The show must go on, even with the coronavirus
The show must go on. And for about 300 young dancers, ages 2 to18 years old, at the South Carolina Christian Dance Theater in Irmo, that means taking class in a completely different way.
“Our studio doors may be closed, but we are still dancing,” Artistic Director Cynthia Dewar said.
Since the dance school closed on March 17, instructors have been teaching about 60 dance classes a week online with the aid of video conferencing software.
Dance instructor Caroline Douglas Bliss stands alone in a studio, facing a computer. On a monitor, she watches seven young dancers, delicately posed in tights and ballet slippers, positioned in their kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms and hallways. While a bar provides Bliss support, her students rest hands on the edges of dining room chairs.
From the now spacious studio, Bliss leads the class through stretching and warm-ups and then into the choreography for their now-delayed performance. With the patience of a skilled teacher, she watches the students on the monitor and shouts encouraging words, pausing as needed to demonstrate.
Pictured in little grids on the computer screen, the group dances together. A curious cat walks into the frame behind one dancer, drawing a chuckle from Bliss.
The technology she uses is increasingly common because of the coronavirus. as people are working from home. Dance instructions like Bliss use computer cameras to record video and audio that is shared with the class participants. Bliss starts and stops segments of music effortlessly on her smart phone.
“It was a little bit crazy at first,” Bliss said. “We had a performance scheduled for May and were thinking of that. Now we just want to keep the kids dancing. They light up when the class is in session. They are there, ready to go in their dance clothes with their hair up and ready dance. It’s become a highlight of their day. They feel like a dancer in a day full of craziness.”
Each class starts with a prayer. On a recent Friday, Bliss sat alone in the studio, head bowed as one of the dancers led a prayer from home. The prayers are deep, acknowledging the seriousness of the coronavirus and its meanings. They prayed for the health of their families and loved ones and for the crisis to come to an end.
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MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
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What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 6:51 PM.