With COVID-19 shutting down theatrical venues, classes, and performances across the world, many performers now find themselves stuck at home with little to do. However, the arts are as always indomitable, and many performers and arts educators have taken to social media to do what they do best. Why not use your time at home productively? Here are 5 free resources (and one bonus, sort of free resource) for theatrical performers practicing social distancing!

1.  Facebook Live Dance Classes from BalletNova Center for Dance

Whether you’re a dancer seeking some intense home practice, or a mover looking to improve your dance ability, or a parent-of-dancers with some little ballerinas at home, BalletNova Center for Dance has you covered. Based in Virginia, BalletNova is streaming multiple classes a day on weekdays, including jazz, hiphop, pilates, and ballet of all levels. The full catalogue of Facebook Live offerings can be found here, and remember to follow their page and turn on notifications in order to be informed when each new live session starts!

If you appreciate these classes, BalletNova is accepting donations to cover expenses during this challenging economic period.

2. Broadway Evolved Homeschool Program Live on Instagram

BroadwayEvolved is an intensive education program for performers. Co-founded by Broadway frequent-flier Betsy Wolfe and student-inspiring specialist Cynthia Rose, BE boasts a star-studded faculty, including the likes of Jeremy Jordan, Ali Stroker, James Monroe Igleheart, and Christy Altomare. Their summer intensives are highly acclaimed. For the benefit of performers practicing social distancing, they are offering snapshots of their incredible masterclasses through BE Homeschool.

Homeschool is every weekday starting at noon EDT– Catch it live on Instagram!

3. Amelia Love Clearheart’s Remote Dance Lessons

You may recognize Amelia Love Clearheart as the dance teacher who was savagely (and very cutely) attacked by her cat in a viral dance video.

A professional dance teacher with 15 years of experience, Clearheart is posting movement videos for her followers on twitter. If you just need some “pawsitivity” in your twitter feed (and who doesn’t?), you can also follow her kitty, Aurora.

4. Metropolitan Performing Arts’ Online Workshops

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Metropolitan Performing Arts is a non-profit education center sharing their classes with the world via Zoom. Their classes cover a wide variety of topics, including prop design, voiceover work, and dance. They also offer free workshops for the visual arts, including a free online Wine and Paint workshop! Note that not all of their workshops are free, though their paid workshops are a modestly priced treasure. They also offer online private dance, acting, and voice lessons!

Connect with them via Facebook or view their entire workshop catalogue here.

5. Free Online Arts Courses from Ivy League Colleges

Freecodecamp.org has provided a list of 450 Free Online Ivy-League Courses anyone can take from home. As you may ascertain from the name of the site, this list is not necessarily performing arts centered. Theatre folk can nonetheless find a wealth of relevant resources here. The Humanities section of the list boasts several courses on Shakespeare, the Art and Design section includes courses on opera and music, and every performer can find use for the courses in the Business, Personal Development, and Social Sciences sections.

Bonus! 6. BroadwayHD

BroadwayHD is the Netflix of Broadway of which you’ve always dreamed. Watch musicals including Cats, 42nd Street, and Falsettos, or experience the vast catalogue of Shakespeare plays or acclaimed dramas such as Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Indecent, and A Doll’s House. 

BroadwayHD is a subscription service. Start your 7-day free trial now, or pay just $8.99 a month for all the theatre you can watch! More info here.