The Ballet as a Means of Elevation; A Love Letter to the Nutcracker

Blurry misconceptions surrounding the classical dance of ballet propagate a stuffy, bourgeois-esque perception that is not only far from the truth but a true injustice to those that are yet to experience the pure magic of ballet.

Image courtesy of The Guardian

A dance form that has effortlessly carried the romantic opulence of the renaissance into the modern world, the ballet is shockingly under-appreciated for all its glory; a mesmerizing display of athleticism paired with the most overwhelmingly whimsical visuals and musical scores, in other words a sensory feast. A feast that requires no prerequisites to be enjoyed. Unlike what the majority assumes, it is not coveted entertainment consumed only by those with extensive knowledge of the ballet and a summer home to spare, but a joyous celebration of all that is human, designed to uplift spirits in times of great hardship.

The elegant movements accompanied by full orchestra compositions resonate a rosy decadence unlike anything you’ve seen before; often described as being teleported to a dream world, the ballet plays on a variety of your senses to provide a holistic experience with a glowing surrealism to it.

For those of us that suffer the turmoils of ambitious careers or just the bleakness of everyday life, ballet is a quintessential remedy to remind you of all that is beautiful. Dripping with gritty emotion and bound together by music that your heartbeat cannot help but react to, the experience is an intimate one, leaving you with a rawness in your heart and an awakened sense of being.

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With all this in tow, it is only reasonable that those attending the ballet choose to dress for the occasion draped in luxurious fabrics and jewels. And while tuxedos are always a welcome sight, the changing social atmosphere has encouraged a new dress code more akin to feeling good than looking rich. More succinctly, it's an opportunity to embrace camp and donn attire that makes you feel like an elevated version of yourself in cohesion with the elevating experience the ballet offers. I say this with such confidence, because through these events I’ve found myself meeting the most extraordinary people, having the most enriching conversations and cultivating a sense of the world I didn't know existed. And for these reasons I suggest you seize the opportunity to attend a ballet.

The range of productions the ballet offers are endlessly bountiful, but a special emphasis must be placed on the incomparable compositions of Tchaikovsky that have guided the heart and soul of ballet. And for this reason, I must insist that the first ballet you watch be a Tchaikovsky composition.

Image courtesy of the Birmingham Royal Ballet

With Christmas still in the air, the Nutcracker production at the Birmingham Royal Ballet is a necessity in your winter calendar. Conveniently close to Warwick and Leamington Spa, the Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of five major ballet companies in the United Kingdom and houses some of the most talented dancers and musicians in Europe. Tickets are a mere 25 pounds and an inarguably worthwhile investment in one’s self.