Media Know Before You Go: Ballet Rehearsals
This resource offers a quick guide to what you may experience at a ballet rehearsal.
BalletX Open Rehearsal
Wed. Dec. 4, 2024
2p.m.
Event Information
-
Genre
Performances for Young Audiences
BalletX’s Mapping Out A Sky. Photo by Vikki Sloviter.
BalletX’s Mapping Out A Sky. Photo by Vikki Sloviter.
BalletX
Open Rehearsal
Enjoy an insider’s look at our visiting companies as they prepare onstage for performance.
BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet whose dancers were named “among America’s best” by the New York Times, commissions choreographers from around the world to create dance that is “fresh, inclusive, and connects to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen). Under the direction of Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, BalletX has produced nearly 130 world premiere ballets by more than 70 choreographers, a record “few companies can match” (The New York Times). The acclaimed company returns after its sold-out 2019 Kennedy Center debut at DEMO by Damian Woetzel. BalletX presents Jodie Gates’ Beautiful Once, a work created in honor of community, inclusion, and divine resilience set to recorded music by Son Lux; Takehiro Ueyama’s Heroes, which honors the citizens who played a role in Japan’s recovery after World War II and features live music by composers John Adams and Kato Hideki; Matthew Neenan’s Mapping Out a Sky, inspired by the unique rhythms of Stephen Sondheim; and Justin Peck’s Become a Mountain, featuring Baltimore-native composer and musician Dan Deacon performing live alongside members of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
December 4, 2024
Eisenhower Theater, recommended for grades 6-12
Estimated duration is approximately two hours with an intermission.
Image caption: BalletX’s Mapping Out A Sky. Photo by Vikki Sloviter.
What to Watch for & Think About at a Ballet Rehearsal
- At an open rehearsal, audiences are invited to watch the final stages of preparation before opening night. You will be able to watch as the artists and technicians work out the final details of their production.
- While the details can change based on what the cast and crew need to be ready, most rehearsals include a full run-through of the piece, with occasional stopping and starting. Watch carefully during these breaks and think about the full elements of a production.
- Although a rehearsal is often very similar to a performance, it’s possible there will be some differences, like some performers will be conserving their physical movements for the real thing or some costumes may be getting their finishing touches off stage. And staff and technicians may be in view, observing and making notes that you might not see during a performance.
- Even though the performance is not quite ready, why do you think the company would want to invite an audience to see a rehearsal?
- For a deeper dive into what you can expect, visit our Know Before You Go: Ballet Rehearsals guide.
Explore More With Our Digital Resources Library:
- Discover how a ballerina’s footwear is specially constructed to look dainty while being amazing gear with the Pointe Shoes feature.
- Explore famous examples of the love dance duet in the resource “Pas de Deux: It Takes Two.”
- Dive into the five major elements in dance and how they aid in artistic expression in “Do You Wanna Dance?”
Share your feedback!
We’re thrilled that you’ve joined us for a performance this season! We would like to hear from your students and you about the experience. After the performance, follow these steps to share feedback:
- Share the survey link with your students for them to complete .
- Complete .
- If you’re a parent or caregiver, .
Each survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. The results will be used to inform future Kennedy Center Education program planning. Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable perspective!
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In this 6-8 lesson, students will be introduced to basic ballet terms, positions, and movements. They will discover the history of ballet, the meaning of keywords, and practice French pronunciation. Students will demonstrate basic ballet positions and movements through planned choreography.
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