlie

xxx

Sew & Go...

My whole dance life I have teetered around on 'Freed' pointe shoes......   Tomorrow though (after X amount of years pirouetting around on my good old Freeds) will be a different day and I've decided to take the plunge and try out the ever growing popular Gaynor Minden.

Over the years of learning how to make my shoes work for me..... filling them with a special liquid to make them harder, darning the ends, slicing the soles (inside and out) and snapping the backs before I even slipped them on my feet...... apparently tonight I sew ribbons on and that's it, I'm all set to go..... 'Sew and Go!?'   Tomorrow morning's class will be an interesting one......

Gaynor Minden on the left

Freed on the right

On paper they seem the dream shoe!  As well as zero hassle of preparing them before you even wear them, they supposedly last 3 - 6 times longer than the average pointe shoe, they never soften and the flexibility and support that you feel in the new shoe, will last the shoe's lifetime.

Taken from the official Gaynor Minden website.

I seem to be in good company, with star of the Royal Ballet ALINA COJOCARU, whom has worn them for years.

So, good luck to me!!!!

Love Charlie

xxx

Opera Loving

I'm all installed in my new dressing room in the Opera house, which is known to us all as 'my second home'!  Days are busy (thus my lack of CharlieHearts at the moment), my brain is full of 'Manon' and 'Three Musketeers!  We are also house hunting........ We havn't yet found somewhere to fall in love with and day by day my patience is wearing!!!!  I know when I find the right place I'll know it's for me, it's just frustrating to not walk in to somewhere and think, yes this is the one!!!

So as I fill my brain with a million more pieces of choreography each day,  I fall asleep at night with dreams full of dance and houses!  I havn't even managed to get in to one shop yet...... I must be busy!!!!!

My new favourite chocolate - 'Kalev'

Love Charlie xxx

A New Chapter...

As you'll have noticed I've been notably absent from CharlieHearts the last few days....

I was in the midst of beginning a new chapter of my my life and was totally caught up in the madness of moving countries!   But finally I am here, in a new ballet company, a new city and a new country.  I will miss Portugal tremendously.... but life moves on and I'm eager to start this next step.

I will now be working in a beautiful opera house, with amazing facilities and great settings.... I'm excited to begin the next stage of my career and looking forward to sharing it with you all!

Tuesday was the grand opening of new dressing rooms in the Opera House.

The photo below (taken from yesterdays newspaper) captured the moment I met my new general director Aivar Mäe

Photo credit to postimees.ee

Autor - Peeter Langovits

I'm back in my CharlieHearts world now!!!

Love Charlie

A rainy start to August...

"There is pain and sacrifice in everyone's world. That's why, when I was dancing, I had no pain." Suzanne Farrell

Soon a new season and a new chapter of my life will begin.....

With so much organising to do, one of yesterday's jobs was to prepare my shoes.  

They may be brand new, but one of the first things I ever do with them is make them harder!!  As we speak they are lining my garden to dry and then today will be the next steps to my shoes being ready for work!!!

I must have brought the English weather back to Portugal.  In all the five years I've lived here, I'm sure I've never known a rainy August day......  The heavens opened yesterday and it threw it down. Grim :(

Hoping for the sun back soon!!!!

Love Charlie xxx

PS.... A huge thank you to all who took part in the giveaway, the winner will be emailed shortly :)