Saskatchewan is rolling out another part of the reopening plan and one Lloydminster dance studio is already getting prepared to move back into their facilities.
Performing arts and their venues are able to return on July 6 under the latest phase of reopening along with indoor pools, rinks and sports.
Fame Dance Studio director Sarah Makins says they’ve been working non-stop in the past few months as they were adapting to the new provincial health guidelines. The studio moved their lessons to an online format using videos and one-on-one video chats with their students.
As they had back into the facility, the studio will be offering smaller classes and private lessons for ballroom dancing and solo dances.
“Something that we do during the summer time that we can do is offer private lessons for people wanting to get ready for solos. Also ballroom dance, we get a lot of requests from wedding couples that would like to look good for their wedding. So, it’s so nice to say ‘yes, you are able to come in.'”
Makins says the timing on the reopening is convenient as they are heading into their quieter months. The studio just finished their exams at the end of June where 290 students from Lloydminster, Cold Lake, Bonnyville and Provost completed their jazz, tap and ballet classes.
“In a way it’s fortunate for us because we’ve been talking with other location managers about how to be very careful as dancers are a very huggy bunch. It lead to how to section off the rooms, make sure hand sanitizer is available and all those things. To jump into that would be tough with the usual large groups that we have.”
She also says the online lessons is something they will likely continue offering in the future.
“[The students] can take a class from anywhere. If they are away and their parents have them on a summer vacation, they can alway text to us and ask for a lesson anytime. We’ve shown that that’s possible. We’ve shown dance exams are possible remotely.”
The studio is also looking into offering free dance camps later in the summer if they are allowed more dancers inside the facility.
“Our communities have been hit really hard financially so we’re going to offer that as a gift for our various dance communities. It will be a once per month free dance camp for everybody. We’re hoping to do that around the end of August and that’s going to be an absolute blast.”