Act Alive Academy in action in downtown Squamish. PHOTO BY ANGELA BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY
CHANGING UP THE STEPS TO KEEP ON DANCING PAT JOHNSON
26 | Discover Squamish Winter 2022
G
etting through the past two years has taken innovation and creativity. For the most creative folks in Squamish, this has meant adapting to constantly changing health regulations. Local dance and performing arts groups were forced to shut down abruptly in March of 2020. As vaccinations rates rise, classes and rehearsals are returning to comparative normal – with hopes that the days of uncertainty are past. Looking back, some Squamish thespians are surprised at their students’ resilience — and reminded of the importance of what they do. The timing of the pandemic’s onset was especially harsh for some dance groups. “Typically, March and April are the most exciting months for our dance family,” said Sara Constantin, owner of Squamish Dance Centre. The sudden shutdown meant the annual competitions with other studios across the Lower Mainland were cancelled. “We also have, in June typically, our weeklong recital performance that everyone participates in at the Eagle Eye Theatre. It’s always pure magic,” she said. “In March 2020, when we were gearing up going into all of those festivities, it was so hard for us to close our doors, and it really took a toll on a lot of our kids because they look forward to that. It was almost like dangling a carrot in front of these children and just taking it away.” Having now missed two seasons, Constantin hopes that next spring will be a time of rejuvenation. “We still haven’t returned to the recital stage, but we are holding out hope that the coming competition and recital season will be our
