Set on the roster for the night of New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center were four notable performances: Sophisticated Lady, The Infernal Machine, Hallelujah Junction, and West Side Story Suite.

Considering it was my first time watching a ballet performance, I was pleasantly impressed with both the skills of the dancers and the techniques used in each performance. The Infernal Machine, a pas de deux performed by Janie Taylor and Jock Soto, was by far my favorite performance of the night. Using bold, unconventional moves and accompanying the dance with a suspenseful music score, the performance sent haunting chills through my body. Also notable was West Side Story Suite, which was the only performance of the four to incorparate speaking dancers.

Ballet may not be for the timid, as there are many impressive techniques and moves that may seem utterly confusing and probably require a deeper understanding of the more technical side of dance. However, as long as you watch the performances with an open mind, you are bound to find at least one piece enjoyable, whether it be because of the music, the movements of the dancers, or the flow of the whole piece. I went in with little to no understanding of ballet (I didn’t even know what a pas de deux was!) and came out completely astounded by some of the performances.

If you have not yet attended a ballet performance, be sure to add that to your summer to-do list! Snag a ticket from High 5 sometime this week to see Alvin Ailey perform at Lincoln Center before tickets sell out soon.