National Dance Day

This year is the first year that National Dance Day, Sept. 19, is being held in September instead of July—and, well, it’s also the first year that it’s occurring during a worldwide pandemic. But we think that’s all the more reason to enroll your children in some dance classes, whether as a form of exercise, a way to get out some energy, a creative outlet or all of the above. Sure, traditional dance concerts and recitals aren’t happening for the foreseeable future, but dance classes sure are, either virtually or in-person with social distancing regulations and extra sanitization procedures in place.

And because your tiny dancer could use some normalcy in his or her life, here are a few local dance studios that are open for in-person instruction during the pandemic and are going above and beyond to make it equal parts fun and safe.

Broadway Bound Dance Center in Dumont has created a brand-new program option in response to the pandemic which includes Online Interactive, Online Experience and On Demand classes, as well as in-studio sessions, private lessons and “backyard dance pods” for smaller groups across all genres. This video gives you a feel for its new protocols, many of which are standard across the board:

Conservatory of Performing Arts in Cresskill allows four dancers per class in its smaller studio and six in its larger studio, and floors in both are marked into a grid of 6-foot squares with an empty square between each student. Class will end five to 10 minutes earlier than usual to allow for cleaning in between each session.

The Glass Slipper in Emerson also has 6-foot square markers on the studio’s floors with a cap of 10 dancers per class—some unique options include flamenco and salsa! Masks are encouraged but not required during classes, and students are only allowed to bring their dance shoes and a water bottle along with them. The dressing room and waiting room remain closed, and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned regularly.

Mariann’s School of Dance in Paramus has arrow markers on the floors to limit contact in the hallways in addition to limited seating in the waiting room and 6-foot squares within each studio. Parents with dancers age 6 and under are allowed to come into the building to drop off and pick up their child, assuming he or she is wearing a mask, gets a temperature check and applies hand sanitizer. This video will show you more:

Progressive Dance Studio in Englewood did away with its hybrid class schedule based on parents’ and kids’ requests and is now offering in-person lessons only with limited capacities of eight to 12 students, each spaced about 8 feet apart. If you sign up for a class—like tap, ballet, jazz or contemporary—after the maximum has been reached, your child will take his or her classes via Zoom until state regulations allow for more people in the studio.

Studio L in Waldwick is spacing dancers out 6 feet in studios, and requires masks to be worn when walking around the studio (but not actually during the dancing, though that is always encouraged). There are in-person classes for boys and girls ranging from age 2 to teenagers across all genres, as well as virtual classes Mondays and Thursdays for students who feel more comfortable getting their groove on at home.

Sukha Arts Center in Harrington Park has been voted a “Best of Bergen” since 2013, in part because it fosters self-esteem and fun—not necessarily competition. It offers your usual types of dance in addition to theater and acro. As for the COVID component? Sukha is following the same standard regulations by spacing dancers 6 feet apart and implementing above-and-beyond sanitizing measures.