form at its studio for three scaled-down audiences comprised of family members of the students. Yakovleva-Randall has reassured her patrons that IBC has secured the dates of Nov. 27–28 for “The Nutcracker” and is thrilled beyond measure to be performing again at the Palladium! That being said, it was still a significant revenue loss for IBC. So, in February and March of 2021, Yakovleva-Randall and her staff rearranged their studio into a “black box theater” for performances that showcased contemporary pieces inspired by Shakespearean sonnets as fundraisers for IBC. “We had great support from our current families, our alumni and our generous donors and foundations,” Yakovleva-Randall shared. “This [support] is how we survived, financially. And I truly, truly appreciate it.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IBC moved from its traditional in-person, in-studio instruction to a virtual platform during last year’s governor-ordered shut-
down as a direct result of the pandemic. Yakovleva-Randall explained that while student participation was “great,” it does not equally replace the benefits of in-person instruction. “We [all] survived the Zoom teaching,” Yakovleva-Randall said. “And as we were in very close communication with the health departments, we slowly reopened our studio, beginning with one-on-one private lessons. We’ve been lucky enough to operate without a complete stop, and none of our students quit the professional program.” With the pandemic restrictions relaxing, IBC is thrilled to be able to operate its Summer Intensive program in person, which is not only better for the students—it’s safer. “My students adapted to the different training on Zoom and were able to keep themselves in shape,” Yakovleva-Randall said. “The dancers need a full barre observation with a mirror and space. For actors and musicians, it’s a different story. You can sing and practice lines in your
kitchen, but it is dangerous to try to do pointe work. With in-person instruction, we can see the students’ muscles and observe everything at 100%. Instruction through a computer, it’s at 50%. You can see the body, but you don’t see the details of the muscles moving.” For more information on IBC’s 2021 Summer Intensive Program and its upcoming performances, visit indianaballetconservatory.org.
Enrolling Students Ages 3 Through Pre-Professional Full-time Pre-Professional Day Program Available
Visit WWW.INDIANABALLETCONSERVATORY.ORG Or email contact@indianaballetconservatory.org for a free trial class and to enroll IndianaBalletConservatory.org | 849 W. Carmel Dr. | Carmel, IN
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