The COVID-19 pandemic has brought terrifying unknowns for everyone, but many artists may have found themselves losing their livelihoods in moving into isolation.

Series of stops only questions asked without clear answers: How can we continue to live with our lives on hiatus? Especially for artists whose job it is to interact with the world and find inspiration in people, the pandemic was stifling.

Confusion over how to move forward has affected many professional arts companies, including Ballet West.

Known as one of America’s Top 10 Ballet Companies, the Salt Lake City-based dance company has documented its experience working through COVID-19 times in docuseries “In the balance: Ballet for a lost year.”

In the nine-episode series, the show sheds light on some of the dancers’ personal stories, the show’s sense of choreography, and the intricacies of setting up a COVID-19 ballet show, a decision made by Adam sklute , the artistic director of Ballet West.

In the pandemic, a niche has opened up for creative generation like this, and w ith cases in Utah increasing at an alarming rate, Ballet West had to both take safety precautions seriously and continue to carry its message to the public.

Docuseries explore this duality – we see dancers masquerading in practice, with the added pressure of getting sick accompanying the anxieties of being perfect.

Discovering “A Lost Year”

The docuseries, led by Diana Whitten and Tyler Measom, amplifies the difficulties of being a professional ballet dancer and breaking down stereotypes that reside in the art form.

While beauty standards and gender and racial stereotypes hold power in ballet, the Salt Lake City company features a diversity that changes the workspace for all dancers.

Company member Kat spoke about it in episode four as a black woman in a whitewashed industry. Whether it’s being overlooked for leading roles or struggling with smaller things like the right shade of pantyhose for performances, Kat faces discrimination within her profession but continues to dance with a goal.

Along with the self-pressure of the ballet world, the docuseries look at how members of the dance company cope with loss of income and living in isolation.

Beckanne and Chase, ballet dancers featured in episode three, discuss the financial hardships that come with not being able to dance. Company members tell their stories of money issues, love, opportunities, and new achievements on themselves – hard times bring both inspiration and heartbreak.

Respond to the world

Some of the docuseries revolve around the establishment of a safe production in 2020, its importance expressed by the choreographer Jennifer archibald , founder and artistic director of the Arch Dance Company, and Nicolo Fonte, Ballet West’s resident choreographer.

As much of the dance and art is about performance and entertainment, the two choreographers wanted to convey an abstract perspective of what was going on in the world with COVID-19 and other headlines, including the presidential election. Whether it was to help overcome trauma and cope with loss, everyone was in pain and needed a little normalcy.

With practices and rehearsals, the big show is at the center of the last episodes of the series, touching the nerves and the anticipation of the event.

Archibald returns for the rehearsals before the show; the technical elements, props and lighting are managed with social distancing procedures in place, and everyone is faced with the fact that the show can be canceled at any time in the midst of the pandemic.

The last episode went off perfectly as the company seamlessly put together Archibald’s choreography titled “Tides” and the Casting work of “Faraway Close”. It was a beautiful series finale and a crown jewel of Ballet West’s work.

As things start to reopen Ballet West will be back for live and in-person performances in October, starting with the production of “Dracula”. Other productions will include “The Nutcracker”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Pieces of Glass” and “The Little Mermaid”.

In the meantime, all episodes of “In the Balance: Ballet for a Lost Year” are available to stream on their website. website . T ticket sales and dates can also be found here .

[email protected]

@bown_inde