Dancing in a Pandemic

Arts Across NC

Did you know that on average, a dancer's performance career tends to end around the age of 35? Dancers' retirement comes for a multitude of reasons: physical injuries, a slowing down of the body, the decision to have children, or just a desire to try something new in their 20s or 30s after the intense dedication given since early childhood--and a pandemic. The pandemic has put many of our social and professional activities on hold, including temporarily closing many dance studios and gyms, forcing dancers to practice at home without proper space and equipment. In this episode, Doug Singleton, Executive Director of Charlotte Ballet, and professional dancers Alessandra James Ball and Amelia Sturt-Dilley discuss the pandemic’s impact on the performing arts dance sector.