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AIBU?

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Original poster

to take toddlers to the ballet

17 replies

Knownowt · 20/11/2009 14:11

My MIL has kindly offered to buy us tickets to the ballet version of the Snowman. The website states that it's suitable for children 2+.

My son's 4 but my daughter won't turn 2 for another three weeks. Would you take her? Has anyone seen it? Running time is 1h50m with a 20m interval. I don't want to ruin other people's experience if my daughter's less than perfectly behaved. On the other hand it's aimed at children so a certain level of fidgeting must be expected. WWYD?

Thanks

OP posts:
InMyLittleHead · 20/11/2009 14:14

I was going to go 'Nooooooooooooooooo! don't take kids to the ballet' but it is actually for kids, so I'm sure it's fine. Your daughter is near enough 2.

LostGirl · 20/11/2009 14:14

I would take her as long as you are willing to take her outside if she does get really disruptive. I have taken dd to several things like this and becuase it is produced with children in mind then you expect to be surrounded by children asking questions every 30 seconds etc. DD watched the ballet of the snowman on telly at 18mths and was absolutely transfixed, hope you all enjoy it

IrritatedMe · 20/11/2009 14:15

Take them both, but be fully prepared to leave if there is the tiniest weeniest squeak out of her that is inappropriate.

So I reckon the boy would have just about started to construct the snowman at that point...

Personally, I would leave her with someone else and let ds enjoy it.

pagwatch · 20/11/2009 14:16

you would be unreasonable if you were going to the ballet. But you are going to a childrens production so taking a child is of course OK.

Original poster
Knownowt · 20/11/2009 14:26

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
bumpsoon · 20/11/2009 15:16

I took my dd to see the modern ballet ,cant remember which one ,when she was six and she sat in stunned silence for the whole performance ,mind you so did i ,who had never been to the ballet before

Debs75 · 20/11/2009 15:37

Take her she will probably love it. My mum took me at 2 to see my cousin dancing on stage and had to hold me back as all I wanted to do was 'go and dance like the pretty girls' I started ballet lessons the next year and loved it.

Oh maybe not then it can be expensive.

Sod it just go and have fun, be prepared to take her out tho it could be a bit disorientating

RatherBeOnThePiste · 20/11/2009 15:43

Is this the one at Sadlers Wells ?

cory · 20/11/2009 15:50

Take her if you are going with another adult who can stay with your ds if you have to take dd out. The rest of the audience will not thank you for having their pleasure interrupted by wails of "but I wanted to stay". And it would hardly be fair on your ds either.

EvilTwins · 20/11/2009 15:56

Take her. Absolutely. I have taken my girls to numerous theatrical productions (they are 3.4 now) and they have always been transfixed. OK, everything we've been to has been aimed at children, but even so. Our next venture is "Beauty and the Beast" (the Disney version, on stage) and we are all v excited. When we went to see "The Gruffalo" a few months ago, a friend came with her DD1 (3.4) and her DD2 (1.4) We thought that DD2 would have to be taken out, but she was brilliant. There should be loads to keep you DD entranced, OP, so definitely take her! And enjoy.

Original poster
Knownowt · 20/11/2009 16:12

Ratherbeonthepiste, yes it is.

OP posts:
chocolaterabbit · 20/11/2009 16:45

Yes, take her. I took my DD last year when she was 18 months together with my nephew. I was fully prepared to take DD out but she was absolutely entranced and loved the whole thing. Will definitely go again this year.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/11/2009 08:46

I've been to this one!!!!!!!

It is absolutely beautiful and very much geared up for the younger audiences.

Because there is no speech involved it is very much easier for the little ones to follow the story. It is very visual, so it's perfect. It is also not at all long.

That particular theatre felt very small and friendly. It's not like you are attempting to take her to the Opera House.

If you are sitting in the stalls near the front, there is added excitement for them towards the end. We were warned of this so booked seats accordingly, but if you aren't sitting there it would be fun to see any way.

Go and enjoy, its geared up for the family

piscesmoon · 21/11/2009 08:52

I would - but have another adult with you to stay with 4 yr old, so that you can take her out if necessary.

Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 21/11/2009 09:08

The Snowman one has special childrens afternoon performances.

I would have no problem with this in the Snowman though as the tickets aren't too expensive - I would have been upset if I'd paid £95 for a ticket and had children running past me or bawling.

piscesmoon · 21/11/2009 09:15

You have to bear in mind that DCs that age may be frightened by the whole thing. I have known them refuse point blank to go in! I was once in the difficult position of taking a friend's DCs with mine. One of hers wouldn't sit down, he wanted to go home, and I had to phone her to collect him.(it wasn't me-I had taken him to lots of things). Another friend was going out and got tickets for her 3 yr old and her parents to go to something similar and they hated telling her afterwards that they were wasted-the DC wouldn't stay!

EvilTwins · 21/11/2009 17:38

Good point pisces - I organised a big family trip to our local panto last year - me, DH, our girls (2.5 at the time) plus my parents, my sis and bil and their DDs (3.3
and 5.6) My nieces HATED it - one refused to go into the auditorium and the other insisted on leaving the moment the overture started. My girls loved it though. I felt everso slightly smug

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