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March 14th, 2020 was the last day we held classes at Creative Hips Boutique and Movement Studio. In only 48 hours, we transitioned to offering classes online. The world around us was in chaos and fear began to settle in our bodies. In an effort to offer compassionate relief from an overwhelming and uncertain situation, we decided to provide all of our online classes for free. Though in an emotionally and financially vulnerable situation themselves, our teachers came together to offer this gesture of love. The response from our students was moving and meaningful. We witnessed the magic of dance in transforming anxiety, stress, and fear into beauty and creativity.
On Monday, March 30th we launched our interview segments with different international dance artists, “Staying Creative.” These segments were designed to motivate our students and dancers to stay creative in the uncertainty of this moment. Currently, most of our interviews with our inspiring artists are archived and available for viewing for any dancer that may need a motivational boost.
Spring arrived with April and May and now we find ourselves approaching summer. In an effort to accommodate our patrons’ economic difficulties, we began to offer classes at a reduced cost. And while the emotional response from our students has been rewarding, our efforts to maintain our dance community have not been able to financially safeguard our dance studio and home. Additionally, our transition to virtual classes has not been able to support the continued presence of our elder students with inaccessibility to technological platforms. Despite all of this, raising our prices knowing 40% of our students are currently unemployed, does not seem sensible to us.
Ultimately, we are asking you, our community, for help. To pay the rent and costs for the studio that has given us a life and home for dance. To pay our dedicated and exceptional dance instructors a living wage. To create scholarships for our dancers in more disadvantageous financial situations. To buy proper cleaning equipment to safely reopen our studio’s doors. To continue to have a positive impact on the community and nurture a space where our students can dream, create, and dance.
On Monday, March 30th we launched our interview segments with different international dance artists, “Staying Creative.” These segments were designed to motivate our students and dancers to stay creative in the uncertainty of this moment. Currently, most of our interviews with our inspiring artists are archived and available for viewing for any dancer that may need a motivational boost.
Spring arrived with April and May and now we find ourselves approaching summer. In an effort to accommodate our patrons’ economic difficulties, we began to offer classes at a reduced cost. And while the emotional response from our students has been rewarding, our efforts to maintain our dance community have not been able to financially safeguard our dance studio and home. Additionally, our transition to virtual classes has not been able to support the continued presence of our elder students with inaccessibility to technological platforms. Despite all of this, raising our prices knowing 40% of our students are currently unemployed, does not seem sensible to us.
Ultimately, we are asking you, our community, for help. To pay the rent and costs for the studio that has given us a life and home for dance. To pay our dedicated and exceptional dance instructors a living wage. To create scholarships for our dancers in more disadvantageous financial situations. To buy proper cleaning equipment to safely reopen our studio’s doors. To continue to have a positive impact on the community and nurture a space where our students can dream, create, and dance.