The dance must go on

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GEORGE NEWS - Technological thinking is the order of the day for dance teachers throughout the region. Since lockdown measures were put in place, nontraditional teaching methods have helped to keep dancers inspired and moving.

In George, Abbi Geldenhuys of Abbi Geldenhuys Academy of Ballet teaches through live stream videos on Facebook, to which her students have access via invitation. Each class has an allocated time slot.

As a teacher of the Cecchetti method of classical ballet, Geldenhuys is currently teaching "free work" focusing on technique and placement. Due to copyright restrictions it is not advisable to do syllabus work online.

She says her challenge is to keep the children moving, to keep classes going so that they have something to do during lockdown.

"We are focusing on technique and placement, and getting back to the basics of their ballet training, foot exercises and just doing free work classes to develop their imagination and free-thinking, so that they are not doing exam work all the time," says Geldenhuys.

Video clips
Melody Alers of Steps Dance Academy in Hartenbos has made video recordings of the syllabus work of all her classes. "Four days before lockdown I made the recordings with the help of some of my senior students. I send out these video clips every week, from which the children can practise.

"Online classes are time restricting and not everybody has access to the internet. Currently I have to homeschool my own child, so it is difficult to make myself available for online teaching," she says.

Since lockdown a few parents had to cancel tuition due to a loss of income, others because of the uncertainty regarding the rest of the school year, not knowing how much time their children will have available for extra mural activities.

Photo gallery: Dancers keep supple during lockdown

Alers says a large group of her dancers would have participated in the Talent Africa National Championship in Port Elizabeth in April, and two of her dancers were chosen to dance in Disneyland on the Hollywood Boulevard in June. Both events have been postponed.

Zani du Plessis (16) of Christelle Smit Dance Studio in George flexes her muscles at home, to the delight of her dachshund.

Stretching and flexing
Belinda van Tonder of Plettenberg Bay Dance Academy has sent her students exercise videos of stretching to keep them flexible through this time. "I am also sending them solo dances to practise, and they must send me videos of them practising it," says Van Tonder.

"Not all my dancers have internet connections to enable online teaching, so we have been going the WhatsApp way."

Marlise Steenekamp of Marlise's School of Spanish Dance in George has also made videos for her dancers, with a breakdown of different exercises and dances. "I have encouraged them to send me videos of them practising so that I can give feedback. From this week on we will have a few zoom meetings so that we can practise 'together'," says Steenekamp.

"This time at home has given me the opportunity to work on costumes for the dancers; hopefully we will soon be able to dance on stage again."

Prizes
Senior students of Christelle Smit Dance Studio (CSDS) in George analyse various contemporary works by Alvin Ailey and communicate with their teacher through WhatsApp. "I gave prizes for the best analysis," says Smit. "We are covering theoretical aspects of practical work already covered in the syllabus work. Students need to practise exam work, the majority of which has been finished."

Smit says Covid-19 cannot destroy the love of dance. "There are so many aspects that can be covered online, but it could never replace the dance studio for ever. We are looking forward to returning to CSDS. Yes, difficult times! But once a dancer, always a dancer."

Sisterhood in acrobatics: Danielle (8) and Kayla Malan (12) of Steps Dance Academy in Hartenbos doing tricks at home.