Oklahoma's Tulsa Ballet has closed its doors to the public until 20 May due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, its wardrobe department is hard at work, creating masks for healthcare workers.
Wardrobe Supervisor Tori Highfill told News on 6,
These are not for patients with COVID-19, these are not for doctors and nurses with COVID-19, but they are to kind of alleviate some of the pressure that the hospitals are facing right now due to mass shortage.
The masks they are making are washable, so reusable, and will be worn by administrative staff and medical staff not in contact with COVID-19 patients. Medical professionals have instructed them on how they should be made, using fabric from the Tulsa Ballet's stock as well as donations from outside companies.
The first two hospitals received masks this week.
Costume Assistant Maddie Rice said,
It has been a real joy and a privilege to get to work on something like this and give back to the community. It really relieved a lot of stress that I was feeling of not being able to do anything but hole up at home.
Donations to the Tulsa Ballet can be made via this link.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
