The Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the performing arts industry. Many performers have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. With no stage performances happening anytime soon, it's been difficult to say when dancers will return to the stage. However, there is one ballet company that has been able to open back up.
In the land down under, The Australian Ballet has made a return to the stage after a year of being in strict quarantine. Australia has started to open back up with their case numbers dropping down. This has allowed the company to meet again following their country's safety guidelines.
They held their first performance, Summertime at the Ballet, at the end of February. This performance including classical ballet variations and modern pieces in the set. People were allowed to go to the performance in person which is very exciting. It was also live-streamed internationally on February 28th making it accessible for many viewers around the world.
The Australian Ballet is expected to continue with its performance for the 2021 season. They are scheduled to perform Romeo and Juliet, Anna Karenina, Harlequinade, and original contemporary repertoire.
Of course, The Australian Ballet is very lucky to have this opportunity. Australia is one of the few countries (along with New Zealand and Taiwan) that have lowered their Covid cases over the past year. They have been able to open back up and start to return to normal. There is still restricted travel outside of the country and a travel ban on non-citizens. However, restaurants, malls, bars, sports games, and many more things have opened back up.
Many countries are struggling to keep Covid under control and cases are increasing rapidly. In the U.S., over half a million people have died from the Coronavirus. The future is foggy and even with the vaccines rolling out, it's hard to say when the U.S. could return to normal. I think I speak for everyone that we would all like to be over this as soon as possible, but it's impossible to say when it will be over.
Australia is fortunate enough to plan for the future since they've been able to keep the Coronavirus controlled. As The Australian Ballet has scheduled their shows for the rest of this year, it's likely that they will be able to continue them. But for the U.S, the arts may not return to the stage until 2022.
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