Returning to Dance

As things opened up in our city again this summer, our Pegasus Studios community couldn’t wait to return to the dance studio for our classes and training.  Dancing in our bedrooms, living rooms and basements had many challenges; limited space for movement, distractions from family and pets, insufficient floor surfaces for turning and jumping, internet issues and the list goes on.  However, returning to dance in the studio comes with its own set of challenges and there are many things to keep in mind as our young dancers get back to the activity that they love and that brings them joy.

Creating safe spaces for our dancers is a top priority at Pegasus Studios and there are many areas that we are focusing on as we bring our children and youth back into the studio.

While our students are eager to perform at levels that they were previously working at, it is important to note that dancing in our homes limited our ability to move fully and that it will take some time to build our bodies back to our pre-isolation fitness levels.  Experts in physiotherapy have noticed an increase in injuries in young athletes this past summer as they returned to the sports and activities they love. We will be reminding all of our students to work their bodies safely and slowly to rebuild strength, flexibility and endurance.

In addition to physical health, it is no secret that the past year and half has had severe effects on our mental health and the mental health of our children and youth.  At Pegasus Studios we are conscious of the precarious emotional state of many of our students.  This is why making social and emotional connections between teachers and students as well as between students is a focus for all of our classes.  Making human connections not only supports our mental health, but it also supports learning and growth.  The faculty and staff at Pegasus care deeply for your children and we are here to support everyone in any way we can.

Inclusivity is a key to safe spaces and we continue to work and educate ourselves on how to be more welcoming to all students and their families.  Inclusivity looks different for different people.  One way that we have adapted to be more inclusive is to no longer have gender specific dress codes.  This is a work in progress, however, with different dress code options that can be worn by any student for any reason, we hope to help all of our dancers feel more comfortable in the dance studio.

Returning to the dance studio is a big transition and many dancers are feeling some anxiety. It is important for them to know that they are not alone.  After months in isolation and away from others we are addressing these key areas in which to support our dancers as they come back into the studio space with each other.  At Pegasus Studios we have always worked to create a safe space for our children and youth.  With the support of our faculty and staff we stand behind each and every one of our families, cheering each other on and continuing to provide positive experiences for all of our dancers!

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