Swan Lake has long been a firm favourite in our family, and I introduced the girls to Tchaikovsky early on, playing soothing classical music when they were babies. His music is so powerful and emotive, and it’s been wonderful watching their connection to it grow over the years.
Sitting quietly through a full-length ballet under the age of 13 or 14 is quite rare, so our first experience of Swan Lake was a much shorter, child-friendly version by the National Ballet in London. Learning ballet when they were small, combined with seeing it performed on stage, truly sparked the girls’ love for ballet – especially Swan Lake. It completely captivated them and left them eager to experience a longer production.
With a hefty price tag attached to seeing the ballet at the Royal Opera House (very much their dream), I started looking for something closer to home. I was thrilled when I discovered a showing just after Christmas. The performance was longer and fell on a school night, but I decided to take the risk and booked tickets for myself, my mum, and the girls.
We had been slightly concerned about the weather, with several snow warnings around that time, but thankfully nothing stopped us from attending. We arrived with plenty of time and made our way to our seats. I did wish we’d been a little closer—we’re so used to sitting near the stage when we visit the theatre—but these were the best tickets available, and I was trying to be sensible with spending so close to all the Christmas events and the big day itself.
The performance was by the Mergaliyve Classical Ballet, and we were completely blown away. Every dancer was superb, delivering a beautiful and emotive rendition of Swan Lake. The live orchestra was phenomenal too, something the audience clearly appreciated, judging by the enthusiastic applause throughout.
Although it was a late night, the girls thoroughly enjoyed every moment and are now even more determined to experience Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House – so it’s time to get planning for 2027! I’m incredibly happy I introduced them to ballet; the benefits are huge, and it’s such a meaningful way for them to understand and appreciate the arts and culture.
Top 5 Reasons to Introduce Children to Ballet
Confidence and appreciation of the arts – Exposure to ballet nurtures confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for theatre and live performance.
Cultural awareness – Ballet introduces children to classical music, storytelling, and historic art forms from around the world.
Emotional expression – Ballet helps children understand and interpret emotions through movement and music, building emotional intelligence.
Discipline and focus – Watching and learning about ballet encourages patience, concentration, and respect for hard work and practice.
Creativity and imagination – Ballet performances bring stories to life, inspiring imagination and a love of creative expression.
