Practice

Teachers offer thoughts about their pandemic practices

Educators offer thoughts about teaching online

The COVID-19 pandemic has sent hundreds of dance classes across Canada online. We asked teachers how their teaching practices have changed, what they miss and what they’ve learned.

GURDEEP PANDHER Bhangra dance artist and teacher living in Whitehorse

I was very hesitant to jump into the idea of online classes, but when more and more friends started asking me, I decided to give it a try. Then a big surprise came. In my very first online class, seventy people from all over Canada joined, and the class experience was absolute fun. Now I teach three times a week. I do miss my real students and in-person interactions; however, I am also happy that now online classes are allowing me to teach students across the country.

CRAIG HEMPSTED Choreographer and teacher living in Vancouver

Of course, we all struggle with our daily routines being so disrupted, but that being said, I find that, especially at Harbour Dance, the people in your class are not just an anonymous crowd; they are, in fact, regular friendly faces that I miss seeing! There is an inherent sense of community when pursuing artistic endeavours, and that lack of collective energy and exchange in this isolation really stings. I guess it all comes down to the people – the people you dance with, the people you work with and the people with whom you share a common passion.

ASHLEY RHIANNE Belly dance artist and teacher living in Vancouver

I miss teaching in a studio space for sure. Getting my apartment set up takes about thirty to forty-five minutes, so

I’m trying to teach a lot in one chunk so I can reassemble the place back to a living condition. I’m missing seeing my students doing choreography and travelling technique, but overall, I feel like I have adapted well to this transition. I am getting students from all over, so it’s super cool!

JAMEE VALIN Artistic director of Valence Movement and teacher living in Toronto

Communicating corrections without touch is the biggest change to my teaching practice since moving to online classes. I am a hands-on teacher and I am a bit lost without feeling my students’ energy and physical bodies nearby.

I have learned to love incorporating more creative activities into my younger classes, and I have learned to focus on style instead of technique. I have also learned that staying in a small area can really help highlight different movement qualities. I am seeing my students find momentum and move with dynamics in all-new ways.

ABADY ALZAHRANI Owner of House of Eights Dance Studio in Halifax

Teaching to a screen was weird at first, but I find channelling even more energy to my teaching helps to project across a screen since we’re not all in the same room. I’ve also been very careful at preparing choreography that is “living room friendly” since we’re all learning from home, so no crazy jumps or travelling. This was one main factor a lot of my students appreciated (instead of just teaching choreography as normal when we don’t have the studio space to move).