Review by Front Row Reviewers Staff
The 1st of November 2023 marks World Ballet Day, a global celebration that brings together over 50 of the world’s leading ballet and dance companies for a packed day of dance.
It may be that though Ballet is an art form filled with precision, beauty, and something mystical and other worldly. Front Row Reviewers asked s few of our reviewers to share their experiences with Ballet.
Says Reviewer Elise White: “My first trip to any sort of theater was to the Wang Theater in Boston, Massachusetts when I was about seven years old. We had a VHS tape of The Nutcracker and I loved watching it and pretending to be a ballerina, so when the opportunity came up to see a live performance of The Nutcracker, my mom made it a very special occasion. My mom had made my sister and I special Christmas dresses specifically for attending the theatre. I got to pick out the fabric and mine was made of soft black velvet with sheer white chiffon sleeves. The Wang Theater was the most ornate building I had ever been in at the time and I felt so privileged being able to go to a real ballet!”
Says Reviewer Amanda Florence: “I did competitive dance, including ballet, throughout my entire youth and through college. At a young age I was able to develop strong leadership skills, diligence, perseverance, dedication to bettering myself, and always working toward perfection in my craft. My experience as a dancer is something I credit for preparing me especially well for my future career in medicine, despite my job now being so distant from the performing arts.”
From Reviewer Shannon Christenson Milliman about her ballet teacher, Miss Norma: “Miss Norma made an impact in my life that graces the presentations I make each day at work, the adventures I seize with family, and with the outlook I have in life. She taught me what it means to connect beautiful things, to harmonize with the people around you, and to believe in your abilities even if you haven’t yet proven them to yourself. Miss Norma taught me ballet for about 8 years. I loved it. I love and value the impressions she gave me. I loved the challenge of how ballet seems to never be perfect. There is a standard and a perfection and it is very difficult to achieve but you keep trying. Miss Norma’s steadiness, her calm approach, and her belief that I was capable and talented has made me a better version of myself. A version that would not be sculpted as I am today had it not been for her guiding presence.”
Front Row Reviewers has been honored to review ballet performances from so many wonderful ballet companies, and look forward to reviewing many more! We hope you feel inspired to enjoy ballet today and every day in some small way. And please make a plan to attend a live ballet performance soon. They are magical.
Here are a few of our reviews:
Ballet West’s Dracula at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City is a Gothic Showstopper
Mountain West Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty was Magical at the Sandy Amphitheater
Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a Stunning Tradition of the Season for the Past 40 Years
The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Filled Grand Junction, CO With Wonder and Fun
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