Dear LLDS Parents and pupils,
We did it.
On March 17th 2020, the LLDS world stopped, classes finished and we were told to ‘Stay At Home.’ Immediately LLDS began to deliver an alternative to our weekly classes and so was born our amazing virtual dance class program.
At the outset of the pandemic, I was optimistic. Just a few weeks of virtual, then we’ll be back in the studio, I thought. But those weeks passed and after a month of near daily calls spent working out, planning the way forward with my staff, feeling everyone’s heartbreak, I sat at my desk and cried.
My heart ached for our industry because it was falling apart. I felt for the entertainment world, the West End, the theatres, the dancers, the dance schools, musicians and back stage workers, the costumers, and most of all my pupils. Our little souls who love their dancing, socialising with friends and learning their passion/hobby. In the span of just a few weeks all our lives had changed – my business model was now online and my pupils and families – as well the rest of the world – were trying to figure out this new normal.
Internally, at LLDS, I had a choice – Put my head in the sand or lead fiercely. I chose to lead, to change, to pivot, adapt and evolve. I could not have done it without my incredible team and the support I had from you! my LLDS families.
If ever there was ever a moment to question all aspects of your life, I think 2020 was it.
Now 2021 is going to be a continuation of the growth and development we started in 2020. As I look back on the year I wish to recap those milestones, to show you how much we’ve been though and have come out the other side, better, stronger and prepared for the new world.
Firstly, here’s a recap of all the marvellous LLDS moments of 2020.
• WITHIN ONE WEEK OF LOCKDOWN we got our zoom accounts ready and stared our online journey. Over the Summer term we ran 17 weeks of virtual classes, with 3 zoom accounts offering over 40 classes per week. Thankfully we had many pupils stay and join us for this new experience, with this support the school survived, our teachers
continued to work and we made it. It was a different kind of summer term than expected but we made it work and our pupils gained new skills, learnt how to engage online, it was fun, new, exciting and with time we
all got the hang of it and learnt and progressed.
- SEPTEMBER 2020 came and we were able to open. Offering face to face and hybrid classes, it was truly tremendous getting back to teaching F2F. There were many changes to what we were used to, with risk assessments drawn up for each venue, strict social distancing measures in place, 3m boxes per pupil, hand sanitiser stations and covid signage, posters and masks. All part of the new legalities we had to adhere to including covid safety training for all our teachers. It was a new era of how to manage and provide COVID SECURE dance classes.
- OUR STAR PROGRAM was born in September 2020 after many weeks of summer planning. LLDS was restructured and the class model changed. Pupils were able to attend longer combination classes. Learning ballet alongside Repertoire and Lyrical creates a whole new dimension to simply just attending a 45 minute ballet class. Whilst being taught the mechanics and technique of Modern with the musical dynamics and rhythms of Tap, make a total dance package that is the dream of all teachers. If you learn to swim you have to do all 4 strokes! You can’t just pick front crawl. So now at LLDS our pupils are getting the total dance deal, learning the whole range of dance genres in their weekly classes. Starting at the Foundation school with combination classes in Ballet, Tap and Modern then progressing to Middle school following Classic and/or Dynamic pathways and then finishing in the Senior school with the vocational levels of Grade 6 and over.
- 1-1 ZOOM ASSESSMENTS became the new exam process. ISTD exams were not possible and our planned exam sessions for April and July 2020 were cancelled. Therefore we developed the 1-1 zoom assessment. Many pupils were progressing and were reaching the high standard needed to move up a level, We held assessments in July and again in December 2020 and this year another 60 pupils have taken their assessments in Feb/March and April (this coming week another 20 pupils will be taking their assessment from our Galaxy pupils right up to Grade 5 ballet). This progression is a testament to the tuition and
superb quality of dance education they have received and the hard work put in from our dedicated pupils, learning and practising at home in their lounges, kitchens and bedrooms.
- THEN WE HAD TO STOP- Children’s classes were not permitted. So for the final 3 weeks of our Autumn term 2020 we went back online. By now we were true professionals, experienced and very capable to providing exceptional online classes. ‘The Show must go on’ theTV advert by Amazon totally took my breathe away and from this advert my Costume Idea came to life. To help our pupils cope with another change we offered our costumes to all pupils. I spent 3 afternoons going up the 3 flights of staircases to our tower room at the Church where we store our costumes, boxes upon boxes were carried down and we parked the LLDS truck in the car park at Venue 28 where all pupils were invited to collect a costume to be able to dress up, have a bit off fun and dance at home looking great. Tutus galore! Beautiful lyrical dresses, sequins, colour and sparkles Strictly Come Dancing here we come!! Over 100 costumes were handed out and our pupils enjoyed them for many weeks (and they still do)
- MANY EVENTS IN 2020 were cancelled; exam sessions; our August Haven weekend away; summer school; our choreographic competition but we managed to hold a Virtual Prize Day 2020, with over 100 families we celebrated our pupils’ achievements and everything we had been through. We organised an Improvisation Challenge and had over 50 entries of our pupils dancing in their homes, improvising to the 2 songs we provided, many dancing in our costumes looking simply fabulous. When you have moment do watch these videos that were produced and edited by Miss Helen, hours of work but so worth it, as all our dancers now have a memory, a beautiful video of dancing at home 2020.
