PHMDC drops fine against dance studio for show allegedly violating pandemic restrictions 

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) has dropped a fine against A Leap Above Dance, an Oregon dance studio that allegedly violated COVID-19 restrictions by hosting a December 2020 performance of “The Nutcracker.”

The show took place following an order by the city-county health department that banned “mass gatherings.” The department claimed 119 people were involved in the performance, and each of these 119 counts in its complaint is punishable by a $200 fine, which would total nearly $24,000. The maximum fine, however, is $3,200.

The studio’s owner, Natalie Nemeckay, stated fewer than 100 people were involved and were separated into groups of 10 or less. In photos of the show, performers can be seen wearing masks.

On June 22, PHMDC dropped the case against the studio after concluding its continued prosecution was not in the public interest.