Among the benefits for donors to Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center is the unique opportunity to sit in on select rehearsals of some of the world's finest dance companies. This experience is designed to provide a new perspective on how the Music Center's renowned dance performances come to be while enriching one's enjoyment and understanding of the art of dance.

On July 16, the Music Center held an open rehearsal for its donors to watch American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) Romeo and Juliet in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This special membership event was in conjunction with the company's engagement at the Music Center.

Victoria Lindsley O'Hara, a board member of Center Dance Arts, a membership organization that supports the Music Center's dance presentations, attended both the July 16 open rehearsal and ABT's performance the following night. Reflecting on her experience at the rehearsal, Victoria called it "such a treat, and a wonderful way to reward supporters of dance."

She continued, "It really gave a glimpse into all the details that go into such a grand, full-scale ballet. There was a loud speaker where a woman's voice gave tips to the dancers on their stage placement and the timing of their entrances and exits. After each act, all the dancers would mill around on stage as various directors would give feedback. It was fun to see the dancers out of their characters, practicing steps and discussing their parts with the 'experts.'"

Another highlight of the open rehearsal for Victoria was getting to watch different dancers inhabit the roles of Romeo and Juliet, and how the two casts, though equally exceptional, differed in style.

She concluded, "Getting to see the rehearsal definitely deepened my understanding of the ballet, and if nothing else gave me a fun 'insider's view' which increased my enjoyment of the performance the following night. Also, it humanized the dancers and directors who work so intensely to bring the audience a ballet that then looks so effortless and flawless. Thank you to ABT and the Music Center for allowing dance lovers a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes action of a world-class dance company. I will never forget it!"