The Power of the Performing Arts

It’s no secret that the last two weeks in the world have been fraught with uncertainty, chaos, and anger. As a studio, we are looking within, listening, and evaluating how we operate to ensure we run our business and programming in a way that promotes equality, understanding, and love. We are proud to be part of an industry that values unique voices and inclusivity. And the added bonus is: engagement in the performing arts is incredibly healing and therapeutic.

The Performing Arts are Powerful, Healing, and Bring Hope

Just take a look at this improvisational exercise Ms. Anna recently conducted in her Contemp./Mod level II class:

Level II Contemp./Modern dancers improvise movements to a set of powerful and emotional words and phrases, expressing their own feelings and thoughts to process and heal.

After watching her daughter engage in this exercise (and actually participating in the exercise herself with her daughter’s encouragement!), a Stagelight parent wrote to us, “I loved that [Ms. Anna gave] her students space to express themselves through dance and an opportunity to create what they were feeling about everything that is going on in the world right now…It’s hard for me to know exactly how to talk to my kids about all that is going on right now…what Anna did yesterday was give me and my daughter a great opportunity to talk about some tough things.” ~Cory N.

Over the last two weeks in our classes, your children have brought wonderful insight to our discussions and lessons. What amazing kids our Stagelighters are… we know you are as proud as we are. And we will continue moving forward together, making this world a better place.

Tips for Lessening Frustration and How We Can Support You

Amidst WiFi frustrations, sadness over missed social connections, and spacial limitations, Stagelight dancers continue to “show up” to Zoom classes to build endurance and health.

Since the day we opened Stagelight’s doors, I knew our space was important. But it wasn’t until our recent mandated closure that I felt the heart-tugging depth of the studio’s importance to kids and families. The loss of face-to-face time and connection with teachers and classmates is impacting our Stagelight kids more deeply than I ever dared to think possible.

We know the priority is to keep our kids and communities safe–and we are grateful our Stagelight family is healthy and safe!–but it breaks our hearts hearing about the frustrations and sadness some of your children are facing with the loss of school, studio, social interactions, and general normalcy. 

5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – Neuf.

Neuf (pronounced ‘“nuff,” as in, e-nuff is e-nuff) is the number nine in French. We’ve been sheltering in place for nine weeks. And although we’ve been witness to some high highs over the last 63 days (watching our Stagelighters’ excitement in seeing friends on screen, admiring students’ tenacity as they dance in unique and distracting environments, celebrating e-birthdays and lost teeth with our Mini Stagelighters à la Zoom) there has been an equal or greater amount of struggle (WiFi interruptions, misunderstood communication without physical proximity, and feeling helpless when our students get overwhelmed “in class”). It leaves us thinking, “This is enough.”   

The reality is, we don’t have the authority to say just yet, “That’s enough. Quarantine is over. Doors are open.” But we can equip you with some strategies and resources to help your kids get through this time despite the rampant frustrations and discouragement they’re dealing with.

Ways to encourage your child with Perspective Shifting

  • Endurance: Your child may not be seeing the same level of skill development in online classes as compared to their weekly in-person classes (a testament to how important in-person classes are!). Rather than letting this fester as a source of frustration and a reason to give up, help guide your child’s perspective in seeing this period of time as a test in endurance rather than a period of rapid skill growth. If your child wants to be a better performer, endurance is a characteristic he or she will need to develop. Endurance is developed when the temptation to give up is overpowered by the choice to show up. The real victory right now is in showing up consistently, even though it can feel like the hardest thing to do. 
  • Healthy Choices: When the temptation to give up on virtual classes creeps in, we can gently turn our kids’ thoughts to making this about small, healthy choices. Connecting with their teacher and peers virtually is a healthier choice than disconnecting. Physically moving during an online dance class for an hour is healthier than not moving all day. Learning choreography–although challenging and difficult in this format–is healthier for the brain than watching an hour of YouTube. The practice of making small, healthy choices can help kids form the positive decision-making skills they’ll undoubtedly need in the future.

How we can support you

  • In just a few days, we’ll be announcing our Summer Showcase plans. Preparing for a performance is a great way to get kids re-inspired and focused on a goal. Look out for an email over the weekend with a detailed plan on how we intend to end this unique season with a unique experience.
  • Open office hours for one-on-one “pep talks” now available. If your child just needs a little face time with Ms. Lindsey or myself, we’ll be open for office hours on Zoom beginning next week and throughout the rest of May (we’ll extend this into June and include other instructors if the demand is there!). Keep in mind that when you enter the meeting, you may be in the waiting room for a bit as we’ll conduct pep talks on a first-come, first-served basis:
    • Wednesdays from 1:15-2:15 – 5/20 and 5/27 (Ms. Lindsey)
      Join Zoom Meeting
      Meeting ID: 865 4639 9317
      Password: 942740
    • Fridays 1:15-2:15 – 5/22 and 5/29 (Ms. Alyssa)
      Join Zoom Meeting
      Meeting ID: 884 0218 1873
      Password: 688515
  • We are e-here for you! Continue sharing your child’s success stories, updates, and concerns with us over email and we’ll get right back to you. It is a pleasure to serve our Stagelight community in this way.

We will live on stage again.

Every child and family is facing unique challenges right now, and there is no one-size-fits all approach to getting through this difficult time. We are grateful for those of you who have been able to support the studio with continued participation in online programming, and we are grateful for our families who needed a temporary break but are with us in spirit. Either way, we will be back to living on stage together very soon.

It is an honor to be a part of your (virtual) village.

Filling Your Cup with Joy

Teen dancers from Stagelight Performing Arts use their creative talents to connect during quarantine and inspire the sharing of joy.

No cups were shared in the making of this video.

During this season of forced isolation, many of us are battling loneliness, sadness, and confusion. We struggle with the concept of not being able to get together with loved ones. We’re yearning for a shared meal or cup of coffee with a friend. Maybe you’re having difficulty finding motivation in the activities and hobbies you normally love.

This is an incredibly difficult time.

But finding ways to connect with each other—even without physical contact—is paramount for our mental and emotional well-being. This is especially true for students and young adults who need healthy relationships and social connection with their peers.

Finding connection and joy despite challenges

Enter a small group of dancers from Stagelight Performing Arts. Under Ms. Anna Vogt’s direction, these young artists choreographed a piece of work that explores connection amidst separation and joy through sorrow. Dancers used their gifts of dance, performance, and choreography to craft this special piece that we hope fills your own cup with joy.

At various points throughout the project, some dancers found it difficult to stay motivated without the in-person connection they’re accustomed to having in a traditional dance class. The assignment of creating their own choreography at times felt like a burden. The technical aspects of finding a suitable location, securing a family-member-videographer, and meeting the cues of an off-site/online director added additional challenge each dancer had to contend with. We think you’ll find, however, that these dancers faced every obstacle head-on, ultimately presented a beautiful piece of work, forged connection with each other, and inspired the sharing of joy during this difficult time. They remind us to keep moving forward despite the challenges we’re all facing each day.

Fill a cup, share the joy.

We invite you to watch and enjoy this video, then share it with your friends and family. Our hope is that it inspires you to stay connected and spread joy, until we can get together in-person to share that cup of coffee.

Credits

Music: Hope for Something (Alternate Version) by Panama

Dancers in order of appearance: Adeline Dang, Soraya Corydon, Katelyn Higueros, Makayla Palos Rodriguez, Bonnie QuaasBerryman

Director: Anna Vogt

Choreography: Adeline Dang, Soraya Corydon, Katelyn Higueros, Makayla Palos Rodriguez, Bonnie QuaasBerryman

Video editing: Anna Vogt