Before You Go

A dance performance can take many different forms. Its subject may range from a child’s fairy tale to a psychological drama to an abstract idea. Or, it may be a “pure dance” ballet with no subject or theme. The dancers can wear pointe shoes or street shoes, or even no shoes at all. Costumes may be ornate and classical (like tutus), or they might look as if they were purchased from the clothes rack of a local department store. The dancers in the performance sometimes move in a grand and noble manner. They may appear to spend more time in the air than on the ground, and they may dazzle the audience with the speed of their turns and the beats of their legs-all characteristics of classical ballet. In the next piece, however, the same performers may explore body movement and stage space in a manner more like modern dance (a dance form in which the movement is not as structured as the movement in ballet) than ballet.

• You should not eat or talk during a ballet performance. Also, you should not get up and walk around while the dancers are on stage. These things may be distracting to the dancers or other audience members.
• Flash photography is not allowed at dance performances because it is distracting and dangerous to the dancers.
• You should clap any time the music stops and dancers have just completed a dance. You may also want to clap for any difficult and/or fancy steps the dancers perform such as lifts, turning sequences or large jumps. This encourages the dancers and lets them know that you appreciate their talent.
• If the music has a good beat and you feel like clapping to the beat, you are permitted to do so at a ballet performance.
• Often times when performances end the audience gives the dancers a standing ovation.
• Sometimes audience members will yell BRAVO! after seeing something spectacular.

Audiences are groups and groups function best when members cooperate, follow rules, respect one another and communicate. There are certain behaviors appropriate for audiences at different events.

How do audiences at a ballet differ from audiences at a sporting event? What do these two audiences share?

It takes a lot of different people to make a performance come together. You will see the dancers, but maybe not all of the other people who work their magic behind the curtain.

• Director: This person is like a coach. They oversee all aspects of the performance.
• Choreographer: This person creates the steps of the dances.
• Dancer: This person performs the choreography on stage.
• Stagehand: This person performs a variety of backstage work, including hanging drops, moving sets on and off the stage, monitoring props, etc.
• Costume Mistress: This person designs, sews, and maintains the costumes for the dancers.
• Lighting Designer: This person designs the lights that will set the mood of the ballet.
• Sound Technician: This person sets up and operates the equipment for the music.
• Stage Manager: This person directs everyone backstage to do his or her job at the correct time so that the production can run smoothly.