Show your Support for Digital Dance Experiences

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When social distancing restrictions became the norm, many artists and dancers began to explore a new frontier of digital arts online. This is bringing many new forms of collaboration, but there is also much more competition. Regardless of when we can go back to physical classes and performances, it’s likely that online classes will remain a large part of the dance industry. I believe we are going to see a drastic shift in how we create and consume art, so we will also need to consider new ways to show support for artists. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how we can best support each other during this time. Support doesn’t need to be monetary to be valuable, and this is especially true for artists. Keep reading to find out how you can help, with or without your wallet.

Take or Teach an Online Dance Class

It is clear from the abundance of online dance classes popping up that dancers miss taking and teaching classes. Participating in these classes is not a direct replacement for in-person dance classes, but it is a great way to engage with the community while we are isolated. Plus, now is a great time to try a new style of dance you may have been intimidated by (since nobody is watching!).

Donate to a Relief Fund

Remember that just because some dancers can stream their lessons for free now does not mean it is the norm. Many local dance teachers are now in a position where they cannot continue with business as usual, and the world of online dance is not for everyone. I urge you to consider supporting local dance teachers and artists as well as celebrities. You can do this by donating to a relief fund intended to assist artists in need. For example, ABT Dancers have launched a Crisis Relief Fund to help sustain their artists. The Frankie Manning Foundation has also launched a similar effort for professional lindy hoppers who are currently out of work.  

Treat Yourself to Some Swag

Now is the perfect time to grab a print from your favorite artist, your dance studio hoodie, sticker, or whatever product is available. There are many practice wear designers and local dancewear stores that are now competing with the big online shops, so try reaching out to see if you can still order and support their business.

Perform a Digital Reverance

I’ve rarely had a ballet class that ended without a Reverance. To me, this is an essential movement of reciprocal gratitude for the entire experience. Even if you are watching a pre-recorded video, the instructor has taken their own time and resources to create something valuable for you. While you may not be able to bow in thanks physically, you can pay it forward by thanking them on social media. You can help your favorite teachers to improve their reach simply by engaging more with their content. Many local dancers are now competing in the same venues as the big names, and engagement numbers matter when it comes to those dancers being found online too. Taking actions like posting comments and questions, subscribing to their YouTube channel or blog pages, or sharing posts and inviting your friends to join will help to boost the visibility of your dancers and community.

From Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

We all have the power to support others, whether in funding or through action. There is also great power in asking for support. We are a community of dancers, and the more we all succeed, the more we all get to dance.

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Can We Design Better Online Dance Classes?

Dancers are constantly designing experiences for our audiences. From choreography to costumes to the classroom, each unique experience is worth assessment. Although I would love to tell you there is one ideal way to run a studio or design a course, that is just not the case. The key to creating good dance experiences is learning how to evaluate them from your students’ perspectives.

I have gotten so much good from my dance classes but also had negative experiences. And it’s not just myself. The other day, I was in a ballet class and the teacher asked about our dance experience. Many students told stories of studios they had danced at for years but chose to leave because of one too many bad experiences. 

It is impossible to please everyone, but students may not stick around if you consistently ignore their needs. Good experiences create loyal dancers who will promote your classes to others. Likewise, a negative experience means you now have a dancer who not only will not come back to you, but they will not recommend you either. For digital experiences, this is even more important because you are now competing with a global dance market.

Good experiences create loyal dancers who will promote your classes to others.

How do you know if your online class provided a good experience for your students?

Learning how to evaluate your programs from a user-centric perspective is essential to providing them with better online experiences. There are a few ways you can ask your students about their experiences with your programs. You can utilize survey research, focus groups, and even test prototypes with potential students to gather feedback. I will be discussing these methods in-depth in an upcoming series of posts on evaluation, but for now, I just wanted to introduce them quickly.

Survey Research is one of the easiest ways to gather general feedback from your online dance students. Survey research can help collect information such as what time to hold a class or charge per session.

Focus Groups provide an opportunity to gather more in-depth opinions and feedback from your dancers. Usually, a focus group discussion will focus on a specific problem or topic of discussion. User Testing is a method of observing and interviewing people while they are interacting with your program. This method provides users with the opportunity to assist in the design of your program, rather than you having to make all the decisions and hope they like it.

If you’d like more support or advice on any of these methods, please feel free to reach out! As an applied anthropologist, I specialize in developing research and analysis methods to learn more about people.

Building a Ballet Barre at Home

I always wanted my own ballet barre to use for at-home dance practice, and now I’ve got one! I am so excited because this felt like a key piece in my at-home dance training that I have been missing out on.

All it took was a small investment and some elbow grease to get it done.

I searched online for a few design ideas and found a great resource from Ballerinas by Night.

I used galvanized plumbing pipes and connectors from the hardware shop. I wanted my barre to be thin and portable so I opted for a smaller circumference, but you can choose a size that works for you and your space.

In theory, the process is simple. Connect the pipes, then prime and paint. In practice, however, it was a bit awkward to find the right balance of tension for support.

For the paint job, I opted for a purple and black galaxy fade that I topped with glitter and glow-in-the-dark paint. I call her the space barre.

There she glows!

Have you ever made your own tools for dancing at home? Tell me about it in the comments!