Dancer Health and Safety 

Boston Ballet partnered with a team of medical professionals and AGMA, the dancers’ union, to develop a series of plans that ensure our artists’ safe return to the studios. 

Dancers are required to complete a daily self-screening to gain access to the rehearsal studios and wear masks at all times. They rehearse in pods of 10, with each pod using their own dedicated studio and dressing space to increase physical distancing from other members of the Company. Studios have appropriate markings and modifications to support physical distancing. Pods and essential staff will be baseline tested for COVID after any personal travel or breaks in the season and will follow Massachusetts requirements for out-of-state travel. 

Beyond these new protocols, Boston Ballet has invested in several facility upgrades including optimized HVAC ventilation and filtration and brand-new streaming technology to allow choreographers to work with the dancers remotely and pods to take class and work together virtually. Studios will be thoroughly disinfected between each use. These specific, cautious, and highly monitored protocols allow our dancers to return to the studios safely.   

Student and Faculty Health and Safety

Similar to members of the Company, Boston Ballet School students must complete a daily self-screening and wear masks at all times. To adhere to social distancing, each student is assigned a marked-off spot at the barre and in the center of the room at least six feet apart. In-studio classes are limited to 10-15 students, include modifications to maintain physical distancing, and have assigned staggered arrival and drop-off times.

Over the past six months, Boston Ballet School faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to pilot new ballet teaching techniques that resonate with students of all ages, both virtually and in-studio. BBS students and parents were vital in this process, providing feedback through surveys that assisted in shaping this model. BBS remains committed to ensuring children experience the highest quality ballet education.

More information on BBS safety protocols can be found here.  

Audience Safety

We are uplifted by the news from the city, state, and CDC and anticipate that our in-person performances will be able to open at full capacity for our 2021-2022 season. While we don't have all the details to share yet, our priority continues to be the health and well-being of our dancers, staff, and audiences. We are actively working with colleagues at the Citizens Bank Opera House and are following local, state, and federal health guidelines. We can't wait to see you at the theater.

Medical Consultants & Boston Ballet Health and Safety Task Force

A special thank you to Boston Ballet’s medical consultants for consultation and assistance in development of this plan to ensure the safety of our artists, students, faculty, and staff: 

Thea Brennan-Krohn MD, D(ABMM) 
Staff, Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital 
Staff Scientist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 
Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School 

Preeti Mehrotra, MD, MPH 
Medical Director and Associate Hospital Epidemiologist 
Division of Infection Control/Hospital Epidemiology 
Silverman Institute for Health Care Quality and Safety, and 
Division of Infectious Diseases 
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 
Instructor, Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School 

Dana Pepe, MD, MPH 
Medical Director and Associate Hospital Epidemiologist 
Division of Infection Control/Hospital Epidemiology 
Silverman Institute for Health Care Quality and Safety, and 
Division of Infectious Diseases 
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 
Instructor, Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School  

Boston Ballet Company Physician:
Bridget J. Quinn, MD 
Attending Physician | Division of Sports Medicine | Boston Children's Hospital 
Boston Ballet Company Physician 
Consulting Physician Boston Ballet School 


Boston Ballet Health and Safety Task Force
Nathan Burlak, Director of Information Technology 
Rebecca Edwards, BBS Assistant Director, Operations
Ryan Fotter, Chief of Staff 
Ming Min Hui, Chief Financial Officer 
Juliana Jordan, Company Manager 
Russell Kaiser, Assistant Artistic Director 
Lisa McCullough, Director of Audience Services
Howard Merlin, Costume Shop 
Lori Ossip, Summer Associate 
Ben Phillips, Production Manager / Technical Director 
Carolyn Rock, Director of Operations, Boston Ballet School 
Jennifer Rodts, Director of Human Resources 
Kerri Regan, Physical Therapist, Health and Wellness Program Coordinator