Kids & Families FAQ
Photo © Paul Kolnik |
If I bring a child/children to the Theater, do they need a ticket?
All individuals regardless of age are required to have a ticket to be admitted into the auditorium. This includes children of any age.
At what age should I first take a child to a ballet performance?
It is New York City Ballet’s policy not to admit children under the age of five (5) to repertory performances. This policy does not apply to performances of
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™; however parents, grandparents and adult chaperones should be aware that it is still best to wait until a child has reached the age of five given their limited attention spans and ability to maintain quiet for reasonable periods of time. If children become disruptive during a performance to other members of the audience, ushers will insist that the child/children and accompanying adults leave the auditorium.
Can I bring an infant to the performance?
The David H. Koch Theater discourages anyone from bringing newborns or infants to a performance as their behavior is especially unpredictable and can be startling or disruptive to both the performers and audience members. If an infant disturbs the performance, the accompanying adult will be required to exit the auditorium.
Are there discounts for children tickets?
There are no ticket discounts of any kind for performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™. Family Fun Subscription Series tickets allow a half-price ticket for up to four (4) children attending as part of that specific subscription series. Full-time high school and university students (ages 29 and under) may attend performances as part of NYCB’s Student Rush program. Student Rush tickets are available for select repertory performances. Click here for a detailed description of NYCB’s Student Rush program.
How can my child dance in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™?
The children who perform in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ are all students at the School of American Ballet, the official school of NYCB. Auditions are not open to the general public.
Can you recommend a ballet school for my child?
The School of American Ballet is the official school of New York City Ballet. Click here for the SAB website. NYCB is not in a position to recommend other schools. However, as a general rule, it is a good idea to look for a school with a teacher(s) with professional performing experience, a school with good contacts and connections within the professional world of ballet performance, and a school with adequate performance opportunities for your child. In the Students section you can find a listing of schools where current NYCB dancers studied before their enrollment at the School of American Ballet and a list of schools where NYCB alumni are affiliated.
How can I get a dancer’s autograph?
The best way to get an autograph is to wait outside the Stage Entrance of the David H. Koch Theater (located at West 62nd Street & Columbus Avenue) after a performance. If you wait until you see your favorite dancer, they most often will autograph your Playbill. To avoid disappointment, be aware that if a dancer performs early in a program, they may be otherwise engaged or have left before the performance is over and may not necessarily be exiting the building at that precise moment. During summers in Saratoga, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the rehearsal space and entrance/exit to the building are adjacent to the auditorium and dancers and their autographs are readily available.
Can I have a dancer’s email address?
Out of respect for the dancers’ privacy, the Company does not release their personal contact information to anyone. Anyone wishing to contact a dancer may write to them at: New York City Ballet, David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center, NY, NY 10023. -
