Staatsballett Hannover: Ballet at the opera house on Opernplatz

Anyone entering the opera house on Opernplatz in Hanover will experience the Staatsballett Hannover as a permanent ensemble of the State Opera. The performances range from full-length narrative ballets and neoclassical choreographies to radically modern dance pieces. Unlike a pure theatrical performance, ballet conveys its plot and emotions without a single spoken word. Music, lighting, costumes, and the pure body language of the dancers form a unity that impacts the audience.

For beginners, this approach sometimes feels unfamiliar: you instinctively look for a linear narrative, which often does not even exist in contemporary works. Some pieces function more like a moving sculpture or a painting that creates moods. If you want to become active yourself, you can find your own training groups via ballet for adults in Hanover. For pure artistic enjoyment in the stalls or balcony, however, simple curiosity about the dynamics of the ensemble is completely sufficient.

Ballet visits are no longer bound by the strict etiquette of past centuries. While many guests use a ballet premiere as an occasion for festive attire, neat everyday clothing is perfectly sufficient for a regular repertoire performance. Above all, it is important to respect the concentration on stage: rustling candy wrappers, glowing smartphone screens, or whispering during the danced passages disturb the performers just as much as the people sitting next to you.

A central element of every performance is the applause. In ballet, it is traditionally permitted to clap briefly in the middle of a scene after particularly demanding solos or pas de deux, provided the music offers a noticeable pause. The big cheers are reserved for the ensemble during the final applause. If you want to find out in advance which forms of performance appeal to you compared to other dance styles, take a look at our guide Which dance style suits me in Hannover?.

A visit to the Staatsballett Hannover becomes even more immersive when you know the dramaturgy of the production beforehand. The Staatsoper offers a free introduction to the work before almost all performances, usually about 30 to 45 minutes before the start of the show in the foyer. There, dance dramaturgs explain the choreographic features, musical leitmotifs, and the history of the work.

In addition, it is worth taking a look at the ensemble's annual special projects: for example, the company traditionally also shapes artistic program items around the festive Opera Ball in February with its own choreographies. If you feel like dancing yourself after the experience in the auditorium, you can learn practical basics in a wide variety of styles with a dance course in Hannover.