Dance officials are holding dance classes online.
Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment officials have assigned virtual ways for students to continue their dance courses due to classes going online for the remainder of the semester because of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Students watch video routines and practice warm-ups for their jazz and tap classes. For ballet classes, dance students have access to Instagram Live or Zoom dance classes to watch and practice. Students get credit for the classes by sending in pictures of themselves doing the exercises.
Erin White, dance sophomore, said she misses the beneficial aspects of in-person classes.
“It’s a lot more difficult to be taking classes online because you are not in the same atmosphere with other people around you to challenge you and push you to be better,” White said. “For dance in general, it is very important to have mirrors as well as peer and teacher feedback for us to improve. You can only do so much at home, and without faculty members helping you, you can hit roadblocks in your technique development. So, doing it online does not allow us to have that one-on-one feedback.”
White also said she has struggled to find a space to dance at home to maintain her class requirements.
“For me, I had to completely rearrange my bedroom to have a space to be able to dance and practice in, so that was a very hard transition,” White said.
Even though the adjustment has been difficult in some ways, White said she agrees and respects the decision of the university to make the remainder of the semester online.
“I think it’s just really great that the university has found a way for us to still have classes, rather than just being put on hold or taking incompletes like a lot of universities are giving out,” White said. “Especially for the students who are not returning next semester, it helps ease that a little more.”
Kristin Tagg, dance sophomore, said she misses being on campus but is finding ways to make the best out of the situation.
“Obviously it has been really difficult because I love school and I wish I could be there. I think that is how we all feel,” Tagg said. “I definitely feel like I am trying to do as many productive activities as I can, both for my academic classes as well as just keeping my body moving as my instrument for dance as much as possible.
Officials said this plan is not officially permanent for the rest of the semester, and they are still working to better the experience for students. Because of this, professors have not yet released to the dance students how grades will be taken and decided for the rest of the semester.
“I think the dance school is handling this situation well considering we have so many in-person movement classes,” Tagg said.
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