I'm still feeling the awe of seeing the Cincinnati Ballet last night. What a fabulous spectacle! We saw the production of the Wizard of Oz. It has been a favorite movie of mine since I was a small child and I couldn't wait to see this show. I haven't been to a ballet since I was in elementary school and saw Swan Lake. I never forgot that emotional experience! Last night's production invoked those same feelings. The costumes were gorgeous! The dancing was beautifully choreographed and expressive. The puppeteer that handled the puppet of Toto was amazing! The orchestra was fantastic, as well. It was an incredibly emotional experience to witness our Cincinnati Ballet in action. read more

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I just attended the first event this season for New Works. It is a great idea, and a fun, behind the scenes experience. And who can beat the price? (FREE!!) One week before the official opening of each new Cincinnati Ballet show, they open up a few spots in their practice studio for guests to watch them rehearse. It's a great way to preview the coming show, while sitting only a few feet away from the stars. The seating is assigned, so get your tickets together with the people you want to sit with. Try to get there a little early as well because the parking lot has limited space available. The main part of the rehearsal is about an hour long, then you can continue watching or file out for free pizza and water, wine, or beer. It's a very social setting, so this is your time to mingle and start up conversations with the people involved as well as the people attending. Here's a rundown on the skinny of the event: Watch rehearsal in the studio with Cincinnati Ballet Company dancers and choreographers. Enjoy delicious pizza provided by LaRosa's. Sip beer provided by Arnold's Bar & Grill and wine provided by Ludlow Wines. Meet Cincinnati Ballet dancers and staff. Go behind the scenes. Socialize Time: Rehearsal begins promptly at 5:15 p.m, Reception begins at 6:15 p.m. Reservations are required. "Please note that all seating is assigned and that Cincinnati Ballet reserves the right to redistribute your tickets if you have not checked in by 5:10pm. Handicapped accessible seating is available in limited amounts; should you require handicapped accessible seating, please notify the ticket representative when making your reservations." The way the access to this event breaks down is as follows: Seating is limited. If you have a subscription package or are a donor to Cincinnati Ballet, you will be given first shot at the available seating. A few days later, reservations will be opened to all those who hold a ticket for the individual performance. For every ticket purchased, you will get 2 reservation spots to Ballet & Beer. If this does not fill the event space to capacity, it will be opened up to the general public at a later date. These events can easily be booked to capacity quickly, so be sure to keep on top of the reservation deadlines. If it sells out, don't fret. You can call the day of to see if there are any early cancellations. Additionally, you can show up and at 5:10, tickets that have not been claimed may be redistributed. Also, if they do fill the seating, they may be so inclined as to allow some people to enter and stand in the aisles. Arnold's is also running specials for Ballet & Beer which allows you to bring in your ticket stub in exchange for a buy one, get one free entree after the show. When the show officially begins, Arnold's will offer a special $40 price which allows you to get dinner before the show, see the show, and then return to Arnold's for dessert after. These are limited though, so you want to reserve in advance in possible. This is a fun way to support the arts, get a feel for what goes into a production, get a sneak peek of the show, and socialize with fellow patrons. read more

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I just got home from Cincinnati Ballet's production of their Stravinsky double feature of The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, and I'm telling all of you to get down to Music Hall this weekend and see it! I'm going to take you inside the mind of Adam Hougland, the choreographer, as I imagine his thought process. When you're told that you're going to choreograph The Rite of Spring, your first reaction is utter excitement, immediately followed by total terror. This is a ton of music in which rhythm (and very rough rhythm at that) is the main feature, and you get the job of setting dance to it. There's no story except for a human sacrifice, so you don't have anything to build on. So, Adam says, "Music, please tell me what to do! Please!!!!" Here's the great part: The music told him what to do, and he listened to it. At the end of the ballet, I said to my friend, "That was a perfect visual of the music. I think a deaf person could have watched this and known the music." Every movement of every dancer was determined by the notes and rhythms being played, for the entire time. That must have made it a little easier for the dancers to learn the complicated choreography, because they just had to hear the music, and they would know what they are doing at that point. In my 65 years, I'm sure this is the first time I have ever had the chance to see The Rite of Spring danced, and it was worth the wait. Carmen DeLeone and the CSO did a great job in the pit, of course, and that's what we have come to expect of them. This was just an amazing ballet experience. I hope they do Petrouchka soon! read more

