AIBU to take 3 year old to swan lake.

[Lonelymummyof1]

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 ?

Given the circumstances, it'll be a better idea for everyone for DD to meet the performers either during a dress rehearsal or by stagedooring it after a public performance.

I suggest you get in touch with the company's PR, Anna Kasatkina, at [email protected], explain DD's health and her dream to meet the performers. She may be able to set something up for you.

As has been said, if your DD can't sit through a 3-hour film, taking her to a 3-hour ballet is madness. But you should still be able to find a way for her to meet the performers in their costumes and for DD to have a lovely experience.

Get an aisle seat so your dc can dance along though in case it's too long to sit the entire time

You clearly have never seen been at ROH. No way would that be tolerated.

Innagazing brilliamt thankyou.
There is one in sunderland quite along way to go but sure I could make it work :)

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter being so poorly and this being something you have to look into. I'm fairly local to Sunderland if there's anything I can do location wise please let me know.

The north-east is actually amazing when it comes to pulling stuff together charity wise (I'm not saying other areas are not I just don't hear about them as much) there's a little boy with a life limiting illness (Bradley Lowery if anyone is interested in the charity stuff) and it's brilliant what the local community especially Sunderland FC have managed to make happen for him.

I wouldn't, I find ROH patrons a snotty lot. Had one turning round and tutting throughout The Tales of Beatrix Potter when she thought it was just my Mum (a shy little old lady) and my daughter, accusing my daughter of kicking her chair (actually it was all three of us knocking her chair every time we moved as we were in the cheap seats and rammed in like cattle). When I interjected and told her this was a bloke in a duck costume prancing about like a tit (Jemima Puddleduck - you could just see his legs) and not high art, she packed it in. She was with a group of adults at a child's ballet, I can't imagine how feckin' uppity an audience at an adult ballet would get if a small child was present. I wouldn't risk it. Might sully the whole thing for your daughter if someone's nasty to her.

It might also be worth contacting the trust that sets up UK performances. From a little googling, it appears that members have the opportunity to sit in on rehearsals so could maybe arrange something for you.

www.mariinskytrust.org.uk/contact-us/

I took DD at 5yo to a triple bill (ie lots of intervals) and it was just about manageable with lots and lots of M&Ms, but it was a bit stressful and she was probably a little young.

But given your particular circumstances, I would see if the RB do let her come to a rehearsal or similar, and also look for a children's performance somewhere nearby

York barbican have swan lake coming up shortly. Not sure which company though. Hope you find something OP.

No. She is going to want to dance. It isn't that environment and will ruin it for people who have paid a considerable amount for quiet, immersive enjoyment of a performance. I would be really cross and would complain if your three year old was dancing in the aisle. Very selfish.

Trifle it's a Make A Wish thing they do for ill children.

It's in further down the thread why I think it's getting missed OP if you could ask MN to alter your title or first post you might get a few more ideas put forward.

You also risking giving DD the impression that a whole live experience is not as good as a dvd because she might get bored and not be able to watch the whole thing - save it for a special birthday treat she will remember forever.

I would go to a matinee and join after the interval

Get an aisle seat so your dc can dance along though in case it's too long to sit the entire time

This is akin to saying get tickets for a premier league football match on the very front row so if you 3 yo gets bored, he / she can pop on to the edge of the pitch and run off a bit of steam. Utterly, completely bonkers and impractical.

I read most of it but I didn't know what 'make a wish' was. I don't see the need for the rude comments. As other posters have said, perhaps a special trip can be organised. I wouldn't be happy if I had paid hundreds to see the ballet and there was a dancing three year old. If it was then explained to me that she was sick, she could obviously dance on my chair, so please give up with the 'FFS'. This is a drip feed.

YABVU Do not even think of taking her, she is much too young. Likewise, a dress rehearsal would not be an option. People who attend the rehearsals are predominantly Friends of ROH or guests with a serious interests in the arts. They do not want the performance ruined. It is bad enough that some adults attending productions do not understand how to behave: not speak, not eat, only drink water if they think they could cough, don't put the programme on the ledge, switch phone off, book an appropriate seat (ie. if they are overweight don't book a narrow seat in the amp). Do not take her. Either she will not be allowed in or she will ruin the performance for others and be asked to leave. ROH does have family days - take her to one of them when she is the appropriate age.

I took mine to the nutcracker at 3.5.
She loved it but fell asleep for the last 15 minutes.
You need to get seats in the stalls when they at so little so they can see ok.
I go to the theatre regularly but she doesn't wriggle and we always get end of row seats.

NavyandWhite

No. I didn't read she was ill. What is wrong with you?

No, I did not read she had a life limiting condition. Then perhaps they will let her attend a rehearsal with the Royal Ballet. I don't think there would be that opportunity with a visiting company. The family days look a lot of fun so look at them.

NavyandWhite

Why? Once I understood the circumstances I said the little girl could dance on my chair. Where is the insensitivity?

Lonely mummy - which company are you using to fulfill your wish? Speak to them directly about exactly what your dd wants and they should be able to come up with something. It may be watching a rehearsal/ having your own box/ a different company elsewhere.

Part of their role is to do all the liaising between the family and companies they're using to make it an amazing, stress free day.

As part of my job I've worked with several similar charities and they've always gone above and beyond to make the day work for the family.

I think attending a dress rehearsal sounds like a great idea, OP, especially if you could take your dd to meet the dancers afterwards. It's worth asking, at least!

Too long for her to sit through, I'd say. Took Ds1 to his first Disney on Ice when he was 3, which featured Toy Story, Cars, Little Mermaid and Tinkerbell - he was fidgety after the first half and difficult to keep control of through the second. When he was 4, we took him to the live How To Train Your Dragon show (Like walking with dinosaurs) - he fidgeted through the second half of that too, despite being besotted with the film and dragons.

Give her another year and try her on shorter things first, maybe?