What Drives You to See a Performance--Part 2 Options

[Helene]

In the balletomane poll, Ray asked:

Most of us attend ballet performances for a variety of mixed motives. But if you had to characterize your reasons in one of three ways, would you say that in the main you generally attend ballet performances to see:

( ) particular dancers, no matter what the work

( ) particular works, no matter who's dancing

( ) particular dancers dancing specific works

Again, this is asking you to generalize your experience (but you could interpret "particular dancers" to mean "particular companies"; similarly, you could interpret "particular works" to mean particular kinds of works, i.e., the classics, or particular choreographers)

This is part 2 of a two-part extended poll based on his original question.

[Helene]

I belatedly added an option to the "Do you see multiple performances ?" question (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[cubanmiamiboy]

This remind me how often do I get the question by my coworkers when they see me getting ready after work to go to the ballet:

"But are you going to see THE SAME "show"...?!-(oh, how do I hate that "show" thing... (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) )

the answer being..."Well, yeah!!, for which is not the same one...is a different day with different dancers...duh!! (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/excl.gif)

and then the usual reaction...
(IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/jawdrop.gif)

[PeggyR]

This remind me how often do I get the question by my coworkers when they see me getting ready after work to go to the ballet:

"But are you going to see THE SAME "show"...?!-(oh, how do I hate that "show" thing... (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) )

the answer being..."Well, yeah!!, for which is not the same one...is a different day with different dancers...duh!! (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/excl.gif)

and then the usual reaction...
(IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/jawdrop.gif)

And they never, ever understand, do they! However, I actually persuaded a work friend who likes (not loves) ballet, and who doesn't know much about it, to see two Jewels last season and I think (hope!) she's been persuaded how different a ballet can be with different casts (good for the box office, too).

Personally, I'd go to every performance, regardless of who/what, but can't due to financial/distance issues.

Edited to add: Should point out too that there are times when the same dancer(s) in the same ballet can be completely different from one performance to another. That variability is, for me, one of the attractions of the performing arts in general.

[Helene]

Which is kind of funny, since they'll see Star Wars six times or Cats every time it comes to town, but don't see the similarities.

I remember reading Croce writing about how different Farrell performances were from one another in the same roles, and I think the example she gave was of people talking about the great Saratoga "Chaconne".

[Mike Gunther]

Personally, I'd go to every performance, regardless of who/what...

Right on! My question when thinking about going to a performance is usually the same as my answer: "why *not*?" (IMG:http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)