Go to a Ballet Performance
Going to a ballet performance is a wonderful thing to do. However, you don't want to find yourself in an unprecedented situation or not know anything about the ballet you're going to see. This wikiHow will provide some tips and pointers on how to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Contents
Steps
- Find a ballet you want to go see. The easiest way to do this, thanks to the wonders of the Internet, is to use Google. Usually, typing "ballet <your area>" will bring up a good enough selection. However, if you know of any theatres in your area that often run ballet performances, that may well be a better starting point.
- Pick a ballet you want to see. If you have taken the website route, you can usually read a short outline of the ballet on there. It should give you some idea of what it is all about (and, most importantly, whether or not you want to see it)
- Buy your tickets. Usually, you will have to buy your tickets quite some way in advance so make sure you write down the time and date of the performance so you won't forget.
- Choose an appropriate outfit to wear. Although you don't have to dress up extremely formal (like a black-tie event), wear a nice dress, or a dress shirt and slacks. To dress nicely is to show respect for the performers and fellow audience members. Do not wear jeans and tennis shoes, or a frumpy t-shirt.
- Make sure you arrive at the theatre on time. It's rude to the dancers and to the rest of the audience to turn up late. Furthermore, some theatres may not let you in until the first intermission if you turn up after the ballet has begun.
- If you are wearing a thick coat or carrying a large bag, consider checking it in at the cloakroom. The cloakroom is usually visible when you enter the theatre.
- Just like you would do at the cinema, turn off your mobile phone. Also, do not use flash photography, as this will be a disturbance for the audience members, and dangerous to the performers.
Tips
- To turn a trip to a ballet performance into an excellent evening out, book a restaurant for a late supper for after the show has finished.
- If you are going to a little girl's upcoming ballet recital, try making it seem like you're going to a professional ballet-she will love you for it!
- If stuck for choices on which ballet to see, some agreed top ballets are The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and La Sylphide. Other more uncommon yet equally enjoyable ballets are Le Corsaire, La bayadere, Jewels, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardee, La Esmeralda, Raymonda, Paquita, Coppelia, The Pharaoh's Daughter, The Awakening of Flora and Cinderella.
- It is a good idea to read the synopsis of the ballet you are going to before it begins. This can usually be found in the program or quite easily online if you care to read it before going to the theatre.
Warnings
- Avoiding having too much to drink before going to see a ballet. The toilets at ballet performances are well-known for having massive queues, especially for ladies.
