Easing Students Back into the Studio

How can parents and dance educators help ease their students back into the dance studio?

After months of virtual dance classes and a series of backyard lessons, the time has come to start easing dancers and instructors back into the studio. Many students have been able to utilize the good weather and attend outdoor dance classes, bringing some sense of normalcy back to their lives. Dancing outdoors has allowed us to move freely with plenty of space, enjoy the fresh air and be among friends that we have only been able to see via our screens for the last several months. 

So now that dancers are starting to transition back to the studio, how do we ensure that our bodies are ready? Dance curriculum had to take a pretty dramatic shift following the studio shutdowns and dance educators were faced with the challenge of creating safe material that was able to be done in a smaller space. Don’t get us wrong.. dancers and teachers worked hard during the months they had class virtually. Despite the physical material needing to be adjusted to fit in smaller spaces and safe for home practice, dancers and teachers were met with many other challenges along the way. Many teachers used dance class via zoom as a great way to focus deeper on the technique of our dancers. Students were able to dig deeper into exercises that wouldn’t normally be a major focus in the studio. The expectation being that this in depth training would help with overall technique once we were back in the classroom. 

Despite the excitement of heading back to regularly scheduled dance class, students may be feeling a bit rusty both physically and mentally, which is to be expected. With training at home in a confined space or outside in sneakers, it is likely that students will experience loss of flexibility, strength, and endurance. This is where it is important for dance teachers to focus on rebuilding the skills and strength needed, and understanding that dancers will need time to get back to where they were in March.

For the parents, it is important to encourage your dancer to listen to their body. Having open conversations about how they are feeling and being supportive will be key in helping them to gain confidence during the transition. Suggesting that they speak to their instructors directly about the areas in which they may feel weaker will help them to create specialized plans for their dance season. Teachers will likely be doing individual check ins with their students to see how they are progressing in both body and mind. Transitioning back into the studio will be an important time to focus on growth and progress in a positive manner.

So what now? It’s time to focus on the future! Having a positive attitude and not dwelling on how often a student did or did not practice, will cultivate an uplifting environment and remind students that the dance studio is a place for growth. Creating attainable goals and working on new projects will keep students and teachers engaged and excited, ultimately tapping into why we desire to move, dance and create in the first place.