Young New Yorkers ditch bars; Barre.
New York City Ballet has experienced a recent youth boom thanks to a series of discounted tickets, with sales up 50%, organizers said.
The under 30 set is taking full advantage of the $30 for $30 program. The program, now in its sixth season, is changing the landscape of Lincoln Center from stereotypes. retire crowd.
The audience is now filled with young people who admit to opting for snacks and drinks in lieu of the no-contract extravaganza offered to people between the ages of 13 and 30.
“Without this, we wouldn't be here,” Gramercy Park resident Henry Leland, 25, said before Wednesday's screening of “Mozartiana” and his first ballet performance. “And on a random Wednesday night… Certainly not,” he told the Post. Until now.
“I think it’s huge because the price point makes sense.”
The $30 for $30 program was introduced in 2017 as a way to keep younger viewers in the seats, but that demographic has gotten worse. outdated-That's so nutty.
During the 2023-24 season, NYCB sold more than 17,000 tickets within the program alone, an increase of about 50% from the previous year, a spokesperson told the Post.
Approximately 200 program members enjoy the $30 deal at any given show in the 2,550-seat David H. Koch Theatre. This is a significant discount considering tickets can cost as much as $350.
Adele Roncy, 24, who encouraged Leland to take advantage of the program, said she learned about the program a year ago and has since won 30 tickets for $30 each to Wednesday's performances of “Mozartiana.” He said that it was his ninth performance.
“I used to be a ballerina, so I love ballet, but to be honest, I don't want to go to ballet,” said Roncy, a French immigrant living in Tribeca.
“If I was going to spend that much money, I might go buy a ticket to 'The Nutcracker,' but I wouldn't do this kind of performance for $200. And definitely not as often as I do… in New York. There is no cheaper activity.”
Leland added: And that's different. ”
These two were two of the 150 program members who attended Wednesday's performance, a number that matched the attendance the previous day.
An additional 200 tickets will be distributed for Thursday and Friday dances, with a few still available.
Demand for this weekend's screening of “Coppelia” was so high that NYCB was forced to discontinue its $30 for $30 program, but by the time 500 members had obtained discounted tickets. I couldn't reach it.
“This is really great. A lot of young people don't know much about ballet and don't go to see ballet unless they're a ballerina. So even people who don't do ballet have the opportunity to go see ballet. I think it's a great thing to have. Learn about it and be inspired by it,” said Eva Torre, a Joffrey Ballet School student who saw New York CB's performance for the first time as part of the program on Wednesday. 18 years old) said.
Fellow student Aymana Tajibaba, 24, who lives in Los Angeles, pointed out that the show is also a great opportunity for socializing that doesn't revolve around partying or making big bucks.
Steven Yang
“It's a good chance to see the New York City Ballet. If the price was about $100, it would be difficult for us to get in because we are students,” Tajibaba said.
Friends Stephanie Liu, 23, and Luciana Vasquez, 25, arrived an hour early for Wednesday's show in hopes of getting the remaining tickets, but if the discounted tickets sold out, they would have to pay half the regular price. He confessed that he doesn't splurge on tickets.
“I'm going to go have dinner instead!” Vasquez said. Eventually, the two were able to get inside.
Annika Ouellette, 30, who has been a member since the $30-for-$30 program began, said it's clear the culture at Lincoln Center has changed over the years, but there's still room to diversify the ballet audience. he said.
“I'm still amazed. I don't think very many people know about this.” Ouellette, who commutes from Stamford to Manhattan, said every time she's there, she says, “Wow, there aren't that many young people.'' 'I think so.
She said there is a stereotype that ballet-going is an older audience's passion, but she estimates the disparity is not as “extreme” as it is for opera.
With her 31st birthday coming up in May, Ouellet is eager to watch as many discounted shows as possible before she's no longer eligible for coupons.
“I'm still going. I love ballet!” she said.
