See below for a collection of performances and other art sources that have been made available for free online, plus a list of sites that offer performing arts content for a fee.
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Matri-liminal, choreographed by Michele Rusinko. This piece was to be performed during Partnering With Gravity: The Gustavus Dance Company in Concert; however, the concert was canceled due to COVID-19. Photo credit: Henry MacCarthy.
Dance
Nederlands Dans Theater 2
NDT 2 performing Edward Clug’s Mutual Comfort. Free until March 27
https://vimeo.com/398499552
Pina Bausch and Tanztheater Wuppertal
Bausch’ magnificent Kontakthof
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA2WGonbkA8&t=1313s
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
Free access to performance highlights of “Women in Dance” with accompanying essays by Maura Keefe. https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/playlists/womens-history/#1
Hofesh Shechter
Shechter’s “The Art of Not Looking Back” At the Paris National Opera in 2018. Free on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbI4UB39vWs
Dancing Alone Together
In this unprecedented time of isolation, Dancing Alone Together aims to be a central resource for the digital dance world that is beginning to bloom. MOVE — Live-Streamed Dance Classes. CREATE — Dance-Making Prompts & Communities. WATCH — Dance Performance Footage & Films
https://www.dancingalonetogether.org/
Batsheva Dance Company
Ohad Naharin’s “Last Work” at theThéâtre National de Chaillot, Paris (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdvEeF-gfu0
5 Soldiers
The critically acclaimed five-star production is a collaboration between British choreographer Rosie Kay and the British army, and gave an insight into the psychology and welfare of soldiers fighting on the front lines. Free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=414&v=2urN4ESejFo&feature=emb_logo
Mitchell Rose
Dance films by choreographer/filmmaker Mitchell Rose
https://www.mitchellrose.com/
Teatroteca, Spain
Free access to 5 Spanish dance films including works by the Compañia Nacional de Danza
http://teatroteca.teatro.es/opac/#resultados
15 Contemporary dance Films
Free access to 15 films posted by KuB
https://www.kubweb.media/page/danse-contemporaine-en-15-films/
Theatre
The Wooster Group
Elizabeth LeCompte’s TO YOU, THE BIRDIE! (Phèdre) available for free online viewing through March 30.
https://vimeo.com/80108845/a38affa426?fbclid=IwAR0yrNghhurBjMEVPtoURbt7WXidO39-KOvx-eeDj41n6M9T_kS0saLGjWU
Peeping Tom: Physical Theatre
Belgium’s Peeping Tom has free access to their recorded productions: Le Jardin, Le Salon and Le Sous Sol.
https://vimeo.com/showcase/peepingtom
Gekco: Physical Theatre
An exquisite production of Gekco’s The Time of Your Life. Part of BBC’s Live from Television Centre. Available on YouTube. Free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLMqUl-4Vvxqq0sxMaAfyWQTupL9es_K1r&v=5PQpxi7h_rc&feature=emb_logo
On the Boards: Contemporary Performance
A site with recorded performances from contemporary performance artists and companies including Cristal Pyte and Teatro Linea de Sombra among many others.
https://www.ontheboards.tv/
The 24 hour Plays: Viral Monologues
New monologues written, rehearsed, recorded and released in 24 hrs. Free.
https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/
Theatre in Spanish
In Spanish, including classics, comedies and children’s theatre. Free.
http://teatroteca.teatro.es/opac/#indice
Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Key Change
Devised with women in HMP Low Newton to tour to male prisons, critically-acclaimed Key Change carries their voices over the razor wire in a raw, illuminating and very funny portrayal of women in prison. Winner of The Carol Tambor ‘Best of Edinburgh’ Award 2015, Key Change premiered in New York in 2016 and was the prestigious New York Times Critics’ Pick. Free.
https://www.openclasp.org.uk/productions/key-change/#watch-online
Globe Player
All things Shakespeare. You’ll have to pay to watch most of the content; however, there is a free content section that includes the Sonnet Project NYC as well as other interviews and performances.
https://globeplayer.tv/free-content
Broadway HD
Collection of recorded Broadway hits. Monthly or yearly subscription service with very reasonable rates.
