Can I take my child to this ballet?

Many ballets are based on fairy tales and well-known stories. This makes it seem that the performances are appropriate for or even geared toward young children. While many ballets are beautiful and full of princesses and fairies, not all of them end happily ever after.

Most ballets are performed in theaters, which are sometimes not child friendly environments. Seats are set very close together, and some areas are very far away from (or too close to) the stage, which can make seeing the dancers difficult. It is not appropriate to leave your seat, talk, eat, or play during the performance, so some young children or others who cannot respect these rules do not make good audience members. If a child can attend a film at the movie theater with little or no problem, he or she is probably able to be a good audience member. 

A lot of ballets are based on stories that have been picked up by Disney or other movie making companies. When a ballet company puts on "Sleeping Beauty" or "Little Mermaid", do not expect the story to follow the Disney version. The music and costumes will also greatly differ from what is in the animated movie. As a parent, you may want to research the original story upon which the ballet and Disney film are based (some of the originals can be sad or violent). If you don't feel like your child can handle the original story, he or she may not be ready to see the ballet. If you think your child is ok to attend, have a discussion with him or her about what to expect. If the ballet is very different from the Disney version of the story, it is not "wrong". It is very disruptive to the audience and rude to the dances and choreographer if children (or adults) exclaim their disappointment that the ballet is not a total copy of the Disney movie. 

Some ballet companies (usually big companies in big cities) have special daytime performances geared toward young children or people with disabilities. These shows are usually shorter and may have different music, lighting, or endings to make them less sad or scary. If your child would do better with a performance like this, contact the companies in your area and see if they offer children's shows. Even if they don't currently offer such programs, many companies take audience needs and requests into account when planning programs for upcoming seasons. 

It's also ok to go to the ballet as "parents' date night" or "girls' night out".  Don't take your child to an event he or she can't handle. There will be plenty of ballets in the future to enjoy as your son or daughter becomes more mature.