By Alesha Capone
The artistic director of a Wyndham studio has welcomed an easing of pandemic restrictions, announced at the weekend.
On Sunday, the state government announced dance studios would be able to have an unlimited amount of students aged under 18 in classes, from June 22 onwards.
Adults must still maintain a maximum of 10 students per class.
Brittany Flask from Dance Nation Academy (DNA) in Hoppers Crossing said that student numbers had dropped by about 50 per cent since she was forced to close the studio due to pandemic regulations earlier this year.
She said the studio restructured its plans to provide students with the option of classes via the Zoom video platform for term two, but that some families did not have a suitable space for children to dance in.
Ms Flask said the state government’s weekend announcement was great news for dance students.
“If students are 18 years or under we do not have limits on class numbers and we are also able to run sessions without social distancing,” she said.
“This means that the students are able to dance together in formations, work on lifts/partner dancing and be spotted in tricks and stunts in their acrobatic classes.
“Personally, this has taken a huge weight off my shoulders as our class structures and timetable will not dramatically change once we return.”
However, Ms Flask said all Wyndham’s small business owners “still have many challenges ahead”.
“It is going to take a while to rebuild as term two hit us (DNA) hard, financially,” she said.
“More then ever, small business owners need the community to support local.”
