March Monthly Minute

New Dates for Spring Break:  
We will be following  the TDSB revised dates and will close April 12 to 17 ’21.

Friendly Reminder: 
As we are still dancing in our own spaces, we want to remind you to make sure that all dancers are showing up properly prepared, with a clear and safe space, dancewear and hair tied back, and camera aimed so the teacher can see the most of each dancer (head to toe).  We realize that this cannot always happen, but the dancers should be reminded that to get the most out of each class the teacher should have a clear view of them at all times.  Dance wear, camera angles, clear spaces, camera on at all times, will help your child get the most out of their classes, be safe, and get feedback from their teacher.
Thank you for your understanding and reminding your dancers of these safe dance practices so that all teachers can give them the best class.
​
End of Year Showcase:
Showcase preparations have begun! We are learning choreography at home to begin with so that we will be ready when we will be able to transition back into the studio.
We hope that we will be able to be together in the studio soon and at that time we will share more information on dates and plans.  

On My Mind:
It has almost been a year since we closed our studio because of the pandemic and we thought we would be closed for two weeks only.  We planned for two weeks at a time, and we all thought we would be back dancing together in no time.  We hoped to be together for our end of year Showcase and to celebrate a year of accomplishments, our Graduating class and our wonderful community.
Wow, if we had only known back then what we know now!!

This year has been a year of learning new ways of running our studio.  Our goals switched from development of our dancers and team to sustainability and learning a whole new way of virtual teaching and connecting.  
Teacher’s goals and expectations of building technique and preparing for ballet exams, outreach fundraising, performing in community, nursing homes and festivals, and our annual Showcase, quickly changed to what we could do and how to be consistent with our classes, connecting, and reaching our students in new and meaningful ways.

We are forever grateful to our amazing supportive and understanding community that believes, like we do, that the arts have the power to impact our lives, keep us connected, and help in not only physical development, but also the benefit of social-emotional creative activities.  Thank you for your belief in us as part of your village that loves and cares for your children’s overall well being while developing creative thinking and discovery of what is possible when things are difficult.

Our entire team of staff and teachers have been adjusting and envisioning how to do what we do in new ways and how we can serve you better knowing what we know now into the future.  
We are excited to be planning to be back in person at the studio soon, in new and different ways but we know it will allow us to be more mindful to meeting our students in a better way.

What a year of reflection and growth as well as sadness for the loss of connections, relationships, and in many cases, loved ones. But we are excited about all the new possibilities of coming back to our studio, rebuilding relationships as we know how important that is.  If the walls at Pegasus could speak, they would say how much our children’s joyful vibrancy, energy, voices, and laughter is missed.  The creative development of talented teachers creating choreography, music that fills our souls, building lessons, developing skills that inspire, inform and allow our children to discover their ability, voices and creative expression.  That is what we are waiting for, preparing for and longing to get back to. 

We continue to support the initiative of groups like Dance Safe Ontario, Canada Dance Standards and Dance Safe Canada to advocate change Provincially and Federally so that when it is time to open safely our industry is understood on who we are and what we do.  As we don’t fit into the sports or public school guidelines we need to initiate new policies as our government seems to be confused about who we are, what we do, and how we have created and implemented very safe guidelines for opening.

We are grateful for the ability to work and teach from home as many children’s activities are not able to do that.  Keeping our children safe while engaged in moving their bodies and thinking outside the box is so important. I am confident our children are more resilient than we first thought, and that they are learning to adapt instead of give up and look for small but important growth. That will be the  most important thing once we have time to look back and reflect and celebrate how far we have come.

We can’t thank you enough for your continued support and all your messages of thanks for our ability to change, adapt, and be consistent, coming to your homes and connecting with your children each week.

Stay well, stay joyful
Jane

​