Dancing with Leap's students virtually this year has been wonderful. We have loved seeing new and familiar faces pop up on the screen each week, and the improvements some of our older dancers have made to create a better dancing space has been inspirational. During this unprecedented time, connecting and moving with our young dancers has been a joyful experience and continues to provide a much-needed place of community and expression.
Leap’s classes will be held virtually through at least January. As educators we miss the in-person interactions and absolutely want to be back in the classroom with our dancers. However, Leap feels that the health and safety of our students, faculty, and our families is top priority. At this time that means virtual learning—due to COVID cases rising, Denver Public Schools teaching remotely, the large number of children that our faculty teaches every week, and Denver Parks and Recreation not having a firm opening date.
We are exploring the possibility of renting space from somewhere other than the Denver Parks and Recreation Centers until they reopen and allow facility rentals. In order to feel comfortable holding in person classes this spring we are watching the numbers of COVID cases and looking to the model of DPS. We will keep you posted as plans progress, but please understand these decisions will most likely be made month-to-month for the foreseeable future.
Thank you for your continued enrollment and interest in Leap. Leap’s teachers have learned many techniques in the past few months of teaching over Zoom to keep the students engaged, happy, and dancing. I believe that the live virtual interaction between your young dancer, their teacher, and their classmates is valuable during this isolating time. My own girls look forward to “dance day”—moving their bodies, seeing their dance friends, working on technique, learning a new combination, and maintaining the routine of weekly dance classes in their lives.
Upon enrollment we urge you to register for the class and location where you would ultimately like to be, but please know that location doesn't matter if classes are held virtually. There is a wide range of classes offered at various times amongst our five locations. We hope this helps when scheduling. If your child already has a strong connection to a teacher you may want to sign up for their class, regardless of location, since classes are currently virtual.
Please call with any questions. (720-335-5327)
We wish everyone the very best during this trying time and look forward to dancing together this year from our home to yours.
Best,
Elizabeth Ellis and the team at Leap
Leap’s classes will be held virtually through at least January. As educators we miss the in-person interactions and absolutely want to be back in the classroom with our dancers. However, Leap feels that the health and safety of our students, faculty, and our families is top priority. At this time that means virtual learning—due to COVID cases rising, Denver Public Schools teaching remotely, the large number of children that our faculty teaches every week, and Denver Parks and Recreation not having a firm opening date.
We are exploring the possibility of renting space from somewhere other than the Denver Parks and Recreation Centers until they reopen and allow facility rentals. In order to feel comfortable holding in person classes this spring we are watching the numbers of COVID cases and looking to the model of DPS. We will keep you posted as plans progress, but please understand these decisions will most likely be made month-to-month for the foreseeable future.
Thank you for your continued enrollment and interest in Leap. Leap’s teachers have learned many techniques in the past few months of teaching over Zoom to keep the students engaged, happy, and dancing. I believe that the live virtual interaction between your young dancer, their teacher, and their classmates is valuable during this isolating time. My own girls look forward to “dance day”—moving their bodies, seeing their dance friends, working on technique, learning a new combination, and maintaining the routine of weekly dance classes in their lives.
Upon enrollment we urge you to register for the class and location where you would ultimately like to be, but please know that location doesn't matter if classes are held virtually. There is a wide range of classes offered at various times amongst our five locations. We hope this helps when scheduling. If your child already has a strong connection to a teacher you may want to sign up for their class, regardless of location, since classes are currently virtual.
Please call with any questions. (720-335-5327)
We wish everyone the very best during this trying time and look forward to dancing together this year from our home to yours.
Best,
Elizabeth Ellis and the team at Leap
Zoom Tips for Dance Class
Below are some helpful hints for our virtual classes over Zoom. Your child's teacher will explain these items during the first online class and give a refresher during the 2nd class.
- Please do NOT join earlier than 5 minutes before class time, or you will interrupt someone else's class.
- Parents of young children, stay nearby to help your child get settled.
- Be on a computer if possible (vs. a tablet or a phone).
- "Rename" your child on Zoom by scrolling over your picture, clicking the three dots and hitting "Rename." If you are on a tablet, touch the screen and then click the "Participants" button and touch on your name.
- Make sure your child is not backlit, so we can see them.
YES PLEASE, to dancers being frontlit.
NO THANK YOU, to dancers being backlit.
- To "Mute" or "Unmute" yourself, click the microphone icon (bottom left on a computer/top right on a tablet).
- Click "Start Video" or "Stop Video" on the camera icon to reveal or hide your image from others (bottom left on a computer/top right on a tablet).
- "Gallery View"/"Speaker View:" Click "Gallery View" in the top right of your screen or top left on a tablet. This shows all of the dancers at once. Click "Speaker View" in this same location to see a large image of whoever is talking.
- "Pin Video"/"Unpin Video:" Scroll over a dancer's picture, click on the three dots, and hit "Pin Video" to make the image big. To get back to Gallery View click "Unpin Video" in the top left of your screen. On a tablet you can double click on the video you would like to see big or hit "Unpin Video."
- Call Leap's office (720-335-5327) if you are having technical difficulties during business hours (Monday-Friday 10am-5pm).
- Test these features beforehand by having a fun family Zoom call!
- Leap's teachers will teach these instructions during the first class. We all learn differently, so hopefully it helps to have written instructions with images.