COVID-19 Updates and Information
Latest News
Digital Adult Ballet Classes for the Week of April 1
As of March 30, 2020
Take class with TWB this week! Find this week’s digital class schedule below and read more about our live-streamed classes.
This Week’s Open Class Schedule:
Wednesday, April 1
12:00–1:30PM EDT, Beginner Ballet 2 with Therese Gahl
Thursday, April 2
1:00–2:30PM EDT, Beginner Ballet 1 with Helga Paris-Morales
Friday, April 3
12:00–1:30PM EDT, Advanced Beginner Ballet with Nancie Woods
Saturday, April 4
10:00–11:30AM EDT, Beginner Ballet 2 with Shu-Chen Cuff
These open classes provide adult students the opportunity to receive feedback, in real-time, in a live-streamed ballet class setting. Classes cost $13 and enrollment is required.
To register, login to your adult student account or create a new student account. Once logged in, select the “TWSB for Adults” tab, then “Adult Programs” from the drop down list. Click “Enroll Now” for the class you would like to attend. Need help accessing your account or want to use a class credit? Email Kourtney Ginn. Registration will close when the class reaches capacity or 30 minutes prior to class.
This Week’s ‘Pay What You Can’ Class Schedule:
Wednesday, April 1
6:30–8:00pm EDT, Intermediate Ballet with Ruben Martin. Live accompaniment by David Morse, a pianist with the Cincinnati Ballet.
To join, click here or use Meeting ID # 714-215-573. No pre-registration is necessary.
While payment for the class is not required, we do hope participants will consider making a donation to our Stronger Than Ever campaign, created to ensure that the current COVID-19 state of emergency strengthens our commitment to each other and our art form.
Postponed: The Washington Ballet Gala
March 27, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are actively making arrangements to postpone the Gala, which was scheduled to be held on May 8 at The Anthem. We are finalizing details for a new date in the Fall and will be back in touch shortly once those details have been solidified.
Thank you for your continued support and for sticking by our side in these times of uncertainty. Together, we will come back stronger than ever. Stay safe, healthy, and happy.
Dance with us Digitally!
March 26, 2020
We are pleased to offer new, live-streamed class options for our Adult Program students and dancers around the world! Learn more here.
Stronger Than Ever Campaign
March 24, 2020
Over the decades, you have helped us build an incredibly strong community at The Washington Ballet. Together, we need to ensure that the current COVID-19 state of emergency strengthens our commitment to each other and our art form.
Your support of this special fundraising appeal, Stronger than Ever, will sustain the ballet during this time of crisis. Your generosity will ensure that we can reopen as soon as possible.
Every gift will go to ensure that we are able to return to the classroom, studio, and stage stronger than ever.
Through the generous support of Eve and William Lilley, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000.
In time, this too shall pass, and we will be eager to celebrate with you the beauty in humanity that is revealed so exquisitely through our art form. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support, generosity, love, and strength.
A Message from The Washington Ballet Leadership
March 23, 2020
Dear All,
As our world navigates this unprecedented global emergency, we are grieving the loss of the comfort and stability of the routine of our daily pursuits, either at work or school, and ponder the possibility of losing so much more. It is during the difficult times that we are reminded of our shared humanity and the need to care for one another… and that the stringent measures affecting us so dramatically are in place to protect the health of our local, national and worldwide population.
As The Washington Ballet explores new ways to serve our community with the transformative power of dance, we want to assure you that there is much beauty ahead, waiting on the other side of this crisis. We are grateful for your messages of support and appreciate your patience as we shift our immediate focus to a completely digital experience. With a tremendous effort from our School Division Heads and Donna Glover and Kourtney Ginn, we are building our virtual ballet school, which will include Google Classrooms and classwork for all levels with both live and recorded instruction and assignments. Our company and studio company dancers are joining forces with the entire international dance community, using social media platforms to dance together at home. Every day, we further develop new ways to connect virtually, striving to keep our dancers, students, families and broader community engaged and inspired while thoughtfully evaluating how best to position The Washington Ballet to weather this critical period and to flourish in the long term.
Remember, Lisa Gardiner established the first studio of “The Washington Ballet” in 1922 ~ it has withstood all of the hardships of the last century and it will survive this one!
During this precarious time, we recognize more than ever our dedication to carry forward hope and beauty through our art form and will do our best to offer support to our large and loving community. Our organization impacts thousands of lives…. internally, our dancers, students, families, staff, faculty, pianists, production and facilities crew; externally, our devoted patrons, our Dance DC residency partners and the 6,000+ DCPS students and residents to whom we have introduced our art form in this season alone through our field trips and Dance For All offerings.
Together, over decades, we have built an incredibly strong community, and together we need to ensure that the current state of emergency strengthens our commitment to each other and to The Washington Ballet. We are launching a special fundraising appeal called Stronger Than Ever to draw in much-needed support that will sustain the ballet during this time of crisis and enable us to return to the stage stronger than ever. We will continually update our website with information on how you can help us and will share what we are doing to help others.
In time, this too shall pass….and we will be eager to celebrate with you the beauty in humanity that is revealed so exquisitely through our art form. Until that time, we will continue to uplift, engage, and inspire, from afar, via our social media channels. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of #TWBdigitaldance.
On behalf of The Washington Ballet dancers, staff, and Board, we remain positive and steadfast in our commitment to you. We are all in this together and will emerge stronger, together.
