LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — While many activities changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some things are still pretty easy to do while keeping your distance from others, like grocery shopping. However, dance classes are much harder to do apart.
Before the pandemic, it was all about getting close with your partner or partners at The Salsa Center dance studio. While the studio now lost a bit of that life, that doesn’t mean the dancing has stopped.
“In April, we were able to pick up with virtual classes,” said director and master instructor Reena Reyes.
With a camera, lights, a TV and Zoom, directors Reena and Abel Reyes and other instructors go through the steps while dancers at home follow along.
“We schedule a few classes a week and they can register through a link online, on our page,” said Reyes. “We had to create new classes. We do more fitness. We have some Zumba. We also offer footwork classes that concentrate only on solo dancing.”
The transition hasn’t been easy though.
“Even if they love to dance three times a week, getting online is not the same, so there are many students who said, ‘I’m not going to do it.’ So, we lost a lot of our enrollment. It’s been very difficult on us,” said Reyes.
Still, as Kentucky starts to reopen, Reyes is hopeful about getting dancers back into studio soon.
“Eight people can come in spaced out. The instructor will stand in the front and we’ll also continue to offer the virtual classes,” said Reyes. “Many people took private lessons, but we won’t do the partner classes right now. We don’t know when that can be.”
They’ll keep moving forward though, until they can move together again.
