Dance returns
Flexibility has always been linked to dance but never quite so much as in the year 2020.
With indoor youth sport unable to operate under the current COVID-19 restrictions, local dance schools have quickly adapted and embraced outdoor studios and teaching to open.
Carparks have been utilised as studios, builders have been called in to transfer outdoor spaces and ballet barres have been dragged outside to enable dance classes to resume.
Young dancers face class cancellations if rain is forecast, have to rug up in cold weather and there are a few more spider alerts, but the enjoyment of being back with friends and dancing is evident.
Adding further positivity for regional Victoria studio owners, it was announced dance classes can resume indoors from November 1.
After initial disappointment on not being able to reopen studios at the start of term four, KC’s School of Dance in Warragul quickly constructed an outdoor dance studio and utilised surrounding lawns and parks for classes.
It reported seven students were still undertaking Zoom classes due to living in Cardinia Shire.
Industry Studios, also in Warragul, is busy creating routines in carparks surrounding its studios.
Whilst counting down the days until they can return indoors, owner Kristy Monk reported smiles everywhere as dancers finally got to dance together again.
The need to adapt dance outdoors followed shock upon being ignored in Victoria’s roadmap to re-opening in mid-September.
Both Karen Freeman of KC’s and Kristy from Industry felt dance had been forgotten after learning they couldn’t reopen to offer essential dance education.
Kristy said studio owners were just hanging on financially and mentally whilst Karen emphasised dance offered education leading into real opportunities and jobs.