Opera singer Petra Wells based in Belfast urges people not to be discouraged from opera after actor Timothée Chalamet stated no one cares about ballet or opera. Wells performs multiple roles and solos for Northern Ireland Opera. She notes an appetite for opera in Northern Ireland, with shows selling out even after pandemic restrictions limited crowds.

A performance of La Traviata sold out before it began. Northern Ireland Opera reports regular sell-outs and more than 100 local singers auditioning for 30 chorus development spots. Cameron Menzies, chief executive of Northern Ireland Opera, states the organisation operates from strength to strength.

Dancer Charlotte Fastiggi, company director and head teacher at Professional Academy of Dance NI in Holywood, County Down, describes ballet and opera as skilled professions requiring dedication. Fastiggi sees many aspiring young ballet dancers in Northern Ireland and stresses the need to support arts access.

Nicole Meier, principal of The Dance Studio in Bangor, County Down, which has operated for 30 years, calls ballet the foundation of dance styles. Meier reports children aged three continue to enroll eagerly, with alumni performing worldwide.

Wells says opera carries a reputation for exclusivity but welcomes all audiences. Fastiggi states ballet and opera unite people and persist because audiences enjoy them. Meier notes dance thrives in joyful moments through lifelong training.