Dance studio optimistic about new fall season

BY WENDY LIVINGSTONE

Let’s dance!

Monica Ventura, studio director of Class Act Studios in Regina, is eagerly anticipating the fall dance season when she can interact with her students as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. “We are looking forward to having new students, new people, and to having our families back that are comfortable coming back,” she says.

Although government regulations were completely eliminated in Saskatchewan in July, Monica and her husband, Eduardo Ventura, with whom she owns the studio, have decided to keep some precautions in place for the reassurance of students and their families. “We are still keeping all our employees masked for the comfort and safety of the parents. For students and the public, we are going to make the masks recommended but not mandatory,” says Monica.

The studio will also continue to do intense cleaning and sanitizing, and contact tracing. Linked by a QR code, visitors will fill out a questionnaire with contact information that will be transferred to the studio’s office and accessed if needed.

Like many other small business owners, the Venturas, who have young children, have found the past year to be

Monica Ventura and her husband Eduardo bring extensive experience as professional dancers and educators to Class Act Studios. SUPPLIED

difficult. Still, with the help of Monica’s mom and some government programs, they managed to balance their business and family responsibilities. “The kids are very, very active, so to juggle the business side with this pandemic and my kids — it was hard,” Monica says. “We were together as much as we could even though we were busy with all this craziness — changing rules all the time: this week we are doing this and now next month we are doing this. We did have ups and downs, but I like to keep it positive.”

At times during the past year and a half, government regulations required that studios be completely closed down; at other times, a maximum of eight students were allowed in the classes. To continue to accommodate all students, Class Act first offered strictly

Class Act Studios is looking forward to a new dance season as pandemic restrictions ease. The studio will continue to keep some precautions in place to safeguard their students and staff. SUPPLIED

Zoom classes, and then a combination of Zoom and in-person classes whereby one week, half the students would be taught through video and the other half in person, and the following week the groups switched places.

Teaching dance through Zoom is not, however, an easy proposition. The Venturas had to learn how to choose and operate equipment to achieve the best results for students and instructors. “In the beginning it was a challenge but then we got a sound system that worked well with all the voices and the music playing in the background,” says Monica. “I think all of us in studios learned a lot with this pandemic. It brought us another side of things that we could do.”

Another complication of teaching dance during a pandemic is the social distancing aspect. “In dance, we adjust their arms into the right place because they understand better that way. We couldn’t get close to them so it was just voice and showing them with our own bodies, which is hard because we are not young anymore. We have lifts and things that we do with a boy and a girl. We had to adapt all that. That’s another thing that I’m looking forward to doing when we are back,” says Monica.

But there was a silver lining to teaching with Zoom. Sometimes, the students’ parents were required to assist at home and, as a result, they became more engaged. “In Acro classes especially, they need support, so I was teaching the parents to spot the kids. It was quite fun actually and they had a lot of fun,” she says.

Monica and Eduardo are both professional dancers from Brazil. Fourteen years ago, they were recommended to the former owner of the studio, who went to Brazil and later invited them to Regina to teach. Soon they were managing Class Act and, five years ago, they seized an opportunity to buy the studio.

They offer classes in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, Broadway, tap, acro, lyrical, Discovery for Tots, and various adult classes. When there were strict COVID-19 restrictions, adult classes were suspended. “Unfortunately, we had to sacrifice something in order to keep our competitive and recreational students going. We only had so much time and so much room,” says Monica, “but we are looking forward to having adult classes back.”

Participation in extracurricular activities provides a vast array of benefits. GETTY IMAGES

Many benefits of extracurricular activities

School offers much more than a top-notch education. Being an engaged student involves learning lessons in the classroom but also participating in the myriad activities that begin once the dismissal bell has rung.

Participation in extracurricular activities should be a consideration for every student because of the vast array of benefits such pursuits provide. Information published in the Brandon University Journal of Graduate Studies in Education indicates that participation in extracurricular activities positively correlates with students’ development both academically and personally. Research shows being involved in afterschool clubs and sports promotes greater character development, improved academic success, good time-management techniques and leadership skills, and greater interest in community involvement.

Every school offers some type of extracurricular activity — from school bands to academic clubs to volunteer groups to sports. The National Center for Education Statistics says these activities offer students opportunities to learn many valuable lessons, including group responsibility and the value of competition. Students who participate in extracurricular activities also can be exposed to a diverse array of people and cultures. Some activities also help students develop their mental and physical strength. The NCES notes that participation in extracurricular activities can foster a strong sense of connection between students and their schools, which can reduce the likelihood of school failures and dropout rates.

Extracurricular activities also are the gifts that keep on giving, particularly as they relate to future academic success. Crimson, an admissions support company specializing in increasing acceptance to highly regarded institutions, says extracurriculars are a critical part of a student’s university application. Involvement in clubs and more provides a clearer picture of who a student is outside of the classroom and offers an opportunity to showcase various skills and interests. Furthermore, diversifying one’s interests through extracurricular activities broadens a person’s world view and improves self-esteem. These are benefits that can ultimately help students become wellrounded persons and successful professionals.

While people are quick to view extracurriculars for the academic advantages they provide, one often overlooked benefit is the social benefits of these pursuits. One of the best and easiest ways to make friends is through extracurricular activities. Fellow participants share the same interests and that can lay a solid foundation for lasting friendships. (Metro)