Monster deals in dance

FREE With no cash on the line, both you and the performers can afford to be a little experimental. Movement Research, a dance lab, showcases works-in-progress every Monday at Judson Church (8pm) for free—no reservations or tickets required (though you should arrive a half hour early for a good seat). This week, Shizu Homma works some Butoh-influenced action. Also try the 92nd Street Y’s informal Fridays at Noon series—the hour-long showcase is hit-and-miss, but there’s never a run on seating. (Friday 26, watch for Philippa Kaye, who’s been known to be influenced by animals.)

$10–$25 At this price level, the standout is clear: The Kitchen. The nonprofit arts center makes most of its cash through fund-raisers, so the tickets are cheap, usually just $12. “Dance and Process: Kathryn Sanders, Noemi Segarra, and Lise Serrell” (Nov 30, Dec 1), for example, includes three new works from the choreographers for $10. Over at P.S. 122, another nonprofit, there are plenty of $10–$15 gigs, but you’ll have to hand over $20 to see Maria Hassabi’s Gloria (Nov 7–10), and Saori Tsukada and John Moran’s What If Saori Had a Party (through Nov 4). The latter is described as “Teletubbies on acid.” Um, that sounds redundant, but, sold.

Dance Theater Workshop’s shows are generally $20–25; Jérôme Bel’s global smash Pichet Klunchun and Myself (Nov 7–10) is $25—and unmissable. Tickets for all of the above are a mouse click away, but we can give you at least one strategic tix tip: New York City Ballet’s Fourth Ring Society $20 membership lets you buy two balcony seats (rows C–O)—sometimes it’s better to be higher for a ballet—for a mere $15 each. It can pay for itself after one show.

The Nutcracker

$27–$100 Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a little extravagance. Tickets to American Ballet Theatre’s fall repertory season, at New York City Center, are selling out fast. Orchestra premium views will cost you $98, but great center top-tier seats go for as low as $27—and you can save 27 percent if you buy tickets to at least three performances. If you’re as flexible about time as you are with money, off-peak New York City Ballet orchestra seats are $98 each (dates vary depending on demand; for, say, The Nutcracker, all matinee seats are “peak”). That’s $22 cheaper than prime peak seats. If words like prime and peak speak to you, then…

$100+ You’ll want to go all out for George Balanchine’s kaleidoscopic holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Even at $98–$120 (off-peak to prime-peak shows), First Ring seats are all but sold out, and orchestra seats are getting scarce. Upgrade to the $190–$210 Sweet Seats package, and you’ll land a prime center orchestra seat, a photograph with a Nutcracker character and a special souvenir program. The 10 percent gift shop discount is just the icing on the sugarplum fairy.

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