LONDON, Ontario — Meet Teagan Daly, aged 10. Teagan in an avid dancer and is described by her mom, Ashley, as an enthusiastic, outgoing, and social young girl. I sat down with them recently to learn a little bit about her love for competitive dance, and how she has continued to pursue her passion over the past 16 months of changes.

Q: What dance studio do you belong to?
A: I am at Dance Xtreme, and have been for about 5 years.

Q: What is your favourite part about dance?
A: I love getting to hang out with my friends and all the teachers. I get to express myself through different types of dance. I think my favourite dance is Open or Musical Theatre.

Q: What have you missed most about the last year?
A: I have missed getting to be with all the people—my friends and the teachers.

Q: Were you able to continue in online classes and workouts or how did you keep up your hobby during shutdown?
A: We had five classes per week, all online. It was still really fun because we were able to still see each other in a different way.

Q: Ashley, what were some of the highlights of the online program?
A: All of the teachers did a really great job. It was still fun for the kids, and they were able to stay active. Teagan would move all of the furniture in the living room, do the class, and then move it all back. But we could also see some of the other “home studios” in basements, bedrooms, and even outside. I think it was really important for the kids to continue their engagement in the activity for their overall health and well-being. And the teachers were all so wonderful, checking in on the kids’ well-being, letting them have a little social time online before class. One day, Ms. Rebecca took the time to drive to everyone’s house and drop off a dance t-shirt for them—it was so heart-warming to see how much she really cared.

Q: How did it feel to do your first online competition?
A: It was fun!

Q: Ashley, what have been some of the logistics of recent competitions?
A: Ms. Rebecca, the Studio director, rented a stage outside in order for the kids for a recital and so that they could film their competition dances and submitted them online. Again, she went above and beyond what could have ever expected. Recently, we went to Guelph for an in-person competition where just the dancers when inside, and the parents remained outside, streaming live. Only one studio was allowed in the facility at a specified time.

Q: When can you get back to in-person classes?
A: The studio will be able to open again starting in phase 3, and we will hopefully have another competition in London at end of August that parents will be able to attend.

Q: If someone was thinking of going into dance what would you tell them?
A: Just give it a shot, if you don’t like it then you don’t have to do it forever, but in my opinion it’s a lot of fun, you get to meet new people who like the same activity that you do.

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