Which ballet should I go to?

[ChoseCake]

Never been before! Can choose between The Nutcracker, Swan Lake or Giselle. Won't be until January so maybe not The Nutcracker (it is a Christmassy one right?)

Saw The Nutcracker last Christmas, it was my first ballet and it was amazing.

Those dancers are like floating, delicate, athletes. Stunning.

We are seeing The Nutcracker at the ROH this coming Saturday and I am so excited. It’s going to be a real treat. We saw it performed by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia a couple of years back, and to be honest, the whole thing was a bit ropey. My DDIL saw the live screening from the ROH of The Nutcracker last week and said it was fantastic. There are so many times I’ve heard music from The Nutcracker in adverts etc, so easily recognisable, it really is wonderful.

I was disappointed by the standard of dancing with the Russian State Ballet. Just didn’t cut it really. Hope you have a better experience.

If it's the Russian State Ballet of Siberia, don't bother, wait till you can get tickets for a proper company. I went to their version of The Nutcracker a few years ago and it was terrible, Clara was played by an eight year old, the corps were all out of time with each other, and the costumes looked like they'd been sourced from the local pre-school's jumble sale.

Ballet at its best is amazing. I've just seen Scottish Ballet's Cinderella and it was utterly magical. Don't put yourself off the ballet by seeing something substandard.

I saw Nutcracker at RAH last year and I was transported. Not just by the ballet, but by the building too. Utterly magical.

I would go to all three!

I've sen the Nutcracker done by the Russian State Ballet. It wasn't very good in comparison with the Scottish Ballet version. The best Sean Lake I saw was the Matthew Bournemouth one at Sadlers Wells with the all male dancers. Blew me away.

I saw The Bolshoi version of Swan Lake, it was the experience of a lifetime and it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

If you want to be entertained, then see The Nutcracker, if you want to cry, see a classical Swan Lake, if you want to be blown away see anything by Matthew Bourne.

I have just noticed i have been autocorrected from Bourne to Bournemouth!

Oh god and Sean Lake. Sean Lake? Who is he?

Note to self - never post and walk the dog at the same time!

London Festival Ballet. Now English National Ballet. Many many moons ago 😊. I’m now pushing 60 and my bones have had it!

akitas2 I saw the live screening of ROH version of The Nutcracker the other week. It was amazing. I had never seen a ballet before. I am sure you will love it

My first ballet was the Mariinsky version of Swan Lake at ROH last year. I'm hoping to go see another ballet at some point, but would happily go watch Swan Lake again and again.

Hi ineedaholidaynow, I really am so excited. Glad you enjoyed it too 😁

Nutcracker if you're bringing children, otherwise Giselle. I have never seen a Giselle I didn't enjoy, though it is a tragedy.

I guess Swan Lake is ideal for a beginner but I also think La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia and La Bayadere work well for first timers.

Mhw02. Pleased to hear you enjoyed Scottish Ballet's Cinderella. Just booked tickets for my daughter and I today. Scottish Ballet are responsible for both an incredibly disappointing experience (Swan Lake) and a totally magical one (Handel and Gretel). Also booked tickets for Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. Very excited!
OP We are great fans of The Nutcracker. Can't go wrong really. We saw the live feed from ROH last week and it was incredible. Very much worth going if there's a screening near you.