4 Reasons for Dancers to be Thankful This Thanksgiving
We’re finally in the last act of 2020—just a couple more numbers left before we can bow and breathe a hopeful sigh of relief that 2021 will be better. This year has been challenging in ways that we could never have imagined, but it has also shown how flexible (pun intended) the dance community can be. Here are four reasons we can all feel thankful this Thanksgiving.
Our teachers
This year we’re thankful for our teachers, who made the difficult pivot from in-person to online dance classes as graceful as possible. We’ve kicked furniture, slipped on less-than-ideal floors, and been interrupted by pets, parents, siblings, and roommates. But with the help of our amazing teachers, we were able to keep dancing, even in the middle of a global crisis.
Our online classes
We’re also thankful for the opportunity to take classes from studios and teachers that aren’t in our usual schedule. How else could you enjoy Al Blackstone’s Broadway Dance Center class over Zoom right before a Graham modern class on YouTube, and then head over to Instagram to learn some choreo from the Rockettes? And let’s face it, you can’t beat the commute.
Our newfound creativity
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? With studios closed and theaters empty, dancers found other avenues to explore and share their creativity. We’ve seen dancing in places like apartments, parks, and parking structures, and the unique scenery gives such a different vibe to all the wiggly improv vids on our feed. Keep them coming even once the pandemic is over, please!
Your resilience
Yes, you! We have been living through this pandemic since March, so if you are still dancing, you deserve a round of applause. It takes real discipline to keep logging into virtual classes day after day, or to catch your breath every single time you dance in a mask. It’s been difficult emotionally and physically, but you continue to show up and work hard. Brava!
And if you’ve taken a break from dancing, you get a pat on the back for taking care of yourself. Dance will be there to welcome you back whenever you’re ready.
