Conference moira::parenting

    We took my 5 1/2 yr old son last year. he was very interested in the
    first part with the scenery and the dramatics. 
    
    the second part, mostly classical ballet, was too much for him.
    
    with a little girl (or boy for that matter), it makes a lot of difference 
    if she/he studies ballet. then they can somehow relate to the dance 
    part. 
    
    This year at 6 1/2, we went to the Christmas Pops at Symphony
    Hall. He liked the music and sat thru it (good for his activity level)
    but the 2 large candy canes he got during Santa's appearance very 
    quickly became six-shooters....but that was near the end. 
    
    Another point...the audience in the Nutcracker really has to be alot
    more quiet than at the Pops. The Pops has more activity on the floor 
    (you can order beverages, snacks at your table). 

	
	I went to the Nutcracker last week and noticed a sign saying that
	children under 4 were not allowed.  No "Babes in Arms" either.  
	This was a 7:30 show -- I don't know if any earlier shows allow
	younger children.

	I'm sure a call to the Wang Center (I assume that's the one you're
	talking about) will answer your questions.

	Cheri

    I have taken my daughter to "An evening of championship skating" when
    she was about 3. She loved it and sat through it with no problems.
    But it is a slightly more "persimmsive" environment and during the
    clapping period she could ask me questions or even occassionally
    get up. She is very interested in skating and has watched lots
    tapes and competitions on TV.
    
    She is 5.5 now and we satarted ballet this year and we are going to the
    Nutckracker performance tonight. I hope that she will be all right.
    
    Ania
    
    

    
    The Boston Ballet has a new policy (this season) on the ages of
    children allowed to attend the ballet. There are no "babes in arms"
    allowed. For the nutcracker, no children under 4 and for all other
    ballets it's something like 6 or 8, I can't remember. I go to the
    ballet 3 times a year and we usually go to the matinee. I can't believe
    the age of some of the children brought to the ballet, especially
    considering the ballet that may be being shown. A call to the Wang
    Center would get you the exact policy on children for the ballet.
    
    Patty

    From an old harridan....
    
    I just do not see how a kid under age 7 could sit still for two to
    three hours for ANY kind of stage event, whether it's a skating
    performance, a ballet, "Sesame Street on Ice," a sports event, or a
    movie.  Our kids are 6.75 and 3.5, considered well-behaved by even my
    stepmother -- but I know what their limits are, too.  I think both of
    mine could sit through and probably enjoy something that had some
    audience participation ("What do you think Clara is going to do
    next?"), but I would not expect them to sit still for "The Nutcracker." 
    There are so many other good children's theater presentations around at
    this time of the year that I would hesitate to spend the big bucks and
    the time taking a child under 10, even a well-behaved one, to the Wang 
    Centre.  
    
    Sounds unkind, I guess.  But I can remember having trouble sitting
    still even in church until I was 11 or 12 years of age.  I still get
    restless during most movies, at the opera (which I seldom attend), and
    during long meetings.  What is the point in taking a kid to something
    that's supposed to be enjoyable, and having to hiss at them to be quiet
    throughout the whole program?
      

    
    I just took my 4.5 year old daughter to see the Nutcracker yesterday.
    The Wang Center/Boston Ballet "policy" (received with the tickets) is
    that the Nutcracker is not recommended for children under 4 (and of
    course, no babes-in-arms, as others have stated).  If you have a young
    child, I would definitely recommend a matinee performance.  There tend
    to be alot more children than at night, and the audience seems more
    "relaxed" about having kids there.
    
    This is the 2nd year that I've taken my daughter.  Last year, she only
    stayed for the first half.  (The tickets were free, so I didn't really
    mind).  This year, she made it all the way thru the performance, but
    started losing interest about 1/2 way into the 2nd half.  She is in her
    2nd year of ballet, so she was interested in the more "classical"
    numbers, but it is a long time to sit still.
    
    Time-wise, the performance takes exactly 2 hours, including a 15-20
    minute intermission.
    
    Hope this helps,
    -Lynne
    

My 2 year old was with us at a luncheon where actors from the Boston Ballet
came in costume and told part of the Nutcracker story.  We often couldn't
see or hear, but my 2 year old since then has been very frightened of the
"Big Mouse" and occasionally of the Nutcracker.

      Carol

    Depends on your child, I guess.
    
    when Carrie was 6 my sister and then future brother in law were in a
    performance of the nutcracker.  Maybe it was the extra interest of
    looking for the two of them, but Carrie sat through the whole program,
    thrilled.  

