How The Curtain Was Raised

In March 2022, American Ballet Theatre was on tour at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, California. Erica Lall was cast in a principal role. Erica and her mom, Hermione, purchased tickets for her relatives who were very supportive on her journey to becoming a dancer. They lived in the area and their hearts were bursting to witness this starring moment on the stage. When the relatives found that they could not make it to the performance, Erica decided that the tickets should go to others who would be specially touched to see her performance. She chose to donate the eight tickets to two dance studios in local communities. Her wish was that talented and deserving ballet students would have the opportunity to be touched and inspired to see themselves reflected through her, in a major role.

The studio directors took great care in choosing the recipients, emphasizing the rarity and value of the gift of the tickets. The response from the students, studio directors, instructors and parents was overwhelming. Many of the students had never been to a major theater or seen a professional ballet company performing at the highest level. They described the experience as life changing. At that moment, an unmet need in our communities was discovered. Erica and Hermione were compelled to continue to do their part to fill that need. Every child deserves to know that they can dream of a future at the highest height. The support we provide encourages students of the performing arts who have not yet been given permission to reach for the stars.