While I love exploring the vast offering of art in NYC – visiting museums, attending concerts, and going to the theater – I’ve always had a serious soft spot for the ballet in particular.
I’ve always appreciated the timelessness and iconicity of the rich art form, and I’ve always found the performances to be peaceful, captivating, and magical all at once. It just amazes me how feeling and emotion can be expressed through dance in ways not possible through words!
I know I may be biased but ballet is far from a dusty pastime of the rich and elderly. Revitalized in the 21st century, the ever-evolving art form is more alive today than ever before. Professional ballet companies around the world are embracing the art form’s transformation through the evolution of choreography, music, set design, costume design, and more.
While ballet companies continue to honor the iconic ballet style that has been in classical repertoire since the 15th and 16th centuries, recent decades have inspired a new wave of transformations. Today’s choreographers, musicians, and designers are inspired to build off the iconic style with a myriad of work that explores emotion and movement in an unprecedented way.
While people in their 20s and 30s are often minorities in the typical ballet audience, the dancers on stage are almost entirely young adults in prime physical condition. Ballet dancers train from a very young age and often begin their professional careers as young as 18. It’s so impressive to watch the young athletes on stage display feats of incredible athleticism and meticulous technique achieved through years of discipline.
My favorite part of the ballet: Showtime.
The theater fills, the lights dim and hundreds of eager eyes gaze up at the stage. The set is designed to transport the audience away from life and into the magical world of the ballet. I love how ballet invites its audience to break away from the day-to-day chaos of their lives for a couple hours and completely immerse themselves in the performance. No matter where it is performed, ballet transcends language barriers and speaks to audiences in a way that all understand.
I am so fortunate to live in Manhattan, a place with such easy access to world-renowned ballet companies, like the New York City Ballet.
The New York City Ballet opened its 2019-2020 Season at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, September 17. The season features 54 ballets with choreography by 12 different choreographers. The performances take place over the course of 21 weeks through Sunday, May 31, 2020. The New York City Ballet has over 90 talented dancers and apprentices on its roster, in addition to the equally talented 62-piece New York City Ballet Orchestra that accompanies each performance. All performances take place at the stunning David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center located at West 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue.
For anyone new to the ballet – or simply desiring a refresher – the following tips will help you get the most out of your experience.
Choose the Right Ballet
With over 54 ballets offered throughout the season, it’s practically impossible to see them all. If you are attending the ballet for the first time, I suggest choosing a popular production, like Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The most entertaining classical ballets are the ones that tell stories or have narratives adapted from popular fairy tales. There are a couple ballets that are especially appropriate for children, such as “The Nutcracker” or “Cinderella,” if you are interested in treating a little ballet lover to a show.
Buy Tickets
Remember, planning your ballet experience is part of the fun – and it will get you excited! I recommend attending the ballet on the date of a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary. Tickets to the ballet will make your special day even more extraordinary.
Research the Music and Story
Ballet performers use body movements, not words, to convey a narrative. Because speaking is not part of the performance, it may be difficult to follow the storyline. I suggest taking some time to learn a bit about the ballet you’re planning to see beforehand. With a little background knowledge, you’ll be able to focus your attention on other performance elements, like the choreography, costume design, and set, instead of trying to decipher the narrative with your seat neighbor.
Read About the Dancers
I find it fascinating to learn about the dancers before I actually see the performance. I recommend doing a little research on the evening’s performers. Who knows, you may discover personal connections or relatable details. After all, the world is a small place!
Attire and Attending
Although the ballet does not enforce a specific dress code, most people try to dress up out of respect for the art. Some people prefer to dress in business attire while others prefer trendy, but casual, clothing. People generally avoid wearing formal attire. Nevertheless, if you attend the opening night of a performance, expect the atmosphere to be more formal than usual.
At the Ballet
As you wait for the curtain to open, flip through the program. The program provides a short plot summary with interesting biographies of the principal dancers. The program also includes interesting facts about the ballet company and its past performances.
Whether it’s your first or fiftieth ballet performance, the ballet never fails to impress and inspire its audience with its timeless and captivating beauty. Go check it out!
