There is more, much more, to ballet than tutus, pointe shoes and classical music. Read on for the mythbusting facts ...
Myth #1: You have to wear formal attire, like tuxedos and formal dresses, to go to the ballet.
Even though some people like to get dressed up to go to the ballet, it is certainly not an attendance requirement. Most people who go to the ballet dress with a 'smart casual' style – and YES you can even wear your jeans!
Myth #2: If I go to the ballet I will be sitting at the back of the theatre and won’t be able to see anything anyway.
Ballet is not only performed in large theatres but can be performed in more intimate settings and even outdoors! The Queensland Ballet has designed an annual Studio Series which is performed at the Thomas Dixon Centre at West End. There are only 150 seats in the audience so when you see one of these ballets you are so close to the action you can actually see the sweat on the dancers' foreheads!
Myth #3: What’s so good about the ballet anyway? It’s just watching someone jump around a stage.
Ballet dancers with professional companies are professional athletes. Dancers endure a daily rigorous training schedule that sees them refining their technique every day as well as rehearsing for new productions. They work from 9:00 in the morning to 6:00 every night of the working week and in addition to this they perform on stage on the weekends and in the evenings. The training is intense but the passion is even more so. It is truly incredible to watch these passionate technicians move their bodies as they communicate with their audience. Think about this when you are watching the next ballet performance. You will be blown away!
Myth #4: Ballet is just tutus and pointe shoes.
A common misconception of ballet is that the audience will only see girls wearing tutus and dancing en pointe (on their toes). Nothing could be further from the truth. While tutus may be worn by female dancers when performing traditional works, what the dancers wear on stage is a carefully planned and executed production element. Most professional ballet companies, including Queensland Ballet, employ a Wardrobe Manager who works with the Artistic Director to design and produce costumes that perfectly compliment the choreography of the performance. If tutus are the right costume for the performance, they will be used. But the most important objective for the Artistic Director and wardrobe team, is to create a diverse repertoire of traditional and modern productions that showcase stunning dancing highlighted by stunning costumes.
Myth #5: Ballet is only performed to piano music.
Ballet can be performed to any form of music – there are even contemporary ballets that are performed with no music at all! Queensland Ballet's Artistic Director, François Klaus, has choreographed many ballets to music from the classical 'greats' such as Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Bach, and Dvorak as well as ballets to music ranging from 'rock n roll' to indigenous didgeridoo. The music is one of the most important elements of a ballet and with so many different styles of music available, the opportunities for creating new and exciting ballets are endless.
Myth #6: I won’t understand what I’m watching.
You do not have to pass a test to enjoy watching ballet performances. Nor do you need to have a high level of knowledge or experience in the art form to understand what you are watching. One of the most wonderful things about ballet is that the audience watches a story that is told through the movement of the human body. Before humans had the power of speech, ancient man conveyed thoughts, wishes and emotions through actions, therefore origins of dance have been around for millions of years. Make sure you read the program and the synopsis of the performance before you watch it to give you a general idea of the storyline – then sit back and enjoy the experience of watching a story portrayed through movement.
Myth #7: I’m not like other people who go to the ballet; everyone will stare at me because I don’t fit in.
Ballet is for everyone no matter how young or old or what you do for a living, so you should never feel like you don’t belong in the audience of a ballet performance. Queensland Ballet's audience is extremely diverse with people of all ages and professions enjoying the performances. From trades people to professionals, from young people to the elderly – ballet really is for everyone!
