Several dance studio owners released a joint letter March 20, which included a plea for parents to continue supporting businesses offering extracurricular activities.
“On an important note, if you are considering withdrawing at this time, we ask you to reconsider,” officials said in the joint letter. “Our employees depend on their jobs for their livelihood. Arts and many other nonessential organizations are going to be hard hit in this season.”
Each of the studios featured in the letter is offering virtual classes while studio doors are temporarily closed, including:
- Fairfield Dance Center on Mueschke Road;
- Cypress Elite Dance Studio on North Eldridge Parkway;
- Athletistry Performing Arts Center on Fry Road;
- Dance Central on Jarvis Road;
- Ellie Paige Dance Company on Spring Cypress Road;
- Hintze Dance Center on Fairfield Meadows Drive, Spring Cypress Road and Fry Road; and
- Steppin’ Time Performing Arts on House & Hahl Road.
Hintze Dance Center founder Virginia Hintze said business owners and their instructors have been working together to utilize technologies, such as Google Drive and Facebook, to reach their dancers.
“We know that this is a time of great uncertainty and upheaval in many aspects of all of our lives,” the letter read. “Dance provides an important physical and emotional outlet that students crave; it provides endorphins that aid in fighting stress and providing peace; continuing training will provide a sense of normalcy, calm and security through the chaos of our current situation.”