Zoom dance class

[queenofnaps]

So I get this email from my DDs dance school basically saying we HAVE to download zoom due to Lockdown. I asked why because how can people be expected to have a sports hall type space in their homes for dancing but yes it’s for dancing.
We just don’t have that kind of space, it’s really small house. No grand hallways, no dining room, no other reception room or conservatory nothing like that. AIBU to wonder where the heck she’s supposed to dance?

It’s possible to dance on the spot. In the kitchen. Anywhere really. What kind of dancing does she do though? Advanced level majorette- nope not in the house, street dance probably not, Tap or Irish plenty of space.

What they mean is, at the moment, nobody can attend dance classes. So what they are trying to do, is to adapt and offer the dc something. No, it's not going to suit everyone. Yes, of course there will b people that won't be able to access it. Yes, there will be people that could and choose not to, but, at the moment, it is what they are trying their best to make all the adjustments they can, to offer at least some of the dc the opportunity to do something together.
Your choice is to either give it a go, or not to.
YABU to complain about them.

No the kitchen is literally cupboards on opposite walls with an oven in the middle, joining them together. Her back and feet would probably touch the cupboards on either side if she sat on the floor. No not a majorette 😂, it’s jazz.

Our kitchen is as small as you describe and I (an adult) did kick boxing on zoom tonight. My daughter does Tae Kwon do in the same space because we have no choice and we want to participate. Adapt and overcome if you want your daughter to participate. If you don't, just don't log in...what else can you do?

We’ve had this both now and throughout original lockdown - fortunate to have a largish room but do have to move some furniture slightly each week (and tidy up!). Obviously normal classes are preferable however I appreciate the dance school is trying to keep the classes going and I’m happy to support them.

Online classes have had the added bonus that when any of the children have had to isolate they’ve still been able to take part in the dance classes.

DD reckons she has developed a new (to her) style of choreography as all her classes are now delivered from our (storage space) attic - it has no jumps or firm landings ( think of the ceiling below) only has hands up in the centre 2 feet (sloping roof) and very little floor work (camera angle is wrong) plus she can only move 2-3 feet in any direction

She remembers fondly couple dancing (salsa and ballroom) and contemporary when they actually touched each other!

She says when she gets to do studio work again she will have to retrain her mind to allow for the extra space

True, you make a good point. Well done you. Thank for helping me visualise.
I just feel like she’s going injure herself or someone else. Also it’s at crucial time in this house, dinner time. Which is awkward, my sons just don’t have that kind of patience, one has autism and the others are a bit too young to understand really.

Do it, you might be surprised. Any kind of dance isn’t just leaping about - there’s so much more to it and lots you can do in a tiny space.

As an aside, DD is a dance teacher and has just gone back onto Zoom. She lives in a 1 bedroom flat and has to teach dance from her tiny living room. Ballet, tap, modern, you name it. She was amazed at how well they came on during the last lockdown and said when they got back to the studio in September the difference between those who had kept going over zoom and those who hadn’t was huge.
It will be different to having a large space but it will still have plenty of value.

That’s a good point. I appreciate that businesses have to keep running and I wasn’t going request a refund anyway as it’s be our choice not to attend.
I think it was more the tone of the email for the school that got me, in that we have to do it no other option. My DD Is not interested in it professionally/competitively it’s just for fun and to get away from her brothers 😂

We tidied up our living room and moved furniture a bit. It’s not ideal, but this situation is not dance teacher’s fault she is just trying to do her best.

My ds has football training via Zoom! Boggle. It will be dark, we have a patio, no garden. If we go to the park it will still be dark and I'll have to use my phone, which will be hard for him to see.

Maybe it's for the kids with large floodlit gardens?!

She won’t injure herself - that’s what you have a dance teacher to oversee for. The teacher isn’t going to have her leaping over your furniture and crashing into tables.
As regards other family members, is there no separate room she can do it in?
I’m back to teaching piano over zoom and family members are often crashing around in the background. I ignore; it’s irrelevant. As long as you aren’t actually letting your sons run between your DD and the camera or under her feet (which would be dangerous) I can’t see the issue. Just get on with whatever else you’d usually be doing.

We've had to move stuff around, no other option really. We can also hook up outside under a gazebo for more space.

Just so your update, it’s very tricky. Does your teacher allow siblings to join/be present? Ours does to make things a bit easier.

Clearly people can think outside the box way better than I can. I’m just envisioning the horror from the boys that dinner will be late and somebody getting accidentally hit. Honestly the only real space is a walk way used to go through the living/dining room to the kitchen and bathroom. Her dancing around with my phone doesn’t fill me with glee either

Definitely not enough room for them all to dance! Would be a lovely idea if they liked dancing though

I think they should be applauded for trying to keep it going for the children. No, it’s not ideal, but they don’t have magic wands and can’t make the virus go away and can’t make the lockdown not happen. I bet if they did nothing, 50% or more of the parents would be moaning about that.

