Here in London, Ontario, we find ourselves in the middle of another provincewide shutdown due to Covid-19. Although we all hoped it wouldn’t come to this, we have been prepared for this outcome since we reopened in August 2020. We invested thousands of dollars in a full virtual studio at North London Dance Centre in each studio with 55” TVs, webcams, and laptops so that we could easily transition to delivering virtual classes if needed. We also upgraded our internet at the studio to a 1000MB fibre line in the summer so we have ample bandwidth for the best possible experience for our students. We have actually had a number of students participating remotely in their classes since August, so we have had the opportunity to test various configurations, and determine which settings and hardware work best for our particular location. We are grateful that we have the option to offer these classes to our students for the duration of the provincial shutdown, but also is the future for any reason if students are not comfortable in returning to in person lessons, or if a student needs to self-quarantine for any potential exposure.

We have seen a huge shift in the way that dance classes are delivered in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the government forced closures of dance studios around the world. We are very fortunate in our industry that online dance classes can be so successful and with the right teacher and right program dance students can still keep dancing, keep progressing, and thrive in this unprecedented time. Is dancing virtually ideal? No. Is dancing virtually a lot better than not dancing at all? Absolutely! Is it the very best we can do for our students right now, under these circumstances? YES.

10 benefits of virtual dance classes include:

1. Normality for the students
   Dancers get to keep participating in their same dance classes, with their same teachers and keep working towards their exams (where applicable) and strengthening technique.
2. Connection with friends
   During periods of lockdown it is important for our students to keep connected with their friends for their mental health, and nurture these special dance relationships. Every dancer knows that your dance friends become like your “family”, and it is wonderful that the dancers can still do classes with their friends, and stay connected.
3. Keep moving, fit, strong, healthy
   Online dance classes are a wonderful way to keep dancing, move your body, get fit, gain strength, gain flexibility and stay healthy during periods you cannot attend the dance studio.
4. Mental health
   Dancing is wonderful for mental health at any time and brings so much joy, and this is so important during lockdown. For lots of dancers, losing their dance studio space is very difficult, and it is important to keep them not only physically healthy but mentally as well.
5. Comfort of your own home
   A huge bonus of online dance classes is that you can do them in the comfort of your own home. You can set your own heating and cooling and set your dance space how you like it.
6. No travel time
   With online dance you now have zero travel time!
7. Self motivation and learning to push yourself to work hard
   When a dancer is at home and the teacher and peers are not in the room with them, they require greater intrinsic motivation to push themselves in every class. Without the other dancers in front of you, then you need to rely on yourself to work hard. This is an incredible life skill.
8. Building resilience and problem-solving skills obstacles
   Dancers taking class online build an incredible resilience and inner strength. They are working on problem solving skills by having to deal with different environmental obstacles at home compared to a custom-built dance studio.
9. Relying on yourself to pick up choreography and exercises with nobody else around you
   Not being in the studio and not having others to copy the exercise or choreography, is fantastic for really being focused on your own knowledge of the steps.
10. Learning without a mirror, so you get the feeling of the movement without seeing it
    Many dancers rely way too much on using the mirror in the studio to see a correction, rather that feel the corrections. While the mirror is an amazing teaching tool, it’s also important to get used to dancing without relying on it.

Let’s all make the best of this mandated shutdown period, and continue to enjoy the role that dance plays in our lives. When it’s safe to return to the studio for in person classes, your body and mind will thank you for continuing your classes virtually! Our teachers look forward to seeing you all online soon.