How to Spend a Night Out at the New York City Ballet

By , a freelance writer who covers beauty, health, style, travel, and food. She's a contributing editor at the Wall Street Journal with bylines at Vogue, CR Fashion Book, and Oprah. Illustration: Gabrielle Lamontagne The audience at Lincoln Center is younger than ever before. This year, 51 percent of ballet-ticket buyers were under the age of 50 with 20-somethings in the majority of those seats. Whether you’re a longtime bunhead or a newbie, there has never been a better time to go. Fiorella Valdesolo spoke with NYCB diehards about their favorite seats, the shows on their must-see lists, and where to eat and drink before and after the final curtain. Ticket prices start at $42 and can run up to $305, depending on how close you sit to the center. “There is no one obstructing you, and you get a beautiful view of the entire stage,” says Kathleen Sorbara, owner of the vintage store Sorbara’s. That’s a particular draw for shows that fill the space, such as Jerome Robbins’s Glass Pieces. But Wendy Goodman, New York Magazine’s design editor who has been a balletgoer since childhood, pays to sit at the front of the theater. “I like to be in the orchestra as close as I can get so I can really see the dancers,” Goodman says. “To see the work up close is extraordinary.” Season-ticket holders frequently forgo their spots, so it’s worth calling the box office to see if there are any better seats in your section at the same value. “Sometimes if I paid for row F in orchestra, a seat in row B might become available,” says Sorbara. Goodman will show up in person to ask about ticket returns even if a show is listed as sold out. “Very often there will be a seat,” she says. Illustration: Gabrielle Lamontagne “Ballet is one of the rare things that can actually benefit from the altitude,” says Lilah Ramzi, a Vogue editor and co-founder of the SIL. “From the fourth ring, you can see the architecture of George Balanchine’s choreography — the extraordinary patterns of the dancers.” Krissy Jones, founder of Sky Ting, will buy $45 side- orchestra seats in a pinch even though they’re technically labeled “limited view.” Subscription packages have a three-performance minimum and include preferred pricing and unlimited complimentary ticket-exchange privileges. Add a friend-level membership, a relative bargain starting at $100 for behind-the-scenes access, discounts on merch (like the Edward Gorey–designed five-positions tee), and invitations to rehearsals. “There is something wonderful about seeing the dancers in that context, and the machinery of it all, before the curtain goes up,” says Ramzi. Sorbara suggests finding a dancer you really like and following their performances. For her, it’s Mira Nadon, who has a “naïve beauty to the way she dances,” Sorbara says. For Goodman, it’s Chun Wai Chan, India Bradley, and Roman Mejia, among others. For writer Laura Regensdorf, it’s Adrian Danchig-Waring, who is departing NYCB in October after 23 years. This season, Jewels, Balanchine’s dazzling ballet in three gemstone acts (“Emeralds,”“Rubies,” and “Diamonds”), is considered a must-see, as is Pithoprakta, which hasn’t been performed by the company in nearly 60 years. Illustration: Gabrielle Lamontagne If you want to dine at pre-ballet mainstays like Cafe Fiorello, Salumeria Rosi, and Cafe Luxembourg, book a few weeks out, as they tend to fill up on big show nights — though if you’re flying solo, you can usually get a seat at the Luxembourg’s bar for a quick preshow steak au poivre and an icy martini, Sorbara says. For a fabulous ’90s New York experience, Jones loves showing up early at Shun Lee West. “The dining room is major: glamorous and theatrical,” she says. Post-ballet, Sorbara will walk ten blocks south of Lincoln Center for a borscht martini at Russian Samovar, where, fittingly, the walls are adorned with pictures of Baryshnikov. How to Spend a Night Out at the New York City Ballet Your product is saved! You’ll receive emails when your saved products go on sale. Manage preferences.