A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE COVID CANCELLATIONS
For many in the dance world – performers, teachers, audience members – the industry has never looked more different. Children are learning their barre work with a dining room chair (avoiding the cat), theatres and rehearsal spaces have been vacant for months, and the lack of preparation for the virtual world meant that dance came to a stand-still in 2020.
But hope is on the horizon.
With the new Covid-19 Roadmap, plans for the world reopening are looking promising (and realistic). However, should the plans not go ahead as laid out, the industry is ready to adapt. With IDTA hosting their traditionally annual London conference virtually last weekend, the 2021 horizon for dance is looking hopeful as it ever has.
Whether rejoicing as audiences in a theatre, dancers on a stage, or virtually plodding on over Zoom, the year of dance is looking exciting.
What We Missed
March 2020
Move It!
Move It is the biggest dance event in the world, where specialist guests run workshops, dance teams compete for spots on the main debut stage, and dance icons perform for crowds.
In March 2020, just before the first national lockdown, Move It confirmed the cancellation of their event due to the large groups being discouraged by the government.
Due to happen this month, Move It 2021 was rescheduled but hasn’t been confirmed as cancelled. Perhaps the company are hoping that they can host the event later in the year. However, 11-13th March has been confirmed as the dates for 2022.
To keep up to date with any confirmation of the 2021 events, and to hear about the ticket drop for 2022, you can sign up to the mailing list.
May 2020
IDTA National Scholarships and Awards
Every year the IDTA examiners nominate candidates at exam sessions they adjudicate. These select individuals compete against one another to win a scholarship of money to help fund their dance endeavours.
It is a huge honour for both nominees and their dance schools, and the classes are taught by industry professionals and marked by IDTA chairs.
Unfortunately the 2020 events were postponed and the 2021 events, as they usually take place in the first 6 months of the year, have also been confirmed as cancelled.
As these are a nomination-based event you cannot apply to them, but if you’re interested in what they look like there are clips available of their YouTube Channel.
June 21, 2020
Miss Dance and Dance Master
Typically taking place in the Blackpool Opera House, Miss Dance and Dance Master is a competition which aims to find the best dancer in the country. Dancers in 2019-2020 competed in regional heats, aiming to earn a lucrative place in the Grand Final of Miss Dance and Dance Master.
Unfortunately, those who managed to get through in those 2019-2020 heats are still waiting for their chance to perform, as the 2021 rescheduling of the event has also been postponed. The event was due to take place on the 6th of June which unfortunately places it two weeks behind the Roadmap’s expected ‘release of restrictions’ date.
It is unclear whether those who hold spots in the final will still have a valid place in the rescheduled 2022 Final, as the IDTA has stated that information about heats for the 2022 Final will be released later this year. Click to see their updated News Blog, and the calendar for the date of heats can be found here.
Keep your fingers crossed for 2022!
Theatres and Participation
Unfortunately, lockdown hit the performance industry hard. Theatres and arenas have been shut for over a year, which also means all their scheduled shows have been postponed or cancelled. For many people going to see a live rendition of The Nutcracker is a Christmas tradition; one sadly abandoned in 2020.
Additionally, much of the communal, interactive aspect of dance has been grieved. From traditional Scottish ceilidhs marking Burns Night and St. Andrews Day to many showcases and demonstrations to parents from students, the communal aspect of dance has bene greatly effected by the lockdown’s restrictions.
As aforementioned, many theatres have been closed and without income for months. This industry will need a lot of support when finally allowed to reopen, but below are some ways you can support:
| Donate to Charities Supporting the Industry | www.actingforothers.co.uk www.royalvarietycharity.org www.actorsbenevolentfund.co.uk The Show Must Go On |
| Buy Venue Memberships | This is a small way to give theatres cash injections, and often the exchange involved perks and ticket access for you when the theatre reopens. Many theatres will have this option on their website, so you can Google your local ones and donate. |
| Donate Via Refund | If you have bought a ticket to a show which has been cancelled you will often be contacted about getting a refund. If you can afford to sign over the cash, seen as you were already expecting it to be spent, you can contact the theatre saying you won’t require the reimbursement. |
| Watch Shows and Performances Online | Many theatres have taken themselves online to share old, or new, recordings of performances. If you’re missing that kick of getting dressed up for the theatre then bring the theatre to you! |
Dates for the Diary – What IS on in 2021?
RAD Centenary
Rescheduling Their Events
2020 marked 100 years of the RAD and their contribution to British ballet. Their plan was to mark 100 events in 100 locations, ranging from Germany to Australia. With the world opening up again this summer, RAD may have the chance to sneak in some of their agenda before their anniversary becomes too far in the past. For access to the full list of potential events planned in 2020, click here.
Strictly Come Dancing
The Show Goes On
With rigorous testing in place, the show went ahead in 2020 and crowned Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse winners of the series. The show brought such relief and normality to people’s lives and so it is likely that, even if restrictions continue to not life over summer, Strictly will return to our screens in Autumn 2021.
The same can be said for shows such as Dancing On Ice, although their coherency rates have been more significantly effected by injury and Covid-19 cases appearing.
Usually the show runs with a live audience, so if the show goes ahead as usual this year then you can make sure you’re up to date with their release by clicking here.
Furthermore, the show’s professional dancers usually partake in an annual, national tour. As of yet, the event hasn’t been cancelled yet and tickets are available. Tickets are also available for the spin-off professional’s tour, Here Come The Boys.
Miss Dance and Dance Master
Heats Auditions
Although the Grand Final has been, again, postponed, the IDTA seem hopeful that the heats will be able to go ahead later this year should the Roadmap go ahead as planned. The heats for Miss Dance and Dance Master are infamously rigorous, most people auditioning at multiple heats across the country in the hope that they’ll qualify for the Grand Final.
Routines take months, if not years, to perfect before competing. With the potential for heats in the coming months, teachers and students alike will be beginning work on their winning routines.
Tickets can be bought to attend the heats even if you’re not competing; with some of the country’s best dancers performing it is definitely an event to make time for.
To keep up to date with information be sure to follow Miss Dance and Dance Master on all their social media for the press releases.
Can You Dance?
The Nation’s Biggest Touring Dance Convention
The last CYD? season in 2019 saw 500 classes, 450 showcase performances, 500+ dance schools, and 27K attendees take part in the variety of events offered. The event tours the country, appearing in most large cities over the summer.
Tickets are available to buy for teachers and students for the CYD? events, with plans to host in 2021 still going ahead. Some dates remain TBC, but the team seem confident they’ll be providing their usual high quality experience to the masses this year.
Below is a teaser promo video for their 2020 event:
The Russian National Ballet
Two Touring Shows Confirmed
From the home of the most competitive, elite ballet dancers, the Russian National Ballet are selling tickets for two shows touring in Autumn/Winter: The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
These two infamous ballets, performed by this infamous company, promises a show to behold and indulge in. If there is any way to overcome the lockdown blues of live performances being banned, then seeing these shows is a sure way to boost the spirit!
Want to Get Involved?
Including only the confirmed Live Dance Events, below is a list of ways to get yourself involved. As the industry gathers more surety about where the nation will be post-lockdown, perhaps we’ll see even more events appearing on this list. For now, we look forwards to better times ahead!
| Event | Contact Details |
| Miss Dance and Dance Master 2021-22 Heats | Web Form |
| Move It! 2022 | moveit@upperstreetevents.co.uk Postal Address |
| Can You Dance? 2021 | Ticket Booking Platform danceschools@canyoudancelive.com 01623 273900 |