Not enough ballet on TV

[filteredgrime]

Why is ballet seemingly only on tv at Christmas? Why not all year around?

Lots of other sports are on - and take up lots of the telly schedule. TV mostly seems centered around football, cricket, golf, rugby, reality TV and the news.

Isn’t there room for more beautiful exciting or gentle and meditative ballets? Like other sports it’s all wonderful escapism.

If there was a ballet World Cup / national or international dance event then maybe it would get more traction!

Is it just me who wants more ballet - or would others like to see more ballets too?

Probably just you, I don't watch much sport either.

Ate you saying ballet is a sport?

It’s not on tv because nobody wants to watch it. If they did it would be on.

I suppose it must not be too popular. If it was they’d play it more. Simple as that really.

DD always asks me to record them for her so she can watch them all over the year! She doesn’t care that she’s watching the nutcracker in June. She has been to see ballet live with mil but unfortunately it’s really not that accessible compared to other types of shows. I guess there’s also the thing of YouTube. My dd can go on the iPad now and type in almost any ballet and find full performances of it. So maybe a lot of people access it that way.

I really like the ballet, but perhaps there's a worry that people won't go to them live if they've already seen a version? Sports matches don't have a story in the same way.

I think Sky Arts sometimes shows them.

Ballet is an art not a sport.

It’s not on tv because nobody wants to watch it. If they did it would be on.

^This. I just don't think it's something that many people want to watch tbh.

@vodkaredbullgirl exactly what I was going to say.

Also made a deal with my BF at the weekend; I went to watch local rugby with him if he would come and see a ballet with me. He was surprisingly up for it!

YANBU. I would love that. DS is the only boy in his class and I take every possible opportunity to show him "boy ballet dancers". It's something he loves to see, but being a little under 5, he's too young for a formal evening event.

There is a National Theatre channel that may show more and there is a lot on YouTube.

Personally, i find ballet loses its magic when not seen live.

Ballet isn't as good on TV as it is in real life.

That said, have a look at Marquee TV:
welcome.marquee.tv/

Sky Arts? (freeview)

I think the reason is sexism.

Ballet has appeals to a largely female group. My DS took ballet classes and was the only male in the dance school of 220 dancers.

People who have done ballet classes are possibly more likely to want to watch it on TV.

TV programmers used to think women's football wasn't worthy of watching because 'no one is interested in it'.

I love ballet and would love to see more on TV.

being a little under 5, he's too young for a formal evening event

It depends on his attention span. We started taking my niece when she was around 4. Also some ballet companies do special children's versions (shorter, familiar stories, etc).

Are you pulling our legs, @filteredgrime ? You know perfectly well ballet isn’t a sport.

I guess ballet is available to view on screen if you know where to look. I’d be happy to see more on TV.

Have you seen The Snowman ballet at the Peackcock theatre inondon. The lead(s) are young boy ballet dancers (about 10-12years old).

I would definitely recommend the English National Balket 'My First Ballet' series which tours in the Spring. They have a narrator on stage explaining the story and are shorter than the full ballets but still have a large cast and the key dances/music.

It's a bit niche. Also I don't think it's the same on tv as a stage show. My local cinema does put on the odd performance of an opera show or ballet and the big screen makes it feel like a show.

@starlight36 Is this still running? I was looking for a 'my first ballet' to take mine to as I had taken my eldest years ago but I couldn't find a show?

@PuttingDownRoots what age do you think the snowman ballet is suitable for?

I dont think its sexism ,there just isnt the same support or interest in ballet.as there.is ,Football ,Rugby ,Tennis etc.

It doesn't translate to tv very well. There is ballet on CBeebies, they enact stories like the Three Little Pigs, and while I admire the intent, it's like watching paint dry.

On TV BBC Four have shown a few so they may still be lurking on iPlayer. Agree it does tend to be a seasonal 'Christmas' thing but then I think there are a lot of people who go to see The Nutcracker as a Christmas event.
Sky Arts do show quite a few but at random times so I often record them.

Royal opera house have just started a streaming system where you subscribe (currently an intro offer of £1/month) and can stream operas and ballets. Might be worth a look.

I love watching ballet, but I don’t think I’d enjoy it on screen. It’s best seen in real life @filteredgrime in my opinion.
I love live theatre too, but having seen some on YouTube during lockdown, it loses far too much once it’s on a screen.
I love opera, that’s not regularly on tv either. I just think some things are better seen in person op.