https://www.broadwayhd.com/
Digital Theatre
Recorded life performances including works by Frantic Assembly and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It also includes opera, music and dance. Monthly fee or pay per production.
https://www.digitaltheatre.com/consumer/productions
Marquee TV
Recorded performances by RSC, Donmar Warehouse and The Bolshoi, among many others. Also includes opera and dance. Subscriptions are available for monthly plans and yearly plans as well. Cheaper than Netflix!
https://www.marquee.tv/viewplans
LIVR
LIVR is the world’s first virtual reality content platform dedicated to theatre. It offers a fully immersive 360° VR experience that transports you into the audience at some of the best live performances; on-demand and from the comfort of home. You have to download the app to experience it. Subscription fee is very affordable, and you can cancel anytime. Also cheaper than Netflix. 8 productions are added each month.
https://livr.co.uk/about
Musical Theatre: Ghost Quartet
David Malloy’s “Ghost Quartet” Complete musical available for free on Youtube. Free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJSaEJm8pCE&feature=emb_logo
The Show Must Go Online
A weekly livestream of the complete Shakespeare plays performed live with actors from different parts of the world. Started with Two gentleman of Verona, which you can watch now, and on March 26 they will be livestreaming The Taming of the Shrew. Free, donations accepted via Patreon.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQ2EezD1GPVTH6hug3zu8w
Musical Theatre: The Wind in the Willows
Based on the classic children’s story by Kenneth Grahame, the musical has a book by Julian Fellowes, music and lyrics by Stiles and Drewe and direction by Rachel Kavanaugh. The piece follows the various characters of the book including Mr Toad, Ratty and Mole, as they follow Toad’s insatiable need for speed. This is the West End production. Donations encouraged.
To stream you have to sign up: https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/wind-in-the-willows-coronavirus-stream-free_51205.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=17march2020
Opera
Operawire
A comprehensive list of opera companies offering free streaming right now from all over the world, including Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera, Opera National de Paris, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro alla Scalla, among others. Free.
https://operawire.com/a-comprehensive-list-of-all-opera-companies-offering-free-streaming-services-right-now/
Teatroteca
A collection of zarzuela performances (Spanish operetta) Free.
http://teatroteca.teatro.es/opac/#resultados
Design
Gary Hustwit Design Documentaries
During the global COVID-19 crisis, while most of us are housebound, filmmaker Gary Hustwit is releasing his collection of full-length documentaries online, for free. It appears that they will be released sequentially, starting with his first doc Helvetica, until March 24th, with the rest of his titles following.
Available through https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free
Código: 7 documentaries about Design
A selection of seven documentaries that explore the role design plays in contemporary visual culture and communications.
https://revistacodigo.com/diseno/recomendacion-10-documentales-que-reflexionan-el-diseno/?fbclid=IwAR1PlbRwAYlhqBkzc7K_MpJxL5tTCGhGJ97scSZY5pDHQUR_ay0U6wa6_Ds
Film
Latin American Film
Ten movies released by their filmmakers for free streaming including films from Paraguya, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica among others. Free.
http://www.nodalcultura.am/2020/03/cuarentenacultural-10-peliculas-latinoamericanas-liberadas-por-los-cineastas/
Music
Berliner Philharmoniker
Via Digital Concert Hall the Berlin Philharmonic is providing free access to their recorded concerts, you must register before March 31, use code BERLINPHIL.
https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/home
London Symphony Orchestra
LSO’s Youtube channel is packed with concerts and artists’ interviews, all free access.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Lso/videos
Museums
12 different museums across the globe offering virtual tours including the British Museum, National Gallery of Art (DC), Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), and the National Museum of Anthropology (Mexico DF) among others.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Get Creative!
Adobe Creative Cloud
Free for 2 months.
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html
Social Distancing Festival
This is a site for celebrating art from all over the world, showcasing amazing talent, and coming together as a community at a time when we need it more than ever.
https://www.socialdistancingfestival.com/
Disclaimer: The Department of Theatre and Dance has created this list for educational purpose only. We do not endorse any of the platforms listed nor does their content.