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Tell me about the Nutcracker....
It used to be a family tradition for us in Houston when my sister and I were growing up. It was a BIG deal for us- getting all dressed up.
Anyone been here in Austin? I'd love to hear any feedback - and we'd have to go to a matinee- so what are we looking at price-wise?
Lastly - what age is appropriate to start this? DD is 3 and I think we'll wait for next year before we take her. I can't remember how long the show is, but I'm sure there is an intermission...
Any info is appreciated!
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Re: Tell me about the Nutcracker....
Try a movie first. I took Abby to see the Muppet Movie Saturday. She barely made it through and it was helpful there was the constant distraction of food and drink to break up the movie. But it was a good gauge of what she's capable of. I don't think she's ready to see the nutcracker even though at home she can watch Cars without moving a muscle. Also, kids are so small they have a hard time keeping seats down in a theater! So they fidget and frick with it and drive you insane until you spend the 2nd half of the movie with one leg up so your foot can keep them from jacking with the seat. Something I also discovered at Alamo.
About 7 years ago I took a friend's then 7 year old to see the Nutcracker. She was able to sit through the whole thing but was terribly confused by the fact that there are no words to "the play". I explained the dancers were telling the story with their bodies and moves. So then she kept asking me "What's going on?" "Why are they doing that now??" "What does that mean"
I dream about taking both my girls all dolled up with huge matching hairbows. But I'm quite realistic that it will have to be when Emily is a least 5-6 years old. I mean, I could take them sooner, but my expectation would be that we'd most likely end up leaving early. I might try taking Abby next year. We'll see.
Jon and I went several years ago when I was pg w/ Jack. My family went a lot when I was a kid and I had fond memories, as well.
What I observed was that kids didn't really get into it until after intermission (when Clara enters the land of sweets and you have the short, exciting dances). The opening party scene, the fight scene, etc. kind of dragged on for the kids around us and several were asking to leave. It was frustrating to several families who continued to try to convince their child to stay!
Shanwalk has mentioned that her ballet company does a shorter, more kid friendly Nutcracker, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe she'll chime in w/ some dates and ages of viewers.
We're taking DD to this one next weekend. There is a 3pm show and a 6pm show, we're going to the 6pm. I went for the pricier assigned seats for the sole purpose of choosing ones that were at the end of an aisle with a walkway in front in case we need to jet. I want to disturb as few people as possible if that happens....
DD really enjoys watching ballet and I've shown her some Nutcracker videos but I'm not sure if she'll make it through the entire thing. I have two real concerns- that she's going to freak out that SHE is not going to be dancing on stage (she constantly asks when she's going to get to dance in The Nutcracker), and that she will want to get up and copy what they are doing on stage. She loves to watch and copy "big girl ballerinas", so we'll see....
"The House We Built."
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I'm curious about the show here too! We grew up in Houston also and used to go every year to see the Nutcracker with my dad (parents were divorced). I loved it - such good memories! My dad started taking us when my sister was about 5 and I was 6. Do you remember those little carriage rides they would have too? My dad surprised us one year and got us hot chocolate and a carriage ride - it was fantastic.
Austin Nutcracker tickets are anywhere from $20-$70, depending on what level you go for. I have a discount code at home for $5 off, but I would imagine it's searchable.
DH and I went years ago. Personally I wouldn't take my boys to it until they were a few years older because it is very long, and I doubt they'd last 15 minutes. Does your DD dance? Maybe that would hold her attention better. I can't remember ticket prices, but I remember being a little surprised at how expensive they were.
If you go, please let us know how it goes. I'd love to do this eventually.
We go every year and this will be the first year we are taking DS at 5 1/2 years old. I think he'll do great. DD loves ballet, dancing, ballerinas but I'm not about to make her sit through it at this age (3).
Ballet Austin does have several kid friendly ballets throughout the year that are much shorter. We've taken the kids to see Peter and the Wolf, Not Afraid of the Dark and a couple others and they have loved them. But again, they are shorter, more exciting and geared for the younger age group.
We took K1 last year and he really enjoyed it. It's a Christmas tradition for DH and I, so we wanted to include the boys as quickly as possible.
It was a little long for him (at 3 y.o) and he wanted to sit out and enjoy his cookie during intermission, but once we got back in, he was all into it again.
We're considering going with both boys this year, but tickets are a little pricey and I'm not sure that K2 will sit still that long. Still on the fence about this..