An Afternoon at the ballet? Oh it sounds so posh and grown up doesn’t it?
Well it was rather posh, if you don’t mind sitting in Hamer Hall at the Art’s Centre with hundreds of little girls watching the English National Ballet production of Angelina Ballerina.
The Planning Queen, who regularly posts at Planning With Kids about great things you can do with your kids in and around Melbourne, tipped me off about this great children’s ballet production. I sent off a frantic email way back in November and the wonderful Aunty Sarah organised the rest. So yesterday was a day ‘for the girls’ at the ballet and then a swanky afternoon tea at The Blue Train afterwards.
For anyone who is not well versed in children’s literature, Angelina Ballerina is a mouse. A mouse who loves ballet, takes lessons, gets into all kinds of trouble, and dances in lots and lots of performances. We have several of the books, a CD of the stories and a DVD or two of the animated television series. The Twinadoes know and love Angelina, and of course they LOVE ballet and were very keen to see a ‘real ballet’ on a ‘real stage’ and this definitely fit the bill.
The girls were entranced by Hamer Hall itself, and it is a rather impressive place for their first ‘real stage’ experience. Zoe is still talking about the beautiful curtains and Izzy wants to go back to see something else there and sit ‘right up the very top’. (We had great seats in the circle off to one side, a perfect view). The ballet was really enjoyable for everyone. With characters that the girls knew well, a predictable story line which we were also about to read out of the program before it began and a reasonably short show with intermission, it was a lovely way to introduce children to ballet. The costumes were great, I am still impressed at how the dancers managed to dance so gracefully while wearing a mouse’s head and a long tail!
All in all we had a really lovely afternoon. Even Muski had a nice time despite the fact that he was none to impressed to be left with Nanny and miss out on the fun. Much thanks to The Planning Queen for the great idea and to Aunty Sarah who provided the cash and the excellent company.
Oh, Guerita would have LOVED that! I was so disappointed they were only going to Vic. Boo! I have been keeping my eye out for a kids ballet, hopefully something will come up soon.
Glad you all had a wonderful time.
sounds great!!
Glad you all had such a lovely time :)
I was so disappointed when I was in Melbourne to see the sign for Angelina Ballerina Ballet – on the week after we left victoria!!
We have a ballet obsessed little girl at the moment – who got Bloch shoes for christmas – and I thought Angelina would be perfect for her…
I meant to see if it was coming to sydney, but I don’t think it is :(
I have been going through my reader (huge back log!). I would have loved to have seen this, but with the baby due, decided it easier not to bbok tickets. Sounds like a great time was had by all.
Also LOVE the new look!