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Dance Connection students are keeping in rhythm through online challenges and tutorials. (Submitted photo/Maegan Toews-O LIV Photography)

By Josh Ryan

Bustin' moves at home

Local dance studio keeping students moving through online content

Mar 31, 2020 | 1:02 PM

As the COVID-19 pandemic has dancers twiddling their thumbs instead of tapping their feet, one local studio is doing everything possible to keep them active.

North Battleford’s Dance Connection is helping students manage their time through online content, similarly to fitness instructors. The studio has each dancer participate in a daily challenge and post it to social media.

“Day one, we want you to do this kind of stretch, so then they’ll do it and post it and tag us in it,” owner Daylan Sabin said. “Or we’ll say try this trick out or do this TikTok dance.”

Students from every Dance Connection age group are participating in the studio’s daily social media challenge.(submitted photo/Dance Connection)

Sabin said doing this every day has students maintain basic moves and keep connected to their instructors and peers, while keeping their minds off the disappointment of rehearsals and recitals being cancelled this spring. The instructors can also then keep tabs on their dancers during this extended break.

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“I get to see them daily and chat back to them, because when they post, I can post little things back. So, it’s nice to keep in touch with them and see that they are doing their thing and have something to do,” she said.

This has been well received by dancers like Grade 10 student Delaney Cheyne. She said she’s struggled with the free time she has now that she isn’t in the studio four-to-five days a week, where she dances and also helps with younger classes.

“It has been really hard not being with my friends and teachers,” Cheyne said. “They are like family to me.”

Cheyne said she’s looked forward to the daily challenges while at home.

“My favourite part so far has been the challenge where we got bonus points for getting our family to create a TikTok,” she said.

Cheyne added she’s “grateful for my teachers for providing these opportunities while being socially isolated.”

Another online tool that Dance Connection is using is CLI Studios, a company that features programs crafted from a variety of international dancers, choreographers and teachers, including former North Battleford resident Devin Jamieson. Sabin said this is particularly important for her students’ growth.

Daylan Sabin is using CLI Studios for their library of choreography to help her students keep learning while at home.

“Learn new dances or learn new things down the road from well-known choreographers around the world,” she said.

Sabin said she’s glad her students have embraced the online content, as the next season isn’t for another five months. Until then, they will do everything they can to keep dancing.

“It’s a long time if they’re not still moving,” she said.

by Josh Ryan