Dance Studio Stands Strong in Pandemic

Dancers and athletes are just some of the people impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Sports teams and clubs are finding sanitization and social distancing can cause strain on the overall experience of a practice. 

Before reopening, Rivertown Dance Academy in Amherstburg joined Dance Safe Ontario, an amalgamation of studios across the province dedicated to sharing guidelines, protocols and general advice regarding the health and safety of athletes and faculty alike. Following the information from this coalition, the local bylaw officer, MPs and health unit were contacted for confirmation before anything was set in motion. 

Catherine Cristofaro, owner of the Rivertown Dance Academy in Amherstburg, said she believes that dance education as a whole is not as affected by these rules as one might think.  

“I really do believe that when the students walk in the studio, it’s about how they feel and not so much maybe what they see. Everyone here is still sweating, still learning, still growing as a dancer and really at the end of the day that’s really all anyone can expect,” said Cristofaro. 

Paige Boose, 16, has been with Rivertown Dance for 13 years. She said despite changes that have been made to the day to day operation of her classes, her desire to dance remains unaffected.  

“You can express yourself without words and release your emotions into dancing,” said Boose. She said she continues to attend regular classes with her friends and enjoys every moment spent on the dance floor. 

Cristofaro and Boose agreed that patience and perseverance are paramount in the steady recovery of athletic clubs and teams in the wake of COVID-19, and local groups are more than prepared for the challenge.