if you have seen examples of both classical ballet and contemporay ballet,which do you enjoy watching most?why

Answer 1

Classical. It tells story and paints a vivid picture for you with the scenery and costumes, which is something often not used in contemporary.
Also, that is what I dance.

Answer 2

I have seen both classical and contemporaty ballet and I am not a dancer and not biased in anyway, unlike the other's who have answered...I think that there is something very beautiful about classical ballet that contemporary just doesn't have. It's not so "pop" like contemporary. I think that ballet is a type of dance that should remain classical unless done in a very tasteful way. Unfortuneatly it seems like any girl who's been dancing since she was a tyke can get out there and teach some kids how to do contemporary ballet. I think that with classical ballet you need experience and wisdom for it to be done tastefully and look very graceful. When it comes down to it, not many people are sticking around to be able to really teach good classical ballet. That's why I pulled my daughter from it. If I wanted her to dance like a fairy I'd let her watch Peter Pan and take tips from Tinkerbell and do a mix tape of the hotest songs and slow em down a bit. I tried several dance studios for her, before pulling her. But none of this tid bit about my daughter has to do with my opinion, my opinion has been formed over many years of enjoying ballet as a spectator.

Answer 3

Yes - I have seen both.

My preference is New Work. I believe that technique is the foundation for both -- and yes I love the classics.

But for me to be truly engaged as an audience member, contemporary work is much more challenging to view and, I'd imagine, participate in. The recent growth of Regional Ballet is encouraging and I feel that ballet can safely climb out of it's box as a museum work and enjoy a new vibrant life.

Not for a second am I knocking classical ballet! If you ask me to choose -- it'll be New Work every time.

Answer 4

Being involved because of my daughter and current experiences, I have to say that it's less about the DANCE than it is about a preference for the music,,, or the NEW of it, or the fact that classics might only be enjoyed in preference and reference to some very specific piece of either.

The stages are the same,,, within the context of the genre,,, although certainly they may be updated in variations.

I personally have favorites, and at the same time might want to skip a year or two of Swan Lake, or Nut Cracker, while leaning toward some other style, with the same company presenting their versions, of anything.

The same can be said of anything we view as entertainment. What matters most is some "connection" we feel to the pice of music, or a performance, actress, actor, scene, etc. etc. etc.

I also have history with community theater, opera, etc, and have favorites. The cultural experience,,,even for those who aren't FANS,,,should still be explored.

Good Q,,, Thanks.

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

Classical. I understand it better because of its stricter form. I've never seen a tasteful contepmorary performance, I guess I was just unlucky. I've seem many good classical performances.

Answer 6

contemporay. because its a brilliant way of expressing urself and shows young people ballet isnt posh and/or boring.

Answer 7

Both. Because I love to watch all kinds of dance.

Answer 8

Both, thank you.

Jonnie