Q&A with Boulder Ballet's Artistic Director, Lance Hardin

Conductor Elliot Moore with Boulder Ballet Artistic Director Lance Hardin

As we have been making our way through the pandemic, I have found myself wondering: How are ballet companies navigating their way through these challenging times? In many ways, they are faced with even more significant challenges than orchestras. At least orchestras could more or less maintain six feet between players, but there is no "social distancing" in ballet.

After moving mountains to bring our Nutcracker performances back this season, I asked the Boulder Ballet's Artistic Director, Lance Hardin, to chat with me about the hurdles they have faced over the past 20 months.

EM: What sorts of challenges have you been facing as we bring back Tchaikovsky's holiday classic, The Nutcracker?

LH: One of the issues that our dancers have faced during the pandemic is staying in shape. While some may be in excellent physical condition, that is different from being in performance shape, complete with audience and lights. Of course, there is also the need to be in a positive mental space to perform at the highest level.

EM: There are many changes in this year’s production. Some are constraints imposed by the Longmont Symphony for the safety of families attending, while others are artistic. Can you tell us a bit about facing these challenges?

LH: Given everything that we have faced so far this year and the challenges that we met last year, it is great to be able to do this at all! A few months ago, we were all set to have a production with our wonderful collaborators in Boulder, the Boulder Philharmonic. We were prepared to test dancers for COVID daily if that was what it would take to keep that production. However, given all of the restrictions that the Philharmonic was facing, they had to cancel.

At that point, we realized that we could not use our youngest dancers, and needed to go with a 12-year-old and older cast. This solution was far from ideal, but we thought that it was more beneficial to do the show in some way while protecting the health of everyone. We have also had to loosen our strict rehearsal attendance policy because of possible COVID breakthrough cases, possible spread, and even the possibility that an entire cast could get sick.

To that end, we realized that rather than double cast our show — as we have traditionally done — we needed to triple cast it. These changes allowed us to increase the number of performances with the Longmont Symphony. Also, having three casts ensures that if there were to be an outbreak in one cast, we would have another set of rested dancers who could fill in.

Another aspect of all of this is that we traditionally have around 30 dancers doing The Nutcracker for the first time. This year, we only have two members who are dancing their first Nutcracker. Because 98% of the cast had been through it before, we were okay when we lost our first five weeks of Nutcracker rehearsals in September.

Specific to our upcoming Nutcracker production, audiences may notice a few new elements: We have changed the order of some of the dances in the Land of the Sweets and added the English Gigue composed by Tchaikovsky, but which is rarely heard in performances.

EM: How are you guiding the company during this time? Is it different than how you would have led them pre-pandemic?

LH: Our company dancers have been motivating and inspiring one another this entire time, and there is a friendly competitiveness in the studio that leads to a common elevated standard. I find that I am leading them by feeling what they feel. For example, it is not common to perform The Nutcracker without intermission, so I ask myself, how would I feel dancing this without an intermission? What would I need to make it happen successfully?

EM: What is your vision in both the short and long term, and what is the importance of vision during this time?

LH: I would like to see the company begin touring on a much larger scale in the longer term. Ultimately, it is not about getting "back to normal" but about moving forward from here — forging a bright, creative, and sustainable future for the organization. Vision and strategic planning play a critical role as we turn the page and begin the next chapter in our organization.

EM: I know that our musicians and dancers are excited to be back, but ultimately this production is for everyone. The Christmas season is a special time for children, and for families to — once again — be able to experience the magic of The Nutcracker is a gift! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me!

LH: Thank you!