When I was a little girl, every year just before Christmas, my grandmother would take me to see the Nutcracker.
Photo from www.national.ballet.ca
Several weeks ago during a lovely evening stroll around downtown Toronto, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the memories of my childhood. Flashes of cool winter air, my hair bouncing along as my grandmother held my hand tightly. All that my child sized field of vision could grasp were nylon legs and nicely pressed slacks. Moving quickly through a crowd of people, the smell of perfume and the sound of laughter filled the street. Then finally emerging from the sea of people, the foyer of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was unveiled before my eyes. The anticipation of seeing a real-live ballerina was almost too much for my little mind to handle.
Even to this day I can still remember those feelings of pure excitement. Once my mind finally came back to earth, I wondered why I had never taken myself to the ballet? So I called up my best friend and booked two tickets to the performance of The Sleeping Beauty.
The night of the performance, I was blown away by the nostalgia of it all. The familiar sights and sounds but from a completely new angel. After climbing the sleek modern stairs, I was seated and bubbling with anticipation. "I wish I was a ballerina" was the mantra buzzing through my mind. To distract myself I read the program provided:
"Based on one of the world's most enduringly beloved fairy tales, The Sleeping Beauty, choreographed by Marius Petipa to a strictly coordinated score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, tells a story familiar to us all: the lovely Princess Aurora is cursed by an evil fairy and must fall into a death-like sleep until a handsome prince awakens her with a kiss."
Photo from www.national.ballet.ca
Finally the lights dimmed and the curtain rose. The performance was spectacular. Creative, and at times breath taking, the stage decor was complimented by the beautifully detailed costumes. The music was enchanting and had me humming all night. The only thing more enchanting than the atmosphere created, was the power and strength exuded by the dancers themselves.
This is a great way to add a little culture to your life and the tickets vary in price, so it's sure to fit your budget, whatever it may be.
If you are between the ages 16-29 you're in luck! The National Ballet of Canada has a free membership program for you. As a member, you can get ballet and opera tickets for $25! Go to DanceBreak.ca for more information.
For other ballet companies in Canada check out:
Les Grands Ballets Canadien de Montreal
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Alberta Ballet
Ballet British Columbia
