STRAND Mag's 101 Guide for Going to the Ballet

Grand theatres, champagne flutes, vintage opera glasses, and black ties are the image many people have of ballet productions. They can be extremely exclusive, but nowadays, the barriers lie mostly in complexity rather than cost. Admittedly, dance shows are not the most beginner-friendly: it’s hard to know what shows to see, it’s difficult to find performances (and tickets that aren’t ridiculously expensive), it’s impossible to know what to expect on show day, and it’s tough to understand what you’re looking at. So for the intrepid explorers looking to discover the world of ballet, let’s unpack these one by one. 

WHAT'S ON AT THE BALLET?

If you want to see a classical ballet, you’ll want to start with something that has a complex story, as these tend to be more engaging for beginners. The big classics like Sleeping Beauty and La Bayadère will have large sections called ‘divertissements’ that don’t add to the story, where either the corps de ballet or a few soloists will perform adagios (slow partnered dance), variations (solos), and codas (fast-paced jump and turn-based dance). These spotlight the technique and artistry of the soloists, but if you’ve never seen a ballet before, you might get bored by twenty minutes of the prince’s court in Swan Lake – not because it’s bad, but because you’re not used to watching dance. Anything based on a book or play, such as Manon, Onegin, Don Quixote, or Romeo and Juliet, is a good beginner ballet because they have stronger stories to follow. 

The company of Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

The term ‘ballet’, when it is used to refer to a show, encompasses many dance styles beyond classical dance. While classical ballet is beautiful, it might not be the best introduction to the field, nor what you’ll like the most. A format that I love for ballet newcomers is mixed bills, where a company presents multiple – usually, recently commissioned contemporary – works by the same or different choreographers. With each piece lasting between 10 and 30 minutes, this is a great introduction to contemporary dance because you can compare different styles and determine what you like. 

One thing to note about contemporary and modern dance is that the ballets do not always have a traditional story with fleshed-out characters and detailed sets. These pieces will instead aim to evoke certain feelings, communicate a specific message, or maybe stage a loose retelling of a classic story. It can be quite scary for newcomers to watch a whole show with no concrete story, which is why I recommend the mixed bill format.

WHERE CAN I GO?

London has so much to offer, and for students, price deals are in store for you. The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) is known for its high-quality performances, captivating principal dancers, and impressive productions – you’ll rarely be disappointed by one of their shows. The RBO has a great scheme for people under 25, which gives you access to some of the best seats in the house of selected performances for £30. It’s completely free to sign up, and you also get access to all of the RBO’s filmed archives. You do have to book in advance as these seats are particularly limited, but overall, this is a great opportunity to discover excellent dance performances at a decent price. 

Sadler’s Wells Theatre hosts visiting companies and occasionally produces original works whose selection is commendable. These are often smaller-scale shows than those of the Royal Ballet, which is a great way to see more innovative and recent works. Sadler’s Wells also has a free young spectator scheme for people under 30 called the Barclays Dance Pass (which does not require a Barclays account), giving you access to the best seats in the house for £10. You will not find a better deal out there for ballet tickets.  There are plenty of other shows happening in London, but these two theatres are an excellent starting point.

The Hofesh Shechter company at Sadler's Wells Theatre. Photo supplied by the production.

I'M HERE! WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

There is traditionally no dialogue in dance, so it can sometimes be tough to follow. It’s very helpful for any viewer to read the story (if there is one) beforehand. 

Now for some house rules. In terms of attire, it is not as formal as you would think. For the Royal Ballet and Opera, there is no official dress code, but it’s more or less smart casual. Going too casual might make you stand out a little, but there’s no need to pull out a suit, tie, or pair of heels. Sadler’s Wells is more casual, more of a jeans and trainers kind of place. 

In terms of etiquette, it’s very similar to watching theatre. Do not film or take photos during the performance (curtain call photos are generally accepted, though), and do not speak during the show. There’s more clapping going on than in theatre, typically at the end of each dance sequence. A good tip for knowing when to clap is to follow what everyone else is doing. In some countries, it is accepted to clap and cheer while the dancers are performing, but in the United Kingdom, it’s seen as being disrespectful and a disturbance to the dancers and musicians.

WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?

Dance is my favourite art form because it is a combination of so many others. The key elements of a dance performance are the choreography, interpretation, technique, the music, the costumes, and the sets.

The choreography is the steps themselves and how they are strung together. The choreographer is essentially the director of the show, deciding the entrances, exits, and the placement of the dancers on the stage; the dancers have no control over these decisions. Choreography can be seen as a way to interpret the music through movement, so you can look out for ways that the choreography echoes or differs from the music. 

The Rambert company of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Something that makes dance quite different from other art forms is how physically demanding it is. A dancer’s technique refers to how well they can execute the choreography. The athleticism of the movements is always impressive, as dancers are trained to make their movements look completely effortless. The artistry, or interpretation, is how well the dancers use the assigned movements to express emotion or tell a story. This is an important distinction to note: a dancer who is technically excellent but artistically bland will not make it far in the dance world. This is usually what makes the principal dancers and soloists shine in a performance. 

There are different types of music for ballets: music composed specifically for the show or compiled music. This information will usually be available on the theatre website’s description of the ballet. If the music has been composed for the ballet, it’s interesting to listen to how the composer tries to accompany the story through music. When the music is compiled, you can think about why the choreographer chose it in particular and what it adds to the piece. 

The sets, costumes, and lighting of a performance are crucial elements that are commonly overlooked. These allow the audience to suspend their disbelief and enter a world where all communication is conveyed through movement. More contemporary works tend to have more minimalistic designs than classical ballets, where the women will wear intricate tutus of varying lengths. 

You will see that you learn by going, so there’s no need for you to ‘understand’ everything the first time around. In the end, dance is an art, and there is no ‘correct answer’ for how a piece should make you feel. The most important thing is to come in curious and open-minded, ready to see where the piece takes you. Enjoy the show!