I think everyone needs to accept this is a shitty situation AND STOP WHINGING AT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST.

My 5 yr old DD has gymnastics via zoom tomorrow 😂 I shall be interested to see how that works out

I do appreciate they are trying to do what they can but in some ways it would be less stressful for everyone if we just acknowledge it’s not going to work remotely! Though I suppose some would then demand refunds.

There’s only one room downstairs and the bedrooms are small and filled with beds. We don’t get very good internet signal outside.
Just to clarify I don’t hate what they’re are trying to do. I think it’s awesome they have the ability to be able to provide a service of some kind still. I don’t like that they said we have to download zoom and do it like that. Not would we like to join, we have to.
The assumption that people have the ability to do this is what annoys and the insistence that we do do it. We don’t have an extra space where she won’t be disturbed or the spare technology, I literally have my phone that’s capable of doing what they ask. That’s it.

I've just finished pushing back the living room furniture for my twins' first zoom ballet class. It's not ideal but it's better than nothing. DH will keep their big brother entertained elsewhere for the duration of the class and I will supervise and be ready to rescue any breakables which look in danger of being destroyed by an over enthusiastic arabesque.

What alternative options would you like your daughter's dance school to provide?

Her dancing around with my phone doesn’t fill me with glee either

She won’t dance around with your phone, she’ll prop it up on something in front of her; a bookcase, a mantlepiece. Most inventive I’ve had is a bean tin and a Nutella jar! I don’t know a single dance teacher who would allow them to dance around holding a phone. That wouldn’t be considered safe.

It may mean the dance teacher can only see part of her but that’s fine. Often they work on, say, just arms. Or core body strength so they will look to see if she’s pulling in all her stomach muscles. Or getting complicated rhythms in time to music on the spot.

Maybe tell the dance school you will try it for a couple of sessions and see if it’s feasible and if she enjoys it. Then if you really do find it’s impossible the dance teacher will already be able to see this and can either suggest workarounds or accept it’s not right for you.

It’s difficult for everybody at the moment. All the dance and music teachers I know (and I know a few!) are pretty depressed at going back online. But we are an inventive bunch and really have worked hard to make sure it’s still a worthwhile experience, despite all the difficulties. We know people don’t have ideal houses, lots of space, quiet environments - we don’t exactly live in palaces ourselves either.

One thing I do think people need to remember is that if they want these places to exist when lockdown is over - the dance school/ gym school/ football club/ music lessons - you need to at least try to support it now. I very nearly went back into full time school teaching due to the income drop and my dance teacher daughter was concerned as she had a drop in income that is not sustainable long term - her partner was having to find the full rent on their flat. If the people teaching your children can’t survive, they’ll have to find other ways to do so and the activities will cease to exist.

That’s not a rant at you, OP - everyone is struggling. But if you can possibly keep it going, assuming you value it in normal times, you should.

I doubt the dance teacher expects people to have a spare studio to dance in 🙄
Many dance/exercise/music teachers are having to do classes online.
I’ve done a few of my normal exercise class online and I know it’s not as “good” as a normal one due to lack of space. However, it’s still supporting the ladies that run the company so I’ll do a few in order to support them and allow them to still have a wage.

Either do the classes for a few weeks or don’t. You seem to be making an issue out of nothing.

Tone is poor I agree, assumption of space yes, though I agree with others that the wish to continue providing lessons is to be applauded.

Your main grievance should be with the government who seem to think exercise is not important, perhaps raise the matter with your MP. No horse riding, no gyms, no outdoor swimming pools, no amateur sport (but men's professional sport can continue), no tennis, no golf. You would have thought that a Prime Minister who has ended up in intensive care with Covid would care about health and exercise, but apparently not.

There's no guarantee the dance lesson will be on dancing, dance students are more at risk of losing flexibility so it may well be a conditioning class than a dancing class.

Have you actually contacted the school and explained that your Dd is looking forward to attending but has very little space. That gives the dance teacher a fighting chance at adapting her lesson. You can't complain about it if you haven't given them an opportunity to come up with a solution.

DD is a swimmer, just managed to get her stamina back to where it was prelockdown her swim club are running fitness conditioning classes this lockdown although watching her try and do butterfly on the kitchen table might be amusing.

The tone might be poor but they are trying! My daughter had a zoom dance class this morning. It didn't work brilliantly as screen was a bit small so we will try to find a bigger one for next week. They have had to organise this very quickly so we are all doing what we can.