OLDS — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 100 members of the Inspire Dance Studio and Baton Club held their first-ever outdoor end-of-year recital on June 20.
It was held at the southern extension of the Olds Cemetery instead of their usual venue, inside the TransCanada Theatre.
About 75 per cent of the club’s members participated in the event.
“We wanted to create an opportunity for our dancers to showcase all their hard work this year since they were not able to attend any dance competitions,” Jenna Jemieff, owner of Inspire Dance Studio and Baton Club, wrote in an email.
Jemieff said the club’s baton twirlers were able to participate in the Pan Pacific cup in Red Deer in January “so they were able to have a small taste of competition,” but “our dancers unfortunately had all their competitions postponed.”
She said the club coped with the pandemic lockdown by running classes online via Zoom. They also managed to hold some classes for competitive athletes outdoors shortly before the end-of-year recital took place.
Jemieff said although the June 20 recital was “an exciting opportunity” for club members to perform outdoors, it just wasn’t the same as their regular venue and they hope to be back there next spring.
“You cannot replace the atmosphere of performing on stage,” she wrote.
She added the club was grateful to the Town of Olds for granting them permission to host their event at the cemetery.
“It meant so much to our dancers and their families to have the opportunity to perform.”
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