Inside Napa Valley, May 2021

Keep on dancing Academy of Danse improvises to meet pandemic challenges

Submitted photo‌s

I S A B E L L E S C H M A LT Z ‌Napa’s Academy of Danse entered uncharted territory last year when it was forced to shut down for three months and cancel the annual recital.

Never in its 27-year existence had the school missed a recital or closed for more than two weeks. The previous two-week shutdown occurred when the dance school, located on Jordan Lane, flooded in 2005.

Now, the Academy of Danse — along with many other fortunate businesses in Napa — is emerging from the other side of the pandemic, relatