Which Ballet would be the best for a ballet virgin?

[Galadriel9]

The Russian ballet is performing 3 ballets on 3 consecutive nights and I would love to go and see a ballet for the first time. Which would you recommend?
Giselle or Sleeping Beauty or The Nutcracker.

[MarkRae]

Nutcracker, definitely. You'll be amazed at how much of the music you actually recognise...

[sddsddean]

Agree Nutcracker is probably best from those 3, but all of them are 'non heavy weight' stuff. All three will have music you know.

[joggerjayne]

Yes, no question ... The Nutcracker

[Mr Veritas]

Here comes answer agreeing No$!
The Nutcracker has to be the most approachable ballet (for a bellet virgin of ANY age).
Closely followed by:~
Sleeping Beauty
Copellia
Giselle
or
Romeo & Juliet
Mainly because they all have stories that are easy to follow,and music and choreography that would appeal to all ages,and all levels of ballet experience.
Enjoy!

[Mr Veritas]

Sorry that should read:~
Here comes answer agreeing No 4!

[Galadriel9]

Thanks everyone. Have managed to get tickets to see The Nutcracker on Saturday night.

[joggerjayne]

Actually ... maybe not The Nutcracker.

In fact ... anything but The Nutcracker.

[tamborine]

Be sure to arrive early......doors are closed promptly!

[beejay1124]

mind yer nuts on the closing doors

[Mr Veritas]

Now for a bit of trivia:~

In German the Nuntcracker is "Die Knussknacker"
Knacker in German means cracked,which is no doubt where get our word/expression "knackered" from.

[fredpuli47]

Ah.Nutcracker is awful, in that case (Murphy's Law and all that).Poor you!
But seriously,it's extremely popular as an introduction to ballet and the story is particularly enchanting for children.It has a children's theme.
Giselle and Swan Lake have themes which mean a lot more to adults; love and deception, betrayal; which are lost on youngsters though the ballets can be seen simply as fairy tales with lots of ballerinas in tutus.Giselle is the shortest ballet in the classical repertoire (a plus?).It needs a very good actress in the lead,good dancing is not enough.Swan Lake has very impressive music (Tchaikovsky's grandest and most dramatic tune figures).It has two alternative endings; we dance the more tragic one,Russians dance the happier one, courtesy of Stalin , who wanted happy endings ! Swan Lake is more popular, but I rate a good Giselle to beat anything.