There's no competitions, no performances and no physical classes but dance schools are determined to keep their young dancers fit and connected throughout the next six weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But it's not going to be easy.
Students from the Anita Coutts School of Dance got in seven weeks of classes between regional Victoria's two COVID-19 lockdowns with classes running from the last week of term two, through the school holidays and until Wednesday.
Anita Coutts said they were lucky - most schools only started back at the start of term three and got in three short weeks of dance.
Ms Coutts said 2020 had been one of the most challenging of the school's 30 year history but she and her dance teachers were determined to keep students engaged.
."It's been really tricky to try and keep the kids motivated when they don't necessarily have a lot of room to move (at home) they find it really difficult to look at a screen and not have their friends in the room with them," she said.
Over the next six weeks the schools more than 50 classes will run online, but a few genres such as acro can't be taught online because they are little more dangerous, interactive, need extra space or need a partner.
"It's just so important to keep them engaged and for their mental health and physical wellbeing," she said.
Continuing classes online throughout lockdown also keeps teachers employed.
"We teach most of them live. Some of our teachers are from Melbourne or Geelong and are teaching from home but a couple of classes still need to be taught from the studio because the teachers need equipment and flooring, and it makes the students feel that they are still at the studio a little bit."
Guest teachers including Australian Ballet principal Amy Harris will also maintain interest
"Potentially we can bring them teachers from all over the globe that can come in to their homes to teach."
IN OTHER NEWS
Along with dance lessons Ms Coutts said the hundreds of children who dance with the school are learning so much more through these difficult COVID times including resilience and compassion.
"We are trying to keep them connected with their friends; ballet friends are family for our dancers their dance friends are their best friend. They aren't able to see them each week, can't go to their house, don't see them at school so this is a chance to see their friends which is important for psychological and mental health."
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
