The Royal Ballet in 2020: 2019 / 2020

The book captures the resilience of The Royal Ballet during the COVID-19 pandemic, with photographs of classic productions, community projects, socially distanced performances, and dancers in rehearsal wearing face masks.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Royal Ballet Company was furloughed and training programs were quickly set up virtually when the UK government ordered theatres and arts centers to close in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Audiences were confined to their homes, and many switched their engagement to streamed digital performances live from the venue. This changed the audience experience significantly, not only because of the nature of the performance dramatically, but because it brought in new international audiences almost overnight. This book of photographs captures a period unlike any other, a journey that starts with the Company in normal times and develops into plans being made for a gradual in-person return to the Royal Opera House under strict COVID safety measures, such as mask-wearing, extensive COVID testing, and artists working in bubbles. Through a selection of striking photographs, the book showcases the remarkable resilience of The Royal Ballet throughout this year, a resilience that is shared by so many arts organizations affected equally dramatically by the pandemic. This Season in Pictures volume contains photographs of classic Royal Ballet productions, including Swan Lake, Coppélia, and The Nutcracker, dancers engaged in community projects, socially distanced performances on The Royal Ballet stage, performances with totally empty auditoria, and dancers in rehearsal wearing face masks.

Weight: 436g
Dimension: 245 x 246 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786829191
Edition number: Illustrated ed