We hope that everyone is remaining safe and healthy, with many areas opening up from shelter in place restrictions. Dancing continues to be a high risk activity, so we wanted to share ideas that support our local dance communities remotely. These suggestions are already implemented successfully … we’re sharing this to cross-pollinate and keep everyone engaged.

A group of female WCS professionals throughout the world, led by Brandi Guild, brainstormed these ideas on how to keep our local dancers engaged, aside from online “group classes.”

Social-related ideas (general and dance-related):

• Separate FB group for your students to keep them connected with each other
• Reach out to your students, especially those who have dropped out
  • Call them on your daily walks
  • Send a video message and ask them to share a video of themselves practicing
  • The goal is – make sure they know you’ve thought about them…they matter!
• YouTube viewing party (open discussion and input from pro) (Good low-risk opportunity to ask students to “bring a friend”)
  • “Why is this WCS?”
  • “Journey of a champion dancer” (watch their growth)
• Live Q&A sessions
• Town Hall meetings
• Social hours (Good low-risk opportunity to ask students to “bring a friend”)
  • “We miss you” happy hour
  • Happy hour
  • DJ cocktail party
  • Saturday afternoon pajama party – casual chit chat with music, some dancing
  • Dinner party
  • (General) Share videos, discuss the good and the bad…
• Live-streamed improv comedy shows (with pre / post Zoom chat)
• Movie night
• Cooking hour / group
• Game night (e.g., Pictionary, Charades, bingo)

• Book club
• Sharing ideas:
  • Show and tell / Getting to know you (e.g., musician does an online concert)
  • Solo movement videos expressing emotions through dance
  • Beautiful fun videos
  • Daily dance breaks (e.g., Baya Voce)
  • Challenges – e.g., abs (abdominals) challenge, silly challenges, “bring a friend”
  • Newsletters
  • “Breakout” small groups (e.g., 3 people) are an effective way to build community  – use them with any of the other ideas listed above! (Zoom link: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206476093-Enabling-breakout-rooms)
  • “Joke and Jill”
• Charitable event for donations to support a covid-related charity

Class-related ideas:

• Line dances (or other choreo):
  • Specific technique-based (e.g., footwork, foot action, rhythms, body isolations)
  • General (does not need to be WCS-based)
  • 8 counts each week, with stated goal of dancing the full 32 count pattern as a team in the future
• “Shadow dancing” – visual lead by leader / follower response
• Conditioning classes / non-WCS exercises (e.g., yoga, pilates)
• Reduced cost / suggested donations for classes / multiple levels of fees (no judgment! Everyone’s life situation is different)
• Shift priority to chatting / check in with short drills – just to keep everyone connected

The team also acknowledged how difficult and emotionally exhausting creating and delivering online content can be, and provided a few suggestions to help:

• Pros could work together (e.g., create a monthly calendar and rotate teachers; ask fellow pros to “drop in”)
• Be mindful of space as you’re teaching. Show adjustments for them to practice in small vs large areas.
• Be mindful of moves that require a partner, since not everyone has someone to practice with.
• Be mindful of when you’re explaining a concept vs when you want students to practice it
• Keep your lessons at the same date / time to maintain a sense of normalcy
• Realize that your students miss you too! Share your love for them…
• Accept that you may not be able to convey as effectively online as you do in person
  • Record your content so you can share it with your students (they don’t absorb as well online either!)
• Don’t worry about your lack of perfection, be human

Finally, Health Coaches Without Boarders (healthcoacheswithoutborders.org) was suggested as a free individual & small group coaching option for those in need. It is not dance-related, but a great resource.

Best,

WSDC Board of Directors

Permission granted by Brandi Guild. Ideas shared during a Women’s WCS Professionals meeting in April 2020 and expanded in discussions on Facebook.