Dancing at a Distance: Dance Education During COVID-19

Socially Distant Dancing

Masks and social distancing are key in safely continuing dance education.For the safety of the MMC students, faculty, and staff, several protocols were put into place during the Fall 2020 semester. Every dance studio on Main Campus has been modified to prevent the spread of the virus. Studios are now supplied with UV air filtration systems, have markings on the floors with tape at 10-foot distances, and are thoroughly disinfected before each individual use. Students have full studio access but need to maintain the 10-foot distances with no partnering and at reduced capacity.

Students using the studio space, such as senior Dance and Biomedical Sciences double major Emily Brennan ’21, say that they feel safe attending in-person classes. “The dancers have done an excellent job of maintaining distance and wearing masks as much as possible,” says Brennan. “We all really care about keeping the school safe because we know if cases start spreading we will lose access to the incredible studio spaces at Marymount.”

Taylor Rifkin '24 attending class remotely.Dance students were also given the option to participate remotely. “These innovations allow in-person students to take full advantage of the space while protecting the more vulnerable populations from having to risk exposure,” says Technical Director of Dance, Philip Treviño. “Fully remote students could attend class from the safety of their dorms or their homes across the country and the world.”

Some students such as Amanda Moreira ’22, a junior BFA in Dance major with a Modern Dance Concentration, find remote learning to provide certain benefits. “It allowed me to really focus on myself and how movement affected my body,” says Moreira. This was not without challenge, however, as Moreira and other students have expressed difficulty in dancing within limited apartment spaces. Brennan and Moreira both have also noted that working in the studio provides energy and a sense of community that is critical in dance instruction.

“In-studio training for the dancers was extremely advantageous,” says Associate Professor of Dance and Chair of the Dance Department, Nancy Lushington. “Those dancers could be inspired and motivated not only by their instructors, but also by their peers. Dance is a visual art form and the ability to consistently observe and absorb feedback from faculty and witness the effect of that on other dancers in the room was key in their growth over the past semester.”

Digitized Dance Instruction

Dance students being taught virtually by Katie Langan, Professor of Dance and Chair of the Division of Fine and Performing Arts.Utilizing both aspects of the Virtual/Open Campus model of education, dance instruction continued on with virtual instructors guiding in-person students. Dance studios were equipped with audio/visual carts featuring a large television screen, a computer, and a camera, allowing both students and faculty to attend class via Zoom.

Gabrielle Willis ’21, senior BFA in Dance major with a Modern Dance concentration, expresses that although not having an instructor in the same room appears more challenging, the faculty are working hard to empower her and her classmates “All of our faculty has done a wonderful job of making everyone feel seen with personal corrections and feedback,” says Willis.

“All the teachers really took the time to make sure that everyone was being seen,” adds Moreira. “Our professors still pushed us as artists to continue to grow, experiment, and play with movement.”

Student Experience

Although Brennan found the Fall 2020 semester to be an incredible challenge, she found that being able to share space and classes with fellow dancers made up for all the masks and protocols. “The instructors have been so helpful in making this transition smooth and they put as much effort as possible into giving us the individual corrections that we need and maintaining the level of training we would receive in a normal class,” says Brennan.

Dance students rose to the challenge of continuing their education throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Taylor Rifkin ’24, a double major pursuing a BFA in Dance with a Modern Concentration and a BA in Business with a Social Entrepreneurship Concentration, is one of a number of students who are taking advantage of MMC’s Open Campus model. A commuter student from Long Island, Rifkin utilizes MMC’s Great Hall West for her 8:30 am Modern class and for a 1:00 pm Ballet class.

“The dance studios provide a professional atmosphere where dancers feel inspired and encouraged while performing within their classes,” explains Rifkin. Despite the virtual format, Rifkin believes she and her peers have adapted well to the new environment. “Despite our professors’ physical absence within our classes, I strongly feel as if they are focused on addressing each student’s endeavors within their dancing. Regardless of where I am taking class, my professors and peers have individually impacted me to excel to my fullest potential.”

This story is part of a larger series, MMC Together, published by Marymount Manhattan College’s Communications team. Have questions or a story lead? Email Communications@mmm.edu.

Published: February 16, 2021