- Lockdown video one
- Lockdown video Two
- CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS DECEMBER 2020 – We were allowed to get back to Covid secure classes and we arranged Christmas workshops at Venue 28. What a great way to celebrate Christmas with Nutcracker and Strictly Come Dancing themed classes we celebrated with dance, games and party gift bags to take home. We also took part in the Roy Castle ‘Tapathon’ with a group of 20 pupils coming to my zoom tap class where we learnt a routine and raised over £120.00 for
the charity. I still have the medals to award you all when we get back to class.
I then planned and developed a new timetable for 2021, excited to get back to the studio. It was exciting and everything was ready, registers, timetable, teachers, venues. We were all excited to be going back to class in January 2021. BUT …..
Don’t you hate the word BUT ? But, it wasn’t to be, we were told it’s back to LOCKDOWN, work at home, stay at home was back. Again we adapted, pivoted and jiggled the timetable and schedule, back onto our 3 zoom accounts and our teachers turned their lounges back to dance studios. Although this time was going to be better.
- ZOOM TIMETABLE 2021- well if we have to stay at home then let’s offer the ultimate to our pupils. Unlimited classes for your age /level, Direct debits were frozen and you were given the choice to join us or freeze your classes. With 80% retention staying online we got straight on with making it the best thing since sliced bread. Adding new classes in Musical Theatre, Street Jazz, Lyrical, Repertoire, Acro and After school activity classes. As well as the regular ISTD Ballet, Modern and Tap. You were allowed to join in whatever you chose. We also got new enquiries and had many new pupils join the school, wanting to join us in lockdown was the ultimate compliment.
- MUSICAL THEATRE GUEST MASTERCLASSES delivered by top professionals of the industry. With over 20 invited teachers from around the world. Our pupils have been taught by teachers in New York, Germany and from all over the UK. How amazing to be taught by these artists with Q and A sessions at the end of each class, to chat about the
shows they’ve been in, the cruise ships and theatres they’ve danced in, this has been such an amazing experience for our youngsters.
- WORKING IN COLLABORATION with other UK dance schools we have offered many additional bonus workshops, Peppa Pig, Toy Story, Hip Hop, Tap masterclasses, Street Jazz, Descendants, so many I’ve lost count and all of these were free, a benefit of being part of our family.
- BAND became a major part of our classwork with Band classrooms for every class and special 1-1 assessment BANDS for those practising for their assessments. It was our new communication tool, informing you of all the news, masterclasses, competitions, updates, prizes and certificates. Being part of LLDS became so much more than just a virtual dance class. Don’t forget to join the Family Band here if you are rejoining the school or a new client
- MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING – For Children’s Mental health week we supported the charity and raised nearly £150.00. We also sent out our own Wellbeing Care pack to all pupils full of advice, activities and helpful words from our teachers. We recently provided a mental health workshop for pupils age 12+ with Brian Costello from www.headstrongminds.com who are leaders in Mental health. It was an amazing workshop teaching us techniques to combat anxiety and understand how the brain works under stress and how to help yourself in those unsure moments. It was brilliant. Brian’s book ‘Cracking the teen code’ is highly recommended for parents.
• ADULT CLASSES – I really want to applaud our adult dancers who have continued online with me doing the Ballet Barre every morning Mon-Fri at 8.00am, Adult Tap classes on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and our Wednesday Adult ballet. Well done to you. We have to continue online until May 17th, but then we will be back too!!!!! YES
NOW FOR SOME BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS
March was like a box of chocolates and roller coaster all in one. We were preparing for the most exciting thing possible for any dance school owner……. A new venue with 2 lovely studios, mirrors and barres, kitchen, waiting room, staff room and more. The timetable was planned, offering more than enough places and variety of classes for everyone, it was going to be the perfect end to the stormy year but as the roller coaster did a loop and you picked the chocolate you didn’t like, it all went WRONG. The dream fell apart and we were left back at square one.
This was another moment that I sat at my desk and cried.
Perseverance and resilience is what kicked in and within a week I had restructured the timetable, piecing together halls to rent and we would get our classes back. We are currently full for all classes in the Middle and Senior
school with many non zoom pupils disappointed that they have not been given a place. We have given priority to zoom pupils and those who have taken assessments, it is only fair. If we had been able to move into the additional venue everyone would have been happy. Unfortunately this is not the case and
all I can do is apologise to those who are on
our waiting lists.
BUT, that word again, but we are hoping to move forward with that dream and I am very busy planning the next step for September,
SO WATCH THIS SPACE………..
In the meantime my team and I are ready, prepared and motivated for the new term, excited to be getting back to teach our pupils face to face and continue what we love, giving the joy and passion of dance to the youth of today to Learn, Love, Develop and Shine.
I am grateful that you have chosen to continue to be part of our family. It’s not a responsibility we take lightly and we strive each day to make you proud to be part of the LLDS family community.
LLDS is more than just a dance school.
Let’s do this 2021
Much love,
Lucy Lovick
