Why Community Matters
Local creativity is overflowing in communities as moms, dads, small business owners, nonprofit leaders and volunteers are finding new ways to communicate in this new world of social isolation. Their coping strategies and ingenuity are beyond inspiring!
We are proud to introduce you to these innovators in “Why CommunityMatters”, a series made possible by LIFEWTR.
Meet Amy Piantaggini, Executive Director of Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.
With the new norm of practicing social distancing, how are you finding creative ways to connect with family and friends?
Our Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance board believes that live online classes are crucial to keeping our students engaged through dance and connected to their faculty and classmates. The camaraderie developed in our classes over the school year, is in my opinion, integral to helping our students cope through this global health crisis. Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance (RCD) is currently offering online dance classes, live-streamed via Zoom.
Many teachers have already published syllabi, inspirational video links, and started interactive Q & A’s. As Executive Director, I am working with other dance studio directors all over the nation through online forums and the National Dance Education Organization, the industry leader I am following closely. This platform also allows parents, who have paid for an entire semester of education, to still receive services from RCD so that their children’s dance education is continued. We will be able to see students live and make real-time corrections that would not be possible if students merely practiced at home by following a recording. This platform allows us to use an array of interactive materials that we never had even considered pre-quarantine days! It also allows us to honor our faculty’s contracts by allowing them to teach for the remainder of the semester.
Can you tell us if you or any of your colleagues are doing creative things at home to find joy and inspiration?
I personally am doing a lot of cooking and doing live online workouts with Train2Excel of Ridgefield who has kept me moving through this time. Fit Club is also sharing online workouts. Other members of our faculty, many who commute from New York, City, are setting up dance instruction online. Mary Beth Hansohn is offering yoga from her rooftop, and Danielle Marie Fusco is launching a variety of online classes including Jazz and Musical Theater.
If you are a parent, have you found creative ways to engage kids at home?
I await a large shipment of seed starter kits, to engage the kids through gardening. My older son is a senior, and his stress reliever has been working on his truck and going for rides. We are all spending a lot of time organizing and making our home space cozier.
Do you know of any local businesses or nonprofits innovating to serve communities during this difficult time? How?
ACT of Connecticut and Ridgefield Playhouse just broadcast an amazing performance and looks like many are following suit. I think Ridgefield can look forward to an influx of livestream from its rich resources of arts in town!
Learn more about Amy Piantaggini and Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance here.
Community matters - now more than ever. We are thankful to LIFEWTR for helping us to connect and stay strong.