My first trip to the ballet

Last week I went to the ballet for the first time. I like to try new things and though I enjoy going to the theatre and live music I'd never been to any kind of dance performance before. So I decided it was time for a new experience.

As a novice in these things I choose a classic, Swan Lake to start with (performed by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia). I looked up the story before hand so that I would know what was going on but it tells you about it in the programme anyway. I found it quite enjoyable. I think I enjoyed the swans dancing more than the men, they seemed to have more variety of movement. Although having said that the 'bad guy' was very dynamic.

It was great to hear a live orchestra play too. There wasn't a pit so you could see all the instruments and really feel the music.

I loved the swan skirts! They were pretty much horizontal. The ultimate in uber-poof?

My friend tells me that this is a very traditional presentation of the ballet and that modern dance can be a lot more passionate and creative. I did enjoy the costumes and spectacle of Swan Lake so I wonder if I'd miss that in something more abstract? Maybe I'll try that next.