Dancing Proudly Through The COVID-19 Pandemic
A World Without Dance
When the COVID-19 virus surged in America, many (already financially troubled) dance- studios anxiously awaited the opportunity to resume classes. As lockdowns continued and new social distancing protocol was implemented, many dance studio owners and instructors realized they would need to change how traditional dance education was instructed. Through the collaborative efforts of teachers, students, and parents/guardians, the dance community worked globally to stay relevant and afloat amongst the tribulation.
A New Hope
Dance studios began offering virtual dance classes VIA Zoom, Skype, and YouTube in an effort to connect with students. The first challenge for many was: hosting virtual recitals and dance competitions.
As lawmakers went back and forth with lockdown protocols in various states and cities, dance studios had to “stay on their toes” being prepared to open and close their doors at a moment’s notice.
When studios had the “okay” to resume in-person classes, new safety standards such as daily temperature checks, minimizing class length and attendance, wearing masks while dancing, and marking floors to allocate 6 feet between dancers, went into effect to protect teachers and students.
The Ishana Dance Academy Spotlight
Ishana Dance Academy closed its studio doors to begin dancing on the virtual stage. Studio owner, director, and lead Guru, Vasanthy Raja, began transitioning lessons online in early April 2020.
To accommodate students and parents’ busy schedules, a new “flexi-class” program was implemented. This program allowed parents to schedule lessons at variant times throughout the day and week to continue training in a manner that didn’t conflict with newfound homeschooling among other virtual activities. Many parents appreciated the opportunity to continue enriching their children with dance classes in a way that minimized stress.
Ishana Dance Academy prioritizes academy students’ confidence, safety, and overall well-being first and foremost. To keep students’ morale high through the uncertainty, Ishana Dance Academy teachers and instructors kept students inspired through creative dance challenges. Students were tasked with constructing original dance choreography, that, once recorded, would be edited to make one collaborative team dance video.
To view the positive work that came out Ishana Dance Academy students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ishanadance and email info@ishanadacne.com to join the fun and learn more about signing up for virtual and in-person 2021 classes.