Going to the ballet

“I still haven’t been to a ballet, partly because I have no clue if I would like it. Who will invite me to go together someday?” is what I write on Facebook. Ten days later, I’m sitting with five others in the Makedonska Opera i Balet, ready for Raymonda.

I forgot to read the story online, and there is only a Macedonian version in the hall. But my friends explain the story to me plain and simple: “There is a princess who needs to choose between two men who came to ask for her hand. She doesn’t know what to do. The two men fight, then one kills the other.” Yes, it’s a simple love story, but the world première was in January 1898, so it should be good if it’s still shown, I reason.

While watching, I admire the decor and the dancers, but my thoughts fly away easily. I try counting the flaws the dancers make. I peek into the orchestra pit to see if there is an attractive musician. I count the rows to determine what is the number of the row with the most leg space. Yes, it’s cool that a story can be told by using dance instead of words, but it’s also a bit boring.

This ballet was not perfect. Even though I don’t know anything about ballet, I know that dancers should move identical and perfectly mirrored. This was not the case. Still, I liked it. Well, if it would’ve cost me 50 euros, I probably wouldn’t have, but for 5 euros, I was content. I’m glad to have finally visited a ballet and I’m certainly planning to see two more, so I can make a well-founded decision if I like ballet or not. To be continued!