Sending appreciation and hope,
Julie Kent, Artistic Director & Michael Pastreich, Executive Director
Information Regarding Performances
Update: Swan Lake Rescheduled for June 13-21
As of March 12, 2020, 5:00PM
The Washington Ballet is closely following the developments of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health and government authorities. After careful consideration and an abundance of safety precautions for our patrons and artists, The Washington Ballet has made the decision to move the April 9 – 19 production of Swan Lake to June 13 – 21. The production remains at The Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater.
Patrons who purchased single tickets for Swan Lake will soon be able to exchange their tickets to the performance date of their choice in their price level, subject to availability. We will communicate to these patrons via e-mail in the next few days with the “go-live” date for exchanges.
Washington Ballet Season Ticket Holders’ tickets will automatically be migrated into the new show times, with their seat locations preserved. We will communicate with Season Ticket Holders via e-mail with their updated show dates. Additionally, physical tickets for Season Ticket Holders will be sent in the coming weeks. Exchanges for alternative dates will be welcome by calling The Washington Ballet’s Patron Services team at 202.891.7020 or emailing tickets@washingtonballet.org. The Washington Ballet will communicate to Season Ticket Holders via e-mail in the next few days with the “go-live” date for exchanges.
Tickets for the new dates will be available for purchase in the coming days.
We are thankful to our patrons and the greater Washington, DC community for understanding the reasons behind this schedule change, and truly appreciate and value your support and investment in The Washington Ballet and in DC’s vibrant arts community.
TWSB News
Digital Adult Ballet Classes for the Week of April 1
As of March 30, 2020
Take class with TWB this week! Find this week’s digital class schedule below and read more about our live-streamed classes.
This Week’s Open Class Schedule:
Wednesday, April 1
12:00–1:30PM EDT, Beginner Ballet 2 with Therese Gahl
Thursday, April 2
1:00–2:30PM EDT, Beginner Ballet 1 with Helga Paris-Morales
Friday, April 3
12:00–1:30PM EDT, Advanced Beginner Ballet with Nancie Woods
Saturday, April 4
10:00–11:30AM EDT, Beginner Ballet 2 with Shu-Chen Cuff
These open classes provide adult students the opportunity to receive feedback, in real-time, in a live-streamed ballet class setting. Classes cost $13 and enrollment is required.
To register, login to your adult student account or create a new student account. Once logged in, select the “TWSB for Adults” tab, then “Adult Programs” from the drop down list. Click “Enroll Now” for the class you would like to attend. Need help accessing your account or want to use a class credit? Email Kourtney Ginn. Registration will close when the class reaches capacity or 30 minutes prior to class.
This Week’s ‘Pay What You Can’ Class Schedule:
Wednesday, April 1
6:30–8:00PM EDT, Intermediate Ballet with Ruben Martin. Live accompaniment by David Morse, a pianist with the Cincinnati Ballet.
To join, click here or use Meeting ID # 714-215-573. No pre-registration is necessary.
While payment for the class is not required, we do hope participants will consider making a donation to our Stronger Than Ever campaign, created to ensure that the current COVID-19 state of emergency strengthens our commitment to each other and our art form.
TWSB COVID-19 Updates
As of March 24, 2020
Dear TWSB Parents,
As our world navigates this unprecedented global emergency, we are grieving the loss of the comfort and stability of the routine of our daily pursuits, either at work or school, and ponder the possibility of losing so much more. It is during the difficult times that we are reminded of our shared humanity and the need to care for one another… and that the stringent measures affecting us so dramatically are in place to protect the health of our local, national, and worldwide population.
In the past week, since closing our building entirely, we have spent all of our efforts exploring new ways to support our students during this state of emergency. We are grateful for your messages of support and appreciate your patience as we focus on building our virtual ballet school. With tremendous effort from our School Division Heads and Donna Glover and Kourtney Ginn, we have created Google classrooms with classwork and assignments for all levels as well as live and recorded instruction. Every day, we further develop new ways to connect virtually, striving to keep our students and families engaged and inspired, while thoughtfully evaluating how best to position The Washington Ballet to weather this critical period and to flourish in the long term.
During this precarious time, we recognize more than ever our dedication to carry forward hope and beauty through our art form and will do our best to support our school community. It is our plan to resume classes April 27 following DCPS updated school calendar but will defer to the CDC and Mayoral recommendations. We are also planning to extend our classes further into June, knowing that our young dancers will be eager to continue training. Tuitions will continue to support our planning and virtual training during this time; our intention is to fulfill our commitment to our students.
Together, over decades, we have built an incredibly strong community, and together we need to ensure that the current state of emergency strengthens our commitment to each other and to The Washington School of Ballet. As concerns mount on how this crisis will leave us in a position of extreme financial vulnerability, we are launching an emergency relief effort, Stronger Than Ever, so that we may survive the short term and continue to serve our community for generations to come.
In time, this too shall pass…. The Washington School of Ballet is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year! It has withstood all of the hardships of the last seven decades and it will survive this one!
Until that time when we can be together again, we will do our best to uplift, engage, and inspire our beautiful and talented student body.
On behalf of The Washington School of Ballet Division Heads, Xiomara Reyes, Monica Stephenson, Kristy Windom, Pamela Bjerknes, and Molly Hohlt, faculty, staff, and pianists, we remain positive and steadfast in our commitment to you. We are all in this together.
Thank you,
Julie Kent