Pivot is a word that can be used to describe much of what we have all done over the course of the past 19 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. But pivot is also what Dance Extreme Inc. did in order to host its 2021 Annual Recital.
After missing the 2020 Recital – the first one missed in 23 years – due to provincial shutdowns, Owner/Artistic Director Rebecca Brettingham-Filice took it upon herself to ensure that her students would not be let down with a second year with no recital.
For the previous 23 years, Dance Extreme had hosted its recital at London’s beautiful Grand Theatre. Knowing that this venue was still closed due to COVID protocols, Brettingham-Filice knew another option was required. With a few months to plan, she began to explore the possibility of the dancers performing at an outdoor venue. After exploring some of London’s community-run venues, though, she was unable to find a venue that would be available and able to host as many as 250 dancers.
But nothing stood in her way. With the help of the amazing folks at the PA Shop, Brettingham-Filice was able to secure an outdoor stage setup on the property of the PA Shop just outside of Dorchester, ON, where the Dance Extreme Recital 2021 would take place.
On June 19 & 20, Dance Extreme filmed 233 dance pieces while parents watched and cheered from the roadside (where they were set up to change their dancers between numbers and catch a glimpse of their dancer when they could). Dance Extreme graduates ended their Dance Extreme careers under starry skies with a very socially distanced performance for their parents and immediate families while filming. It was an uplifting, feel-good weekend for all.
Not only did Dance Extreme host two full days of performing and filming outdoors, despite some rainy weather, but Brettingham-Filice was also able to connect many other dance studios who were looking for an outdoor venue to film their own Competitive Dance Entries and Recital numbers to close out their dance seasons. This outdoor venue saw thousands of dancers grace its stage under sunny skies at the end of June.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has definitely been to think outside the box – often, new and fantastic pursuits will result.
www.danceextreme.com
By Richelle Hirlehey for Dance Extreme
