Corona Daily 349: Pas De Deux: Part Final

In the second week of August, one Mariinsky ballerina complained of an elevated temperature- 38.7 degrees. And weakness. Then another. And another.  Mariinsky tested once every two weeks. In one go, 30 members tested positive- most of them ballet dancers. One of them was to play Myrtha in Giselle.

Three people were hospitalized, including a 20-year old male dancer who was put on a mechanical ventilator. On 15 August, the theatre sent an email asking 300 artistes and staff to isolate themselves at home. All ballet performances, classes and rehearsals were suspended.

The theatre didn’t offer these details to the spectators who had bought the tickets. Mariinsky’s statement said: “The administration of the Mariinsky theatre takes extra care about the health of the artistes and other employees, by following all the guidelines of the Russian Health Department. At present, as a matter of precaution, ballet rehearsals have been stopped. Ballet performances are postponed. The tickets will be valid for the new dates.”

Russia’s health body, however, confirmed 30 Mariinsky ballet members had tested positive, and three were hospitalized.

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Meanwhile, Bolshoi had one ballerina testing positive. 54 dancers who had come in contact with her were sent home. Bolshoi has started testing weekly. All dancers have been asked to wear masks outside the studio, and not to go out unless absolutely essential.

The Staatsballett in Berlin is planning to conduct tests more than once a week. They plan to open with a ballet on 27 August, where only 6 dancers are on the stage, each of them staying 10 feet apart throughout.

Ballet is a contact dance. Dancers hold hands, touch each other, men lift women. The Oklahoma ballet director said it is not going to be safe, unless the dancer is living with the partner. His suggestion is to select pairs living together, whether romantically involved or not. Not really practical, considering many dancers are married, and dance with different partners.

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In the ballet world, the biggest casualty of the coronavirus is “the Nutcracker”. This fantastic Tchaikovsky ballet starts on Christmas Eve. The two-act ballet is full of adults and children occupying the stage. On 18 December 1892, it premiered in the same Mariinsky, much before Russia becoming Soviet. It is probably the most performed ballet in the world. Most ballet companies in Europe and America run it throughout November and December, the culminating performances happening in the Christmas week. (Worth finding two hours to watch it online, if you haven’t seen it, or if you have).

Nutcracker starts with nearly 100 people on the stage. The mesmerizing Waltz of the Flowers has more than 50 dancers. Even the pas de deux (the duets performed by a danseur and a ballerina) have dozens of supporting dancers surrounding them. Cracking the nut of social distancing is simply impossible. The Belfast Grand opera, the Scottish ballet, Birmingham Royal ballet, Texas ballet, Charlotte ballet in North Carolina, Sacramento ballet are among the several ballet companies that have cancelled the Nutcracker season and tours.

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The latest health expert advice says this virus can stay in the body for up to 3 months. People who have recovered from Covid-19 may continue to test positive during the three month period. If Mariinsky and Bolshoi rely on testing, some ballerinas will be out of action for three months.

The ballets can surely get the Russian vaccine on a priority basis. Ballet performances can offer proof of the pudding for that vaccine.

For the time being, Mariinsky has replaced all ballet performances with operas. It is likely that for many months, ballet lovers will have to be satisfied with what is available on YouTube.

Ravi