What is a good first ballet to see with my child?
Every dance lover fondly remembers that first ballet, the performance that made her a balletomane for life. For many that ballet is The Nutcracker because almost any town in America offers a version of this holiday classic. It is surely the most well-attended of all ballets. It has a lot going for it; gorgeous music, charming plot, delightful scenery, a celebration of gastronomic sweets, and a big party that gives even non-dancing members of the family an opportunity to have a role. Whether participant or spectator The Nutcracker is a family treat. New York City Ballet’s production is truly spectacular. Many young girls are serious enough to enjoy their ballet without sugarcoating. The exquisite formal beauty of the corps de ballet in Swan Lake, Giselle, and La Bayadère can touch even a child, and if the leading dancers have any charisma at all, your daughter will be begging to go backstage for an autograph. It is probably best to start with a story ballet; most of the classics have fa
