Watching a ballet is similar to watching a sporting game. They are both exciting and exhilarating, but both are more enjoyable if you know a little more about them. Students will benefit from seeing and discussing dance photos, articles or videos well before the performance. The section “How to talk about a dance performance” will give ideas for encouraging discussion.
Skill
To enable students to understand the amount of skill and training needed to become a dancer, it’s sometimes useful to compare dancers with athletes. The following list can be used to stimulate discussion. Which statements describe dancers? Which statement describes athletes? How many describe both athletes and dancers?
- They start young and train for many years.
- They have to train for many hours every day.
- They need strength and agility.
- They need to be mentally prepared.
- They must take great care of their bodies.
- They have to be careful of injuries.
- They try to make their bodies move efficiently.
- They compete for positions.
- They rely on team work.
- When they move they sometimes tell a story.
- They always perform to win.
- They can be judged best in their field.
- They have short careers.
Music
Music and dance have a very close relationship. Ballet, which is the movement of the body within a specific technique, is inherently rhythmic, so the relationship of music and dance is both a natural and inevitable one. Play the music of the ballet for the students, then listen to different pieces of music. Ask them to discuss the mood of the music. Allow them to describe how it makes them feel. Which music do they prefer? Why? What type of dance would they do to the music?
Behavior
Different occasions require different types of behaviour. Encourage students to decide how they would behave:
- at a football game
- at a friend’s party
- at a sick relative’s house
- at a cinema
- at home, watching a video and
- finally at the theatre.
Discuss the difference between a live performance and one on film or videotape. Explain why people have to remain quiet so they don’t spoil the performance for other members of the audience and also how noise can distract dancers and maybe cause them to injure themselves. Finally, young theatre goers should be encouraged to show their appreciation of the performers and the performance by applauding.
Theatre etiquette
For your enjoyment, and the enjoyment of those around you, mobile phones and beepers should be turned off before the performance. As recording any part of The Australian Ballet’s performances is strictly forbidden Cameras, video cameras and sound-recording devices should be checked at the cloakroom before you enter the auditorium. It is theatre policy that latecomers and patrons who leave the auditorium during the performance can only be seated when there is a suitable break in the performance, so it is wise to visit the toilet before the performance begins. Please also remember that for your safety you should remain seated until the performance has ended and the house lights have been turned on.