There are barely any words I could muster to describe how incredible my experience is every single time I attend a ballet performance. The costumes! The lighting direction! The FANTASTIC orchestra! It's always such a pleasure to watch these passionate artists do what they were born to do. I especially love attending their Bold Moves season closer. This was my third year in a row being a part of the audience for this event and there was truly something for everyone on the roster. The Wizard of Oz premiere, choreographed and composed by our own Victoria Morgan and Carmon DeLeone, was so fun and nostalgic, Near Light by the unparalleled Ma Cong was heartbreakingly perfect (I actually cried), and Mozart's Sechs Tänze by LITERALLY renowned Jiří Kylián had me laughing all the way through. The ballet never ceases to inspire me! Truly a gem in the Queen City's crown. :) read more

So in love the ballet boys are so so hot, OMG. Whoever thought ballet was feminine not quite the story, erotic oh very much so, yes! Fan for life. read more

Cincinnati Ballet - Intermission as the crowds are hitting the bar for refreshment. A truly wonderful experience. - Performing Arts Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a beautiful ensemble! We saw Mozart's Requiem with this company and it was worth every penny. (This can be an expensive experience, of course, so keep an eye out for specials!) I was floored by the performance. Before the performance, I was curious as to whether it'd be more abstract or so story-driven it'd be dull. I was pleased to find the performance to be right in the middle: accessible enough that all four of us really connected to it, abstract enough that we all took away our own interpretations of various parts of the story. I found myself ruminating about art in general. For someone as tied to a computer as I am, it was really beautiful to see something so human. My boyfriend commented on a particular part of the opening routine where the dancers were slightly off-sync-- well of course they were. They're human, not automated. We were watching a dance that would only happen that exact way one time, no matter how much they practiced. That's what separates art from... well, just about everything else. read more

Let me just say this: Cincinnati Ballet is incredible. I'll try to explain my love of this company without gushing too much. First of all, I feel so fortunate to have such a dynamic and thriving ballet company right here in Cincinnati. The dancers and artistic staff are immensely talented and passionate, and that comes through on such a high level at every performance that I've been to. The first ballet I ever saw in Cincinnati was Cinci Ballet's Romeo and Juliet, which was breathtaking beyond belief. I was in tears by the final scene, and so were many others in the audience (judging by lots of surreptitious sniffing and eye-wiping). What made the story really work was artistic director Victoria Morgan's choreography, which was sleek and beautiful and so, so natural. I think her work is a standout feature which is a big part of what makes Cincinnati Ballet so special. Case in point: A couple of years later I was in NYC and got to see the American Ballet Theater perform Romeo and Juliet, and it just wasn't the same. I was really surprised, because this is New York, right? ABT is a super prestigious company in a world-famous venue, shouldn't it be incomparable to a "small-town" company like cinci ballet? But no, with Cincinnati's stunning costumes, sets, and KILLER choreography (not to mention soulful, gorgeous dancing), ABT's R+J didn't hold a candle to Cincinnati's. I feel like I'm going to get clobbered by ballet critics for saying this, but it's true. All the subsequent productions I have been to with Cinci Ballet have more than lived up to the quality of Romeo and Juliet. There's a good mix of full-length story ballets and mixed-repertoire modern works. Don't miss the modern programs-- they are just as stunning as the classical ones! Maybe even more so. Cincinnati Ballet is a gem in this city, and I wish more people knew about it. Also take advantage of the classes at their Otto M. Budig Academy! Or just go and watch King Arthur's Camelot or The Kaplan New Works Series and prepare to be amazed. *if you are a student, you can get really good seats for just $20 or $25! read more

