The Ballet
On December 29, 2018 by brian.haferkampOne of our Christmas gifts to both girls was a trip to the ballet in downtown Lisbon. The Russian Classical Ballet was performing The Nutcracker. We thought it would be a very special event–and it was.
Here is Baek’s real-time recounting of the ballet:
Tonight we went to a ballet. It was, The Nutcracker. I don’t really know what’s happening.
We just finished act 1. I think there was a ball and there were mice battling some soldiers with swords. I thought they were real swords. There was another part with horses. They were really people with horse costumes. That was all act 1.
In act 2 a lady in a white glitter tutu was dancing with a man in a white costume. There was a girl in a white nightgown who came over and sat in a what looked like a velvet chair.
Then Chinese dancers danced, then Arabian dancers, then dancers dressed as Russians, and last, The dance of the Reed Pipes.
Last, the dancers bowed and the audience clapped.
Here are some photos from the evening:
The theater is the Coliseu dos Recreios, a beautiful theater originally opened in 1890. We had our own private box, which was a delightful surprise to us. When we purchased the tickets, we figured it would be more like open stadium seating. Our box was behind door 34.
The ballet itself was beautiful and seemed beautifully danced (I’m not an expert in this area). It was a delight to take the girls and later share more with them about what was going on in the story. Keturah said it fulfilled a lifelong dream for her, too.