A living room.
A town green.
A Zoom screen.
A sand bar.
A list of random nouns?
Nope. To keep dancing this past year, these have been my “venues” for teaching, rehearsing and performing.
As I prepared to teach class online yesterday, I ruminated on how intrepid we have had to be over the past year. Everyone has had to be.
In particular, I thought about how intrepid we dancers have needed to be. Intrepid especially in the vein of resoluteness. Time and again, we have seen daunting obstacles in the path before us and wondered how we could dance past them or with them or through them.
When everything shut down, when we were cut off from each other for dance classes, I did what so many others did and started teaching virtually. I, with my laughable technological deficiencies, needed to up my game. I switched to Facebook Live and Instagram Live and then Zoom and ultimately in person and synchronously on Zoom.
As you may know, while the virtual option has been an incredible blessing in many ways, it is a distant second for teaching and learning dance. Including for the ineffable, priceless component of performing movement together.
So that when a dance student of mine suggested exploring the possibility of dancing on our town’s green last summer, I pounced on it. Thankfully, the town was all systems go and we were so fortunate to dance socially distanced TOGETHER. Even with the added challenges of breathing and shouting directions with sweat-drenched masks while also dancing very vigorously, it was heavenly to be moving outside of our four walls and with other dancing souls. Plus, we were able to offer a regular “performance” for all of the passersby.
Enter winter. And back to lockdown. Back to Zoom. Then in-person synchronously with Zoom for those who couldn’t or didn’t want to attend in person.
Now, with the welcome vaccines and Covid numbers dropping and restrictions easing, we hope to be back on the Green soon, at least for awhile.
While all of this bobbing and weaving have been more extensive than in times past, it has really only been a change of degree. There have always been obstacles, last-minute changes, loss of studio space, a dearth of funding, injury, life.
Dancing has indeed presented a terrific opportunity for me to practice commitment, intrepidity. The question isn’t whether I will keep the dancing going for myself and others, but rather how. How can I make this work?
The resoluteness we need to practice in pursuing our passions is the same one we need to practice in living. How can we make what we believe in or are hungry for or what we love possible? How can we change our approach or perception or collaboration or framework to keep the meaningful alive?
At times, it can feel daunting, overwhelming. And discouraging.
Yet, following the path of intrepidity also offers us the chance to cultivate resourcefulness, creativity, innovation, courage, resilience. One path for a meaningful, vibrant life.
Sirena Tales 
Being able to dance right by the water must be incredible. And yes, soon you will be able to dance outside with groups and by fall perhaps inside.
Yes, it is incredible and inspiring, Emilie. Thanks so much for your encouragement. Hope all is well with you!
All is well. You seem to be doing great. Keep it up!
The challenges of Covid have brought out new aspects of creativity. Love yours! Yay you.
Agreed! The challenges of the pandemic have certainly have spurred many innovative, resourceful responses. Thank you very much for your kind words, Eileen.