Tips For Seeing The Colorado Ballet

Lace up your toe shoes and head to the Colorado Ballet. Well, maybe wear your regular shoes and watch a professional ballerina, or two, dance in their toe shoes. CBS4's Critic at Large Greg Moody explains how to enjoy the Colorado Ballet in his comments below.

Here are a few ideas that I've found can really making going to the ballet a new, exciting and different experience that you'll want to do again and again.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE BALLET:

1. Start with something simple: Nutcracker, Dracula or the like in order to follow the plot and see how ballet enhances the common drama.
2. As you grow comfortable with the workings of the ballet, begin to experiment with lesser known works. Hey, I've never heard of Coppelia or Die Fledermaus. I wonder what they're like.
3. Listen to the music of the ballet before you go to acquaint yourself with the highs and lows of the piece.
4. Begin to take in the experimental and free form pieces usually choreographed and scheduled near the end of the season. These are new works, usually short, and take both the audience and the dance in new and unexpected directions.
5. Discover the depth of emotion and movement that dance can bring to the drama.
6. Have dinner at the Ellie at Kevin Taylor at the Opera House. What a wine list!
7. Get a room for the night at the Four Seasons or the Ritz or the Hyatt and make a night of it. Explore and enjoy Downtown Denver.

IF YOU ARE AN OLD HAND AT ATTENDING THE BALLET:

1. Buy a ticket.
2. Go to the Ellie.
3. Sit.
4. Enjoy.
5. See #6 and #7 above.
6. Tell your friends and encourage them to experience what you have seen and felt.