Wisconsin health officials drop fine for 'Nutcracker' performance during COVID restrictions

Health officials in Wisconsin have dropped a fine against a dance studio that staged a performance of “The Nutcracker” in December 2020 despite COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings. The Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday that Public Health Madison and Dane County canceled the penalty pending against A Leap Above Dance in Oregon, a Madison suburb. The agency has alleged that 119 people attended the performance. Studio owner Natalie Nemecky has said fewer than 100 people were involved and they were divided into groups of 10 people. A county order limiting the size of gatherings ended in June 2021. A spokesperson for the health department says it's no longer in the public interest to pursue the fine.