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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take 3 year old to swan lake.

261 replies

Lonelymummyof1 · 07/05/2017 23:42

Swan lake it showing in july and daughter is obsessed with it !
It does not have a age requirement listed but is 3 too young ?

OP posts:
dodobookends · 08/05/2017 00:12

OP - do you mean the Royal Opera House, rather than the Royal Albert Hall?

MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:12

Def look at a box...

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:13

Yes dodobookends probably sorry not had much sleep !

OP posts:
MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:14

ROH says no under 5's.

RAH says no under 3's and possible age restrictions on other performances

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:15

Wait now I am lost will check which I meant

OP posts:
MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:15

""May I bring children?
Children aged 5–14 are very welcome. They must have their own ticket and be seated next to an accompanying adult. Unfortunately, children aged 0–4 cannot be admitted into the auditoriums, unless specifically advertised. Please check the website or ring the Box Office to make sure.""

Teabagtits · 08/05/2017 00:16

No it's not to young. My mum took me at age three and I was in awe. Get an aisle seat so your dc can dance along though in case it's too long to sit the entire time.

Chavelita · 08/05/2017 00:16

I took my then three year old to a very good touring child-aimed Swan Lake by a company whose name escapes me. Young dancers getting some experience, and it had a narrator, and only lasted an hour -- left out the longeurs of the court scenes, but had all the good stuff, the little swans, Von Rothbart, Odile etc. He was mesmerised, but I think a full-length night-time SL would tax even the best-behaved, ballet-obsessed three year old.

Festivecheer26 · 08/05/2017 00:16

Will it be the same production as the DVD she watches and does sh know/understand the story? I love ballet, took classes for nearly 25 years and sometimes still struggle to keep focus throughout a full length production and concentrate on the mime and character parts. There will be slow and quiet bits. IME you don't see many little ones at ballets, esp at evening performances - if you are seated behind adults she might not get a great view of the stage (though have only been to the royal albert hall once and can't really remember what the seating is like).

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:16

Royal opera house.

OP posts:
Chavelita · 08/05/2017 00:17

Teabag, no one attending a standard night performance of a ballet is going to put up with a three year old dancing in the aisle!

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:18

Ahhh dam mommagee ....well thats the dream out the window.
Now to think of a way I can some how make her dream come true !

OP posts:
Chavelita · 08/05/2017 00:18

No, the ROH is very formal and will not allow young children.

MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:19

Sorry mummyof1 but better to know now x

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:21

Her ballet teacher who has been exceptionally kind did email the royal ballet who said she maybe able to attend rehearsals and then get on stage but have not heard anything else back.
Will just hope that works out then she will probably be so thrilled she will forget about the other one !

OP posts:
Festivecheer26 · 08/05/2017 00:21

Have just seen ROH update and agree with pp, it's extremely formal

Solasum · 08/05/2017 00:21

ROH won't let her in in the evening. Maybe you could contact them and ask if she could watch a rehearsal?

I took my just 3yo to the My First Ballet Cinderella a few weeks ago. He watched it very happily, but did talk, rather more than ideal.

NuffSaidSam · 08/05/2017 00:23

There are lots of touring groups that do Swan Lake in much smaller, local theatres, where tickets are much cheaper and everything is more relaxed. Maybe you could try that?

We saw the Moscow State Ballet or something along those lines doing Swan Lake at our local theatre a few years back, tickets were about £15 and it was much more relaxed than it would be at ROH or RAH. I think they were the students from the Moscow State Ballet, which is why it was so cheap, but they were still bloody amazing and I'm sure good enough to impress a 3 year old!

MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:23

Op could you go through the official Make A Wish Foundation? They have more sway. I'd she got to meet the swans back stage etc

MommaGee · 08/05/2017 00:24

Where about are you OP?

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 08/05/2017 00:24

Much too young!!

I took Dd2 when she was 5 or 6 and Dd1 who is two years older. Dd2 doing ballet since she was three, I thought she would love it, because she loved her ballet.

Dd1 was great but Dd2 was bored after 30 mins. She sat on the floor in front of her seat and looked at the program.
She didn't interrupt anybody else, but I paid a small fortune for her ticket!!!

Wait until she is older.

Original poster
Lonelymummyof1 · 08/05/2017 00:24

We offered my first ballet cinderella, she was not at all interested.

She also wants her teacher to go on britisns got talent next year woth her after she masters the routine she saw on saturday night !

Thankyou guys will have a look at other options.

OP posts:
indigop · 08/05/2017 00:24

Without being nosey what did you mean by her "make wish /" the RoH may be able to advise ? if you explain the situation there may also be a dress rehearsal you could attend .

MrsJamesMathews · 08/05/2017 00:24

I took my precocious 4 yo to watch swan lake and although she was very quiet and well behaved she was very bored within the first 5 mins of the second half and we went home. That was a local theatre though so much more relaxed than the ROH.

The 'My First...' ballets are awesome. We went to see Sleeping Beauty and my 3 yo DS was mesmerised. The fact they have a narrater makes a big difference.

Anyway, back to your DD, I wonder if you could find a ballet themed party entertainer to dress up as a swan ballerina and do some dancing along with your DD? Maybe call your local dance school and see if one of their older students would be willing to do it?

MrsJamesMathews · 08/05/2017 00:25

Dress rehearsal is a great idea! Or watch a class. Might get a tour too.

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