    My 2.5 yr old and I watched The Nutcracker on tv over the weekend and
    she was full of questions: "What are they doing?  Who's that?..."  Even
    though she sat still for quite a long time watching I know it will be a
    few years before I will bring her to The Nutcracker (and a matinee at
    that).  
    
    Meanwhile, we brought her to see The Lion King in June and she was
    fabulous.  She never made a peep and was mesmerized by the whole thing.
    
    I guess it depends on the medium and the expectations of the audience.
    
    Susan

            We took our 2 children (6.5 year old boy, and 3 yr
    old girl) to the Nutcracker at the Palace Theater in
    Manchester NH.  Both the kids really enjoyed it and it kept
    their attention throughout, although I'm sure my daughter
    didn't understand fully what the story was about.  (It lasted
    2 hours, including a 15 minute intermission).  But they did
    enjoy all of the music, dancing, and scenery, (and they were
    both well behaved!).  I noticed that there were a number of
    children around the same age as Jaime (our 3 year old), although 
    most were older.
            You may want to consider taking a younger child to
    one of the many smaller-city Nutcracker performances.  The
    dancing, costumes, etc, were not as good as the Boston Nutcracker,
    but then again, neither of my kids would know the difference!
    (And the ticket prices were much less, as well.  So if we would
    have had to leave in the middle, it wouldn't have been quite so
    bad!)  Also, the audience seemed tolerant of those children who
    did make some noise.
            (Now if only my husband had enjoyed it more!  Although
    he was bored, he behaved himself nicely!!)
    
    FWIW,
    
    Nancy
    
              

    Our two girls, ages 5 and 6, were IN our local production of
    the Nutcracker and loved it.

    Out here in Western Mass, there is an excellent performance by
    the Pioneer Valley Ballet Company.  They hire professionals from
    New York for the major roles and provide parts for many younger
    dancers.  They also have a large number of parts for 'just kids'.
    One of the absolute favorite parts of this ballet is when a
    the little girl is pulled to the magic land in a small sleigh
    by about 8 tiny 'reindeer'...and our girls got to be reindeer
    this year.  Quite a thrill for them...backstage with the real
    dancers, up on stage to bring her out and then back at the end
    of the performance to bring her back home.

    They have a different set of reindeer for each performance...and
    the audience is packed with reindeer parents/grandparents, etc.
    From reindeer, the kids can 'graduate' to the kids that come out
    from under Mother Ginger's skirts.  And from there, perhaps they
    really learn ballet.

    I think 4 year olds can be thrilled by this ballet.....if they
    are prepared for it.  Read them the story ahead of time so they
    know what is happening.  Perhaps rent the ballet and watch
    it before hand.  Some kids cant set still for 2 minutes...dont
    take them.  But most kids will love this performance.
    bob

    FWIW, along with the new restrictions at the Boston Ballet, they
    specifically say no lap-sitting.  :-(  I noticed this in the programme 
    at intermission, Alex having spent the entire first half on my lap! 
    
    *blush*,
    Leslie

    
    I just thought no lap-sitting meant you have to pay for every seat.
    My daughter spent most of the time on our laps to see even though
    she had her own seat.
                
    We saw both the Boston Ballet production (excellent) and a local
    production at Mechanic's Hall in Worcester.  My daughter is almost
    4 and takes ballet.  We reviewed the story with her, played the music
    (and danced :-)!) so she would know what to expect.  We explained that
    every version was a little bit different.  She was great.  There was
    a little whispering about what exactly was going on but she was fine. 
    
    She had an excellent time.  But, she's proven she can sit through
    productions.  We've seen Sesame Street live and Disneyland on Ice
    productions.  She loves going to the movie theater.
    She's fascinated by "shows".  Also, I'm not afraid to leave even
    if I've paid for the seats.  If it's not going to be a pleasant 
    experience for all (including those surrounding us), we'll leave.
    We've only done this once during a movie.  
    
    Another thing we've done is not buy tickets for something until the
    last minute.  This way, if there's a cold, or my daughter just isn't
    in the mood, we don't go.
    
    Three is a little young for the Boston Ballet version of the
    Nutcracker.  Take her to a local production.  Lots and Lots of little
    kids were at the Mechanic's Hall version.  (Also, only $7.00 for kids,
    $14.00 for adults).  Make sure to get first row in the balcony so
    she can see.

    
    	Also, note that some local productions take more than
    2 hours.  The Boston Ballet version was exactly 2 hours as
    previously mentioned.  The one at Mechanic's Hall was closer
    to 2 1/2 to 2 and 45 minutes (with intermission).  They had
    more trouble with the scene changes.  They weren't as smooth
    and took longer.