I've never watched ballet before, I always assumed I wouldn't understand it

[Hisnutsroastingonanopenfire]

But Swan Lake on BBC2 right now is really enjoyable. I'm pleasantly surprised! Even my young sons have put the consoles down and are watching with me. Can I call us middle class now? 😆

Try the Nutcracker next!

Ballet Rambert is always good for those not into classical ballet.

Years ago they did a wonderful performance based on the Rolling Stones best known songs.

Go to the Royal Opera house and watch one! We did - very very working class - bets day out ever! We did an OPERA this year :)

It’s beautiful isn’t it!

I go regularly and still don’t have a clue - DD loves it though and is often moved by the story that I can’t even decipher.

Now opera I love absolutely love. I can speak Italian though which really helps in most of them.

There are often cinema showings of live performances, it's a really good way to be able to see it. Not as good as live, but much more affordable.

Never occurred to me that you're meant to understand ballet or the opera.

I love watching the ballet.
The Nutcracker is a real Xmas treat

Watching the Nutcracker now - love it.

Just tuned into Nutcracker, lovely to see the children dancing. Recording Swan Lake.

My daughter is a ballet dancer (not professional standards!) and we went to see The Nutcracker a couple of weeks ago. It was beautiful and the dancers are out of this world but I didn’t enjoy watching it and I didn’t get the story I could only follow as I knew what the story was beforehand.

What do you mean by understand?

We pay more for the cinema tickets for total ballet and opera and the ROH than we do for actual tickets there!

DD (aged 16) is training full time in classical ballet in London.

Don't be nervous of watching ballet and opera. But it's addictive 😆 DD has watched Cinderella at the royal opera house three times so far.

That might be the case if you live nearby. But add a train ticket and a hotel room and it doesn't work out that way.

Birmingham Royal Ballet is more affordable to watch live. Carlos Acosta has also started a junior ballet company which tours.

Carlos Acosta is my absolute hero. Genuine decent bloke as well as all the professional accolades.

Love love love going to the ballet. I take DD1 every winter. It's Nutcracker this year next month. Can't wait!

@Username12284949 I wouldn't worry as The Nutcracker famously has a bonkers story that can be interpreted very differently by different productions. I don't think the hot air balloon I saw at ENB was exactly crucial to the plot [grin}

What it should have is a lot of fun and be a good Christmas show.

Look up the synopsis (story) before you go to ballet, opera or musicals. You’ll get so much more out of it if you know the story they are portraying.

We see the Birmingham Royal Ballet - my DD is a big fan.

https://thedancebuzz.com/2013/02/01/ballet-mime/
Explains some of the more common "language" of ballet gestures, plus links to other more detailed sites.

Really enjoying ballet afternoon on TV! Such a treat.
Saving The Nutcracker until tomorrow, as there's Dr Who, Wallace and Grommet and Call the Midwife to watch later.

My Aunt used to housekeep for Nureyev- I saw him as a child- what a LEAPER! phenomenal.
Ballet in person is wonderful.