Your Guide to Seeing the Ballet
- Cindy Case
- Sep 22
- 5 min read
After our performance of Ballet in the Garden over the weekend, our production of Giselle is right around the corner! Although many of our audience members are seasoned patrons of the arts, each new production brings in members of the community who may be seeing a ballet for the first time.
We may be biased, but we think that seeing your first professional ballet performance is a special experience! Whether it's your first time or your hundredth, we've gathered a few tips and tricks to make the most out of your visit to the ballet.
Before the Show
Get your tickets early
If you haven’t already, visit our season page to reserve your seats for the show. Tickets become more limited as we approach the performance (especially for The Nutcracker), so we encourage purchasing early.
Beware of third-party ticket resellers! The only places to purchase your tickets for Ballet Theatre of Maryland performances are our website or Eventbrite.
Bring the whole family
Unless otherwise noted, all BTM performances are family-friendly. Shows are typically 2-2.5 hours long with one intermission included.
Preview the show here on the blog
Want to learn more about the history behind a ballet or the story that you’ll see onstage? You're in the right place! Here on the BTM blog, Pointe of View, I share background information on each ballet and rehearsal photos as we get closer to the performances. Right now, you can learn more about our upcoming production, Giselle, or read up on everyone’s favorite holiday ballet in A Brief History of The Nutcracker.
Look out for renovations!
If you’re attending a performance at Maryland Hall, check your email before the show for up-to-date information about building construction. Performances will continue as scheduled, but there may be temporary changes to parking, bathrooms, and theater access points.
The Day of the Show
Dress comfortably
Jeans, office attire, or your favorite wrap dress are all ballet-appropriate–but don’t let that keep you from dressing your fanciest!
Arrive early
We do our best to begin each performance promptly, but we need your help to make it happen. Arriving early means you have plenty of time to find your seat, read the program, and wait for the performance to begin. The house (auditorium) opens 30 minutes before each show.
During our performances in October and April (Giselle and La Esmeralda this season, respectively), we often have costumed dancers out front so that patrons of all ages can take pictures before the show. If you are bringing young audience members to The Nutcracker in December, consider adding on tickets to a Sugar Plum Party held an hour before each Sunday matinee.
Read the program
Once you’re in your seat, it’s the perfect time to page through your program. For story ballets like Giselle or Sleeping Beauty, the program will include a summary of the story. For non-narrative works such as those in Momentum: A Mixed Bill, each piece will have program notes that help you understand the choreographers’ intentions or inspirations.
Get there late?
If traffic or other unforeseen circumstances delay your arrival, we completely understand. As a courtesy to other patrons, theater ushers will direct you to your seat when there is an appropriate break in the performance.
During the Show
Get the most out of the performance
As you watch the show, consider how the different elements of the performance are working together:
Music: The musical score is often the basis for everything you see onstage. What expectations does the music create for you, and how well does everything else match them?
Dancers: Even when dancing in a corps de ballet, the individual qualities of dancers frequently shine. Do any of the dancers catch your eye? What does their dancing communicate about the story or theme they are portraying?
Choreography: Some pieces may be classical and graceful, while others are in a contemporary style with a greater diversity of movement. In ballet, the choreography and pantomime frequently help to tell the story. What purpose does each section of choreography seem to serve, and how does it connect to the parts that came before it?
Sets, Costumes, and Lighting: Especially in a story ballet, the scenery, costuming, and lighting choices can vastly change the audience’s visual impression. What kind of mood or setting are they working together to create? How do they fit in with the other elements onstage?
Be respectful of other audience members and performers
We ask that all guests silence their phones and refrain from talking during the show. If someone else is being disruptive, please notify an usher.
Show your appreciation
When dancers pull off spectacular moves, such as spins, leaps, and lifts, we encourage you to cheer them on! Applause is always appreciated.
Refrain from taking photos or videos
Seeing a phone or camera out in the audience can be distracting for the dancers, especially if there is an ill-timed camera flash. Stay in the moment and enjoy the show! We’ll post plenty of professional photos and videos on social media.
Consider the perks of being a subscriber
If you decide to come back again, consider a season subscription. Subscribers are invited to a complimentary champagne reception during intermission of every show.
After the Show
Experience the curtain call
Each performance ends with a curtain call, or final bow. It’s an opportunity not only for the audience to applaud their favorite performers, but also for the dancers to show gratitude to the audience for coming.
Meet the dancers
If you enjoyed the show and would like to share your appreciation, you can often find the dancers in the first-floor hallway of Maryland Hall after the performance. Most of the dancers are happy to chat with anyone who has just seen the show.
Share your experiences
If you know someone who would enjoy our performances, we hope you will let them know! We’ll also be sending an anonymous survey to ticketholders and would appreciate your feedback.
Stay involved
Whether you’re interested in taking a class with us, coming back for another performance, or simply following us on Facebook and Instagram, we hope to see you around!
Ready to plan your visit?
If you still need your tickets to Ballet Theatre of Maryland's 25/26 season, visit our season page to begin your artistic journey!
We are thankful to patrons joining us for the first time, but we are also grateful for long-term patrons and subscribers who support live professional dance in our local area.
Giselle opens in less than a month, and we hope to see you there. Please join us for this tragic story of love, betrayal, and redemption on October 17-19.
