Time Out's bluffer's guides to opera, ballet and contemporary dance

To the uninitiated, the worlds of opera, ballet and contemporary dance may be intimidating – but that doesn’t mean they have to be impenetrable. If you’re thinking of dipping your toe in the murky waters of high culture ­– and we’re not talking about yoghurt – Time Out’s three-part bluffer’s guide has you covered. Learn up on the traditions, brush up on terminology, read up on etiquette and soon you’ll be feeling right at home among Sydney’s arty-fartiest and fancy-schmanciest.

The bluffer's guide to contemporary dance
	"What is contemporary dance?" "What will I get out of watching it?" "Do I have to dress up?"
The bluffer's guide to ballet
	"When do I clap?" "Why do ballerinas wear tutus?" "Why do the dancers seem to have, well, rods up their arses?"
The bluffer's guide to opera
	"Will I be bored?" "How much are tickets?" "What’s this about subtitles?"

Time Out's picks of the best current and upcoming dance, ballet and opera productions in Sydney:

Contemporary dance

Spring Dance There's something for everyone – yes, even contemporary dance newcomers – in Sydney Opera House's annual festival of dance, curated by Rafael Bonachela.

Conversation Piece Dance and theatre collide at Belvoir St Theatre, starring dancers Alisdair Macindoe, Rennie McDougall, Harriet Ritchie and actors Alison Bell, Megan Holloway and Matthew Whittet.

Variant A work celebrating the diversity of the human body at Seymour Centre's Reginald Theatre.

Ballet

Eifman Ballet Witness the acclaimed St Petersburg ballet company on their first ever tour of Australia.

Don Quixote The Dancers Company join forces with the Australian Ballet at Parramatta Riverside Theatres.

Also check out the Australian Ballet's YouTube diary series, A Year Inside the Australian Ballet.

Opera

The Pearlfishers Opera Australia's intriguing story of masks, veils, fire, water, gold and silver.

South Pacific Opera Australia does Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic with Lisa McCune, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Kate Ceberano and Eddie Perfect.

Also check out our pick of new opera productions in 2012.

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