HOLYOKE — Pioneer Valley Ballet was not the only dance company to struggle with the pandemic last winter. The Massachusetts Academy of Ballet in Holyoke also had to cancel its annual winter dance in December 2020.
But this year the dance school, which focuses on classical ballet technique and musicality, will stage a live show Dec. 18 at the Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield, a ”Winter Ballet” that will include excerpts from “The Nutcracker” and the “Winter” section of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” concertos.
Co-director Charles Flachs, who founded the Academy of Ballet with his wife, Rose, says students have traditionally performed The Nutcracker in its entirety at Holyoke’s Wistariahurst Museum in December, in an intimate series of shows with small audiences.
But due to ongoing construction at the museum and other reasons, the winter performance has been shifted this year to the auditorium of Pope Francis, which can hold 200 people even with seating reductions due to the pandemic.
“We’ll have two shows, at 2 and 4:30 p.m., and the performances will be on a regular stage,” Flachs said.
He noted that the Academy of Ballet has been able to hold in-person classes for much of the pandemic’s duration by installing large air filters and opening all the windows at the school’s studios — but performing opportunities have been extremely limited.
“The students have missed that, so they’re really looking forward to these shows,” he said.
For more information on the Winter Ballet and to buy tickets, visit massacademyofballet.com.
Steve Pfarrer can be reached at spfarrer@gazettenet.com.