If you have a skill you’ve always wanted to learn, or a hobby you’ve dreamed of picking up, these rolling weeks of self-isolation might finally be the time to do it – especially if you can do so from the comfort of your own home.
And if for you that dream hobby is ballet, you can take free online lessons with one of the best in the business. Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet, as well as a lead principal dancer, is offering streamed ballet classes via the dance company’s Facebook page.
The first of two hour-long sessions was streamed on Friday, and has been watched more than 200,000 times. “For any professional dancers (and for the ballet curious!) wishing to keep active and positive during these uncertain times, tune in for this special Company class taught by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo,” the post read, urging anyone who was following along at home to “just do what they can”.
The stream was also shared to the English National Ballet’s YouTube and Instagram TV channels. A second class will be live streamed today, Monday, March 23 at 3pm GMT (7pm UAE time).
Company dancers Francesca Velicu and Isaac Hernandez will take part in the class alongside Rojo, with pianist Shaun Holmes providing the music.
Like many cultural outlets around the world, the English National Ballet has been forced to close its doors due to global measures to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The dance company, which is a charitable organisation, has postponed performances and closed the building to the public. It has since launched a supporting fundraiser.
"As a charity, we rely on your support now more than ever," a post on its Facebook page reads. "Ticket sales provide substantial revenue funding, contributing a third of our annual income. There are substantial financial implications to postponements in our programme that impact our future work."
The English National Ballet isn’t the only one taking performances online. The World Health Organisation has partnered with a number of artists to launch its ‘Together, At Home’ series, taking gigs online. So far, a number of high-profile artists have got involved, including John Legend, One Direction’s Niall Horan, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
