As teenagers, we are constantly aware of the endless stream of entertainment found on our phones. Why seek entertainment elsewhere?

I’ll tell you why.

Since there are endless videos, podcasts, movies, and TV shows on our phones, we can watch them whenever we want. What we can’t access 24/7 is real, in-person entertainment. The kind that inspires you. The kind that forces you to leave your bed and take the subway to the theater. Living in New York City, we have access to so many fabulous opera, theater, and dance performances. 

Ballet is a thriving field with shows full of talent and strength. Going to the ballet beats staring at your phone any day; waiting in the ticket line, going up the grand steps to your seat, flipping through the Playbill, and hearing the collective “ooh” as the lights finally dim are all part of the one-of-a-kind experience that is live entertainment.

The New York City Ballet (NYCB) is one of the ballet companies resident here at Lincoln Center. NYCB dancers follow the George Balanchine style of ballet, characterized by quick footwork and sharp arabesques. 

NYCB’s 2026 Spring Season is coming up this month, with their first performance, All Balanchine III, opening on April 21. Throughout the season, the company will be performing:

• Coppélia
• All Balanchine III
• Innovators & Icons
• Eclectic NYCB II
• Eclectic NYCB III
• Contemporary Choreography III
• Spring Gala
• All Bach
• Sensory-Friendly Performance

View their full calendar here!

One thing that may serve as a barrier between you and the theater is that tickets are costly. And while NYCB (and all other ballet companies) offers quality shows that justify their prices, you, as a teenager, might not be able to afford them. That’s why NYCB has $30 for 30. 

Anyone ages 13 to 30 can get $30 tickets to NYCB’s Spring Season here. All you need to do is register, then once you receive the “One More Step to Register for $30 for 30” email, upload a picture of your student ID so that they can verify your age. On April 21, $30 for 30 tickets will first appear for the Spring Season. Every Tuesday at noon after that, you will be able to check the page linked above to see the available tickets for that week. 

The $30 for 30 program is there for you. It is meant to allow young people to get access to quality shows full of emotion, beauty, and strength.

Ballet has been around for hundreds of years, and as a result it is now the product of hundreds of years’ worth of critique and change, making it worth your time, attention, and yes, money, to go watch a show this Spring.