This might be the best way to get your man to go see the ballet with you, serve Pizza and Beer and make it FREE!! About a week before the Cincinnati Ballet opens their latest performance, currently a Midsummer Nights Dream, they host a Ballet and Beer event. You are able to go into their practice studio and watch the dancers rehearse. It is awesome to sit so close to the stars and get a preview of what goes on behind the scenes. It is a free event, but space is limited, so you have to RSVP quickly or win the tickets like I did! (via Yelp! again) The director welcomes you and explains a bit about what they are performing for you and a little background from the scene. It is so interesting and such a different take on the ballet. No fancy costumes or sets, no live orchestra, just the dancers doing what they do best, dancing their hearts and legs off! It is very raw and you really get a sense of how hard they work. You are up close enough to see their sweat and hear them breathing. I think they all look amazing, but you can see the director and choreographers critiquing and taking notes for the actual performance. Okay, so the rehearsal part takes about 30 minutes to an hour, not too long, not too short. Then you can head on out to the lobby to mingle and socialize all while munching on FREE Pizza and guzzling FREE Beer! LaRosa's provides the pizza, the Beer is donated by Arnold's Bar and Grill and Ludlow Wines graciously donates wine. They also have soda and water if you are not drinking. We definitely got our mingle on and had a blast chatting with everyone we met! After the dancers finish their practice, they head on out to partake of the pizza and beer, which they totally earned! Great time to chat with the dancers and/or staff of the Ballet. We met the PR lady for the Ballet who went into glorious detail about the basement vault filled with years and years of costumes!! She even mentioned possibly opening it up for a tour, pretty please count me in for that! What a fun way to experience the ballet! Behind the scenes and have I mentioned the FREE pizza and Beer yet? If you are a ballet lover and your dude not so much, try a Ballet and Beer event. A WIN/WIN for both of you and a perfect combination for Date Night! read more

I have had the pleasure to enjoy ballet performances in several cities. The Cincinnati Ballet productions are always impressive. I love taking my daughter to the very kid-friendly Nutcracker each year as well as other performances as appropriate. The costumes are gorgeous, the music impeccable, and the dancers are incredible. If you aren't sure of your thoughts on ballet, check out a performance! read more

I am genuinely a fan of the Ballet. It is a world class institution and all of their performances are amazing. I loved when they did Carmen. That being said, we were there for the Sugar Rush event and were disappointed. Here is why: A) No real crowd control measures. Everyone was just standing around or jostling in line without knowing which queue they were in. Lines converged from opposing points making traffic a hassle. They definitely need a bigger space. B) It seems the vendors were not instructed to give out smaller samples so by the fourth booth I had already eaten more sugar than a small kid ( four full sized cupcakes) on Halloween. I felt sick by the sixth booth. It would be great if they handed out a cardboard to-go box at the door and you could stuff it with goodies or told you to bring your own, but since this was our first year we were completely unprepared. C) They ran out of water less than an hour into the event. It was stifling and I had just consumed a ton of sweets, I was desperate for water. read more

I went to watch King Arthur's Camelot on Valentine's day event with my family. It was awesome show that i have never seen it before​. They did great job. This is a fun way to support the arts in the Cincinnati area. I wish more people around Cincinnati know about it. Cincinnati Ballet is a amazing company. I loved it. read more

While visiting Cincinnati, friends took us to the Cincinnati Ballet to see The Kaplan New Works Series. It was an extraordinary performance. We were a varied group. My husband and I are decades long subscribers to the San Francisco Ballet, preferring new works, such as performed here. A couple of the others in our group had not seen much ballet before. Everyone was thrilled with the performance. Truly great. Bravo! read more

ALICE (in wonderland) ballet in Cincinnati 10/26-28/2012 is a dream fantasy full production of entertaining orchestra, choreography, costumes, lighting and plot. Matthew Pierce created 98 minutes of original score in the spirit of Peter & the Wolf created in collaboration with choreographer Septime Webre. It is wonderful to see such exquisite costumes in a ballet. It is a child-friendly ballet with lots of action and no sensuality. Ballet goers will be impressed by the dancing, too. read more

This review is for the adult classes, which I've been taking for the past few months. Love the Wednesday ballet/jazz combo with Patti - it's beginner-friendly, but also fast-paced enough to keep it interesting for novices. If you're a little more advanced, I'd recommend the Monday night ballet class, which is taught by a member of the company. Either way, it's good exercise and fun to pretend you're a pro dancer for an hour. read more