Advantages: Fabulous production - you can book online! (It didn't fit in another category)
Disadvantages: I cannot understand why it's so difficult to eat out in Covent Garden before the Ballet!

...Kenneth MacMillian is one of the greatest modern choreographers. He developed some of the most expressive modern ballets whilst working at The Royal Opera House. This revival of one of his key works is well worth a visit. If you have never been to the ballet or, perhaps, have been put off by the idea that ballet is 'twee', avoids adult themes or is not driven by narrative, this is the ballet to change your mind. The ballet is an interpretation of Abbe Prevost's Manon Lescaut, a classic French novel, and it's heroine is a woman for whom it comes as a revelation that love is worth more than money. Early reviews of the ballet made much of how unlikeable Manon was - what bad company she kept - and how her redemption could not salvage her as a likeable character. But for today's audience, reared on a diet of Ally Mcbeal, Desperate... Read review

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Advantages: an exellent film
Disadvantages: only a film to see once

...As you probably all know by now, Billy Elliot is the story of a young boy who joind a ballet class. Well, i'm just going to tell you a bit about the film, because too much information will spoil it if you decide to watch it. Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an 11 year old boy who lives in Newcastle with his dad, older brother and grandmother. His mother died when he was younger. Billy's dad sends him to boxing class every week, whist at ine of his boxing lessons, Billy stumbles across a ballet class and starts to join in. He becomes good at it and every week instead of boxing he does ballet. His ballet teacher helps him to learn ballet and gets him an audition at the royal school of ballet. When his father hears about this he stops Billy from going to ballet. But soon realises that Billy's mother would have wanted him to be happy, so he... Read review

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Advantages: Funny, very well acted and scripted
Disadvantages: Not for the young kids as contains many scenes of swearing

.... Wilkinson (Julie Walters). Soon he gets an audition to the Royal Ballet school, but has to persuade his dad to support him and to get the money needed to travel to London. The story unfolds to a supurb climax, with great acting throughout. Billy Elliot was a great film. It was very realistic, and very funny. But it also had it's serious aspects, the loss of Billy's mother, the miner's strike etc. It was very well written and the acting was top-class (Young Jamie Bell played an amazingly convincing role as Billy). I recommend everyone to go and see this film, regardless of whether you like dancing or not, it's a movie not to be missed.... Read review

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Advantages: Great British film and performers.
Disadvantages: Not impressed by special features.

...Billy Elliott is a great British film, boasting a cast of impressive actors/actresses from the country. They include; the brilliant Julie Walters, the young Jamie Bell and Jamie Draven (who is now more recognised in British sitcoms). Released in 2000, the story tells of a young boy from the North of England during the coal miner's strikes, who becomes torn between what his family want and his love of dance when he accidentally comes across a ballet lesson due to missing his boxing lesson. The ballet teacher; Mrs Wilkinson (Walters) sees potential and encourages Billy to really think about developing further by applying to the Royal Ballet School. However, the secret ballet lessons do not go down well with his macho father and brother who are both coal miners going through a difficult time. Scared of the assumption between ballet... Read review

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Advantages: 100% class
Disadvantages: None for me

...While thumbing through my newspaper over the weekend, my eye spotted a very favourable review of the latest dramatisation of the Romeo & Juliet story, performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Given that the first UK performances were in the region I live (Manchester’s Lowry Theatre), I just could not resist booking a couple of tickets for the first performance of the UK tour at £18 a ticket that gave us a good seat in the Gods. Just who could resist another version of the Shakespeare story of those ill-fated young lovers from Verona? It may have been retold perhaps thousands of times and in hundreds of guises, yet it seems never to fail to capture our attention and draw out a tear or two. The performance by the Royal New Zealand Ballet was to prove to be no exception although my initial thoughts were of disappointment at seeing... Read review

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Advantages: Very good choreography.
Disadvantages: Predictable

...Billy Elliot folows the story of a young boy who comes from a Northern background. He is very interested in ballet but it is not sociably acceptable for him to dance. To start with, his father is very unhappy about him dancing as he wants him to carry on the family tradition of being a boxer. Over time, he learns to acceot the idea. Billy's natural talent is encouraged by a dancer who has given up on life. She gets him an audition for the Royal School of Ballet, in London. He gets a place and becomes the lead. It's all very very predictable and quite cheesey. It is also a film that makes you annoyed. The writters obviously have absolutely no idea what being a teenager involves and so I recommend that if you are between the ages of 11 and 17, don't go. It will just wind you up.... Read review

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Advantages: Keeps you fit and a gives you great posture
Disadvantages: Aching Muscles

...I started adult ballet classes about 7 years ago as I had a back problem and needed to do something that would strengthen my back muscles. I entered my first class with absolute fear as I am not a performer, in my first classs I learnt about how you use your body without causing it any injury.