Thursday Thirteen - 216 - 13 Things I Love About Going to See the Ballet

One of the things on my Bucket List is attending performances of the great ballet companies of the world in all of their home venues.

As a spectacular early birthday surprise - since my birthday is five months away - my cousin and my sister, who will be my roomies at the writers' conference in New York next week, presented me with tickets to the ballet while we're in the City That Never Sleeps.

And not only tickets to any ballet company, but tickets to American Ballet Theatre, which is second on my descending list of companies to see after the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

And not only tickets to see American Ballet Theatre, but tickets to see Swan Lake, which needs no explanation as to why that is so incredibly dreamy for me.

So here are thirteen things I'll be enjoying during our trip to the Metropolitan Opera House:

1 - Entering the lobby with the other theatre-goers. How I love that first buzz of excitement.

2 - Entering the house (the inner auditorium) to find our seats. The thrill grows.

3 - Receiving the program from the usher and looking through it at my seat.

4 - The crowd conversation humming as the theatre fills and the warning bells ring.

5 - Houselights dimming and the crowd hushing. Anticipation trembles in the air.

6 - Houselights go dark. The spotlight hits the conductor. Opening applause to start the performance - how I love all the clapping. Audience participation!

7 - First notes from the orchestra. I'll probably burst out crying with joy. Don't worry, people-sitting-next-to-me - I'll be quiet.



8 - Curtain opening or rising. The 'ooo/ah' of seeing the set design.

9 - Clapping for the principal dancers as they make their entrances. Yes, I love the clapping!

10 - The rhythmic rustling sounds of the costumes as the company moves through its choreography, the tapping of the pointe shoes on the stage, and all of the sounds emanating up from the orchestra pit.

11 - Watching the conductor's floppy hair as he feels the music.

12 - Feeling connected to Tchaikovsky himself as certain unexpected and perfect moments appear in front of me, shining a light on his work in a new way for me. Trust me - it always happens.

13 - Cheering jaw-dropping or tear-inducing performances by the dancers. Shouting Bravo! or Brava!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT -

My very own dot com web site will be going live on Saturday, June 25th - drop by A Piece of My Mind for the link and the world premiere of my book trailer!