Bolshoi Ballet Evening Opens My Eyes
Of course I've seen plays, operas and ballets before, but when I went to the Bolshoi Ballet on Tuesday night I didn't really get ballet. It definitely wasn't the music, which I love, it was the dancing. I've never really understood watching dancing. I think this may have started when I was taken to see Cats as a child. I absolutely hated it and wanted to leave from about five minutes in.
But when Kate offered me a chance to go to the Bolshoi Ballet, I leaped at it. It's an icon of Russian culture; it's a rare opportunity; and I love Shostakovich's music. We took the cheapest seats in the house, and they had a very restricted view, but I didn't care because I was just there for the music.
Of course, I did watch some of the dancing from the first act, but I had a very restricted view and it wasn't really working for me, so I just leant back, closed my eyes an opened my ears to the music.
Five minutes into the second half, Agata, Arno and I were tapped on the shoulder by an usher. She moved us to new seats that gave us an unrestricted, head-on view of the stage. Suddenly the dance came alive and I knew ballet was all about.
But don't try and take me to see Cats.
