Joffrey Ballet Cancels Performances For Rest Of 2020

Ballet Slippers
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(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — COVID-19 has led the Joffrey Ballet to cancel its performances for the rest of this year.

Artistic Director Ashley Wheater on Tuesday said the ballet is running out of time to get its dancers ready for performances before the end of the year. Wheater says there are also health concerns.

The Joffrey Ballet estimates it will lose about $6.5 million because of the cancellations, he said. This includes performances of "The Nutcracker" that would have taken place in December.

The organization has created a Crisis Stabilization Fund, which hopes to attract donations to offset at least some of those losses.
“The loss of The Nutcracker alone—more than half of the Joffrey’s annual earned revenue—compounds a financial crisis for the Company that began this past spring with the cancellation of several important performances and programs,” Greg Cameron, president and CEO of the company, said in a news release.

The Joffrey hopes to resume its schedule in February 2021.