Colorado Ballet debuted its first and final live performance program in more than a year on Saturday, April 10th at Lone Tree Arts Center. Through It All: A Colorado Ballet Season Finale is a celebration not only of the company being back on stage but is also a way to give back to patrons who have continued to support Colorado Ballet through a precarious year.
The production features a diverse repertoire with classical variations, pas de deux and contemporary ensemble pieces from quintessential classical ballets, including La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Paquita and Swan Lake.
Slated to perform the White Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake and sections of the Act II pas de deux from Giselle, Colorado Ballet principal dancers Dana Benton and Yosvani Ramos were exposed to COVID-19 only days before the premier and were unable to perform on opening weekend.
“When we got to back into the studios it was super exciting and a little bit nerve-wracking all at the same time,” says Benton, “but when we had to go back home again it was really disappointing and disheartening. It felt like we were going backwards.”
Benton was directly exposed to the coronavirus through her three-year-old daughter who contracted it from school. Benton and Ramos quarantined for twenty-two days before being able to return to the studios on Wednesday, April 14th.
As Colorado Ballet sought to return to the stage, dancers and faculty worked closely with Colorado Ballet’s infectious disease consultant Dr. Lauren Brett Jaggers during the rehearsal process. Because Benton and Ramos were rehearsing independently as their own pod, no other dancer needed to quarantine.
Colorado Ballet Principal Dancers Dana Benton and Yosvani Ramos rehearse Swan Lake
As part of Colorado Ballet’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, dancers are divided into pods to which rehearsals and performances are restricted. When dancers and faculty returned to the studios in February of this year, pods were determined based on a variety of factors, including responses to a survey gauging comfortability with interactions and if dancers lived together as roommates or spouses.
“Because Dana and I are in our own pod, we don’t ever see the other dancers,” says Ramos. “Each pod has a different time to enter the building and to leave the building. Because of the protocols Colorado Ballet has in place, we were never in contact with any of the other dancers.”
After an emotionally, mentally and physically tasking year, Benton and Ramos are excited and grateful to be back in the studios and to perform in Sunday’s closing matinee in their original roles.
“We’re ballet dancers. We like to perform, and we like to rehearse.” Ramos says. “It gets to a point where there is only so much you can do at home. This year has been tough for everyone, especially artists.”
In accordance with federal, state and local COVID-19 advisory, Colorado Ballet is only able to welcome 137 patrons to the theater, and those in attendance are required to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings.
Through It All runs through April 18, 2021. Live streams of each performance are available to those who are unable to attend in-person.
Featured Photo of Dana Benton and Yosvani Ramos for Colorado Ballet Principal Dancers Return captured from the embedded video.
