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 ?

OP how about going through Make A Wish then making a cash donation with gift aid in your daughters name? Best of both

Exactly, MAW foundation is providing opportunities for sick children, like your dd, regardless of their income. They might be able to pull a few strings so that your daughter can enjoy the ballet despite her needs.

Lonely - other posters have a good point, utilise the service that Make A Wish provides because they can get better access to things that you can't. You can always pay it back in a substantial donation, or at least one that covers the cost of the wish, later! But they will be able to do things that you just can't, so please use them. x

I think, OP, revealing that your dd is unwell is very relevant, because if the question had merely been about taking a 3-year-old to Swan Lake then there would have been howls of YABU and you would have got a pasting. When it is known that there is a particular reason behind the request then posters were trying to be helpful and offer up some solutions and suggestions.

Op wanted to know about the practicalities of a 3 yo at the ballet. Sometimes you just want to ask a question without all their usual medical stuff being the first thing out of their mouth

Momma that is information that is very important in the op. To miss that out is very big and does not give the full picture. Usually you would not take a 3 year old to a ballet like that at that time, but because of her health problems, there are charities that could help.

I took ballet-obsessed dd1 to a matinee at the ROH just before she was 3. We got the cheapest bench seats (right up in the gods) and the end of a row, and she sat on my knee entranced through the whole thing. If you think she'd sit still and be quiet, that could be an option - you can choose which seats online and its actually cheaper than a cinema ticket at our local cinema.

I did make it clear that any tiny noise / wriggle and we'd be out of there and not coming back. Which I was completely prepared to do - given how cheap the seats were - and she knew it!

I'd try the box option before the bench seats (atop Everest). When they say bench, they mean bench. You're crammed in like sardines, no armrests, no leg room (I'm not overly tall but had my knees up under my chin to avoid knocking the bench in front and got terrible pins and needles).

Restricted view boxes may be available, but note you'll need to buy all the seats in the box otherwise you're back to square-one disturbance and snotty patrons-wise.

Really hope you can make this work lonelymum. Fingers crossed for you.

Hi OP, I "know" you :) I hope your little ballerina, who sleeps clutching her ballet shoes, gets something sorted, to make her dream comes true.

Haha sestraclone who are you !!

I have ordered tickets for the matinee at 2pm at the ROH and will hope for the best.
Thankyou everyone.

Did you ask the ROH about the min. age limit, OP? And whereabouts are your seats?

ROH website says 5 is the minimum age. You might not get in with your tickets...

Another vote for the English Youth Ballet performance. I took my five year old son, as his big sister was performing as a cygnet, and there were lots of little siblings in the audience. The ballet is slightly shorter, about 2.5 hours, and really inspiring for children as it seems closer to their reality. Their performances are very professional. Hope you find something that works for you and your DD xx

If it's one of the 'My First Ballet' shows for children then I don't see a problem. Otherwise I'd say 3 is too young. The ballet is very long and people don't want any disruptions.

Op thats wonderful however they wont let her in unless you are sure she is allowed.

I only say this because I asked about other concerts etc there eg christmas sing along and they can be quite strict on age, it would be so awful to get her there to be turned away.

Please double check and in your situation I would also directly contact the ballet company, and explain the situation and her love of ballet, hopefully they will show her around etc...AND if there are issues with performance maybe they can get her special seat....or box. Good luck op, what a lovely obsession to have

OP, I'd recommend you buy this...

www.roh.org.uk/products/ballet-for-children-dvd-set-the-royal-ballet

Bought for my just turned 4 year old. Wonderful!

Scottish Ballet do what they call "relaxed performances" which are aimed at any one with a disability which would prevent them coping with strict concert etiquette .Their next one will be in Nutcracker in December.

lonely I hope you both have a ball

My DTDs (5) are obsessed with Swan Lake too. We watch the Royal Ballet DVD every day. EVERY DAY. And dance along like you do too. Except I have to alternate between being the Baron and the Prince and lift them BOTH and obviously I always get it wrong so get told off something rotten...

In the interval at Covent Garden go up to the top roof terrace and she'll be able to peek through the windows into the costume department and see all the tutus. Just magical.

What a wonderful Mum you are.

Blowingthroughthejasmine I'm worried too about the OP getting there and being turned away. Plus the company performing is the Mariinsky so not much point contacting them. Better to liaise directly with the ROH.

Hope it all works out OP. I've met music-obsessed children who could have been taken to anything at the age of 3 and been entranced, so agree that it is possible. But yes, most would struggle. Sounds like your little one will be pretty well prepared for it especially with some of the advice you've had here about the practicalities.

I remember being terribly embarrassed and annoyed when I took my daughter to a formal carol service age just 4, and she wouldn't stop talking - I really had thought she was up for it, and probably waited too long to take her out. The following year she had to sit silent through an Evensong service first as a condition of attending the carol service ...

We then had to deal with the fallout of a child who wanted to sing in a choir lol! I hope your daughter is one day able to realise her dancing dreams in some really meaningful way.

OP, if your daughter isn't a three year old who could easily pass for five and I know friends whose small, young-looking seven year old goes to the ROH with them still always bring his passport as proof of age then you will be turned away , which would be terribly disappointing for your DD. Their 'no under fives' policy is quite clear. Talk to someone. Don't just show up with your fingers crossed.

I just noticed there's a schools matinee of Swan Lake on June 6th. It seems likely to be oversubscribed, and to need you to be booking for a KS2 school group, but it might be worth asking the question?

www.roh.org.uk/learning/schools-and-colleges/schools-matinees/swan-lake-schools-matinee

Oh, and bear in mind that if you have to take her out of the auditorium a loo break or for any reason, you won't be allowed back in till the next interval, which is potentially an hour and a half or so.

I have a confession to make, and hope I don't get too roasted for it. I was on this thread last night and I took it upon myself to contact the ROH explaining the situation and that it was on mumsnet.
I got a very nice reply this morning., which said!-

Dear xxxx,

Thank you for your e-mail concerning your noting of a posting on Mumsnet.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to help at this time for a number of reasons.

Currently, the Royal Opera House is undergoing a major redevelopment, the Open Up project and therefore we are currently not in a position to donate complimentary tickets or prizes for charity events.

Secondly, we do have a policy of no under 5's allowed in our auditorium.

Having said all that, what I can recommend is the English National Ballet have a wonderful production of Cinderella, entitled My First Ballet - Cinderella, performing at a number of venues around the UK this summer. I have attached the link for your benefit.

www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/

I am sorry to not be able to help on this occasion, but wish you the very best of luck with indirectly assisting this young girl.

Best regards,

Graham Boland
Visitor Experience.

Hi OP.....apologies I haven't read the full thread so forgive me if this has already been raised. The ROH run family days on the weekend and allow you to go behind the scenes and join in with dance workshops etc run by the dancers. Would this be a reasonable alternative ? My DD loves ballerinas and was enchanted to see some senior students from a local theatre school so I imagine she'd be beside herself to meet the real deal. I imagine if you contacted the ROH and explained your position they may be able to make a little fuss of your DD or arrange something special.