5 Minutes of Dance Helps Virtual Schools

By COLlive reporter

As schools have moved into the virtual classroom mode throughout the world, many challenges have come along with this new type of education and format. Certainly, the interpersonal relationship between teacher and student, as well as between student and student, is less than optimal. Also the transmission of education is strained as students are quarantined to their home, full-time, causing their physical movement to be stifled. This is precisely why many schools have implemented the five minute Daily Dose Clips from Shira Dance.

Under normal circumstances, prior to COVID-19, students in school buildings and even students studying in the online program had the opportunity to, at some point, go out and stretch, jump around, have their muscles exercising and get their blood flowing. All that normal activity would help increase one’s attention span and assist a child to focus and absorb in the classroom. Without such movement of the legs and limbs, the classroom minutes and hours run into each other and the eyes blur and the mind and body become lethargic. It’s not a good recipe for learning.

Shira Dance has been on the forefront of online dance and movement education for many years. Shira Wajsbort (nee Nesenoff) has always offered innovative video and live tznius dance and movement classes, which have been moving young viewers in homes around the world.

“It was natural for us to be able to provide online dance education and fun movement to all these schools that are now using the virtual classroom, as this is what we do,” Shira explained. “The short five minute Daily Dose Clips are a brief intermission in the school schedule and are welcomed by the students and teachers alike; the response has been wonderful.”

Teachers, who are themselves on a learning curve of how to teach from their own home, are struggling to find creative ways of continuing the important job of educating young people. The Daily Dose Clips allow the teachers a moment for themselves as well, since their own family is quarantined and they may need a quick break to address any issues at home.

When Shira started her virtual dance school years ago never did she imagine that it could fulfill an important need in such a time of crisis.

“It’s Hashgacha Protis that my years of instructing movement online could now actually assist in teaching topics far beyond dance,” Shira said. “In my little way, I hope I’m helping relieve some stress and anxiety from the virtual classroom and bring some normalcy to a time that is far from normal.”

Schools and teachers who would like to learn more about the Five Minute Daily Dose Clips for their virtual classrooms can contact Shira Dance at ShiraDancing@gmail.com or call (631) 935-4711 or visit ShiraDance.com