SARASOTA – Even though the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the Sarasota Ballet’s current season, the company is taking care of its dancers through what would have been the end of the season.
“We are projecting to lose about $800,000,” executive director, Joseph Volpe said.
The Sarasota Ballet canceled its current season, March 17th. But, in doing so, the company took extraordinary steps to protect its dancers.
“When we told them we were cancelling the season, we said we would pay them till the end of their contracts, which was the end of April and we would also continue with their health benefits until the end of April,” Volpe said.
“I think we all have to be so grateful to them because a lot of ballet companies decided to stop paying their dancers, because they’re not performing anymore, international dancer, Filippo Valmorbida, said.
Volpe says they’re able to pay the dancers because they have cash reserves and a credit line with a local bank. The ballet hopes to recover some of box office losses by asking patrons to decline refunds. As it often does, The Suncoast stepped up:
“Of the box sales that we’ve had, that we’ve heard from people, 60 percent of those are donating their tickets,” Volpe said.
For internationals, like Filippo Valmorbida, who is from Italy, visas are valid for one season. At season end, the dancers then return to their home countries, reapplying to return to the US for the next season. But, there’s a potential wrinkle:
“The problem is then coming back here,” Valmorbida said. “You know because if the President doesn’t open the borders; it’s like a big question mark for all of us.”
So, the Sarasota Ballet filed with US Immigration to extend the dancers’ visas. As long as they don’t leave the country, their visas are extended for a year.
And, Volpe says they will do what they can to help the foreign dancers.
“We will pay their rent and continue their health insurance for the next four months,” Volpe said.
Though very grateful for what the Sarasota Ballet is doing he is here, his family is in Italy, dealing with the pandemic.
“To be here and seeing my country, my family in that situation, it’s probably one of the hardest things ever,” Valmorbida said. “In these moments, you would really like to be with your family.”
Valmorbida remains hopeful.
“We must hang in there, and try to be brave and just to keep going and trying to be as positive as we can,” Valmorbida said.
To donate to the Sarasota Ballet Emergency Fund, you can go to their website.
Plans to kickoff the 30th anniversary were supposed to start in a few weeks. But, the pandemic presents uncertainty for the company, just like it has for all of us. Even so, Volpe says he’s hopeful they will still be able to celebrate the new season come fall.