Oklahoma City Ballet announces changes in their upcoming 2020/21 Season of professional ballet performances due to COVID-19. In order to keep their dancers, staff, and patrons safe during the pandemic, the season will start in December with The Nutcracker: Short & Sweet, for eight performances at the Civic Center Music Hall. Fall productions of (e)motion(s), A Triple Bill and Cinderella were forced to be cancelled. The season is scheduled to continue with The Firebird, February 12-14, Future Voices, March 18-21, and The Little Mermaid, April 16-18.
To best protect patrons, all performances in the 2020/21 Season will be one act to avoid intermissions. Artistic Director Robert Mills was very thoughtful in planning these alternative performances because they are all meant to be one hour or less. “There will still be fabulous music, sets, costumes, and beautifully choreographed dancers,” Mills said. Not only will the abbreviated season help in lessening the spread of COVID-19, but it will also help Oklahoma City Ballet, a 501(c)3 organization, weather financial hardships caused by the virus.
“We deeply regret having to alter our season, but we are grateful to keep on dancing for the community who supports us so strongly,” says Artistic Director Robert Mills. Lady of the Camellias and Made in the U.S.A, A Mixed Bill, which were scheduled for spring 2021 will be postponed until 2022.
The Nutcracker: Short & Sweet will feature excerpts featuring dancing snowflakes and everyone’s favorite characters from the Kingdom of Sweets, which is traditionally in Act Two.
All Oklahoma City Ballet performances except Future Voices will be performed at the Civic Center Music Hall, which is investing heavily in their facility to ensure the highest safety standards. At this time, the theater is requiring social distancing, masks, and temperature checks before entering, however some of those policies might change by December. Additionally, hand sanitizer will be provided, no-touch bathroom faucets have been installed, and the entire theater will be disinfected between each performance.
Future Voices will be held at the Ballet’s Susan E. Brackett Dance Center located at 6800 North Classen Boulevard in Oklahoma City. “We will know much more about this virus by March, and we like that we can control our facility to maximize safety for all,” says Executive Director Jo Lynne Jones.
Mills was to debut a highly-anticipated ballet entitled A Little Peace at April 2020’s production, which has since been cancelled. Oklahoma City Ballet is pleased to announce that a portion of A Little Peace will be premiered at Future Voices in March 2021. A Little Peace was created in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing and includes music by Oklahoma’s own Vince Gill.
Season ticket packages are on sale now at okcballet.org or by calling (405) 848-TOES. Oklahoma City Ballet is also accepting donations which can be made online or by calling (405) 843-9898.