Studio Update After Provincial Announcement 4-1-21
Hey Dancing Family!
As many of you know by now, we are heading into another 28-day lockdown. We are hopeful that this will be the last one and we are confident that our community of students and teachers will do their part and abide by all protocols and regulations. We continue to hold space in our hearts for those of you who have been most affected by the pandemic and this roller-coaster of lockdowns. If you are struggling, know that there are resources available to you for mental health services, grocery delivery services, and pharmacy-delivery services. Please let us know if we can help you in any way.
Although we are happiest when we are able to dance with you in our beautiful ballroom, we are now used-to, and very comfortable-with, virtual dance lessons. To help keep a spring in your step this month, we have a number of virtual options for you:
- All private lessons can be moved online. Some of you are familiar with the setup, but for those of you who have never tried it, we encourage you to give it a shot. All you need is a little bit of space, an internet connection, and the same willingness to learn that you bring to your in-studio sessions.
As one of our students who just tried their first virtual lesson last week said: “S for Superb. Really had a good time dancing in our own space. Even did our first home practice, now we are confident in our space. Dance on every day!”
- Our online group classes will be starting after the holiday weekend and you can still register for the 7 available topics. Remember that if you sign up for two topics you’ll receive 20% off the total tuition for the class.
- Virtual Custom Dance Parties: If you and 10 friends are looking for a fun way to connect (and dance) during the lockdown, we can put together a custom dance party for you. Purchasing 1 package covers the cost of logins for you and your friends and the time with the teacher learning any style of dance you would like! This light-hearted event is a great way to hang out with friends, bond with work colleagues, or get the family together.
“The Fred Astaire studio has been a breath of fresh air to my hiking group!
We signed up for custom virtual group lessons on a whim not knowing what to expect! Well it has been a blast! Miss Denise has come up with themes for us as we are a mixed group, we have singles, couples, non dancers, a friend recovering from surgery. Well let me tell you it has been the highlight of our week! We dance, we laugh, we socialize, and we totally forget what is happening in the world. We always look forward to booking our next one!
Thanks from the hiking group! Let’s keep dancing! - Lynne
“Our virtual dance lessons with Fred Astaire Ottawa have been a weekly ray of sunshine in a gloomy year. So when it came time to celebrate our 10th anniversary during lockdown, we knew we would enjoy a virtual dance party. But what about our friends and family? "Thoroughly enjoyed your celebrations!", "Such a good time. Such a good idea.", "Haven't laughed so much in ages.", "That was so much fun! Still can't do the floss though." The dance content was accessible for everyone, while keeping us all on our toes. And the overall experience was personal, memorable, and laugh out loud hilarious. Thank you so much! - Deb and Stew
- Dancing in the park: With warmer weather on the horizon, we are looking into whether we are able to offer private dance lessons outside. Please let us know if this is something you are interested in.
If you have an existing in-studio package, we would love to work with you to find a way to continue providing value to you. This means you do not need to purchase anything new if you are currently a student of ours. We will simply have to get creative and work as partners to find a solution that works best for you!
Although the learning format is new, we have been teaching virtually since the beginning of the pandemic. By continuing your dance lessons online not only are you giving yourself a chance to dance your way through this lockdown, but you are also supporting our teachers and giving them a chance to connect with their students and share their passion for dance.
If there is any other way that we can help you throughout this time, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are a community, and at times like these, it takes the coordinated effort of communities like ours to make the changes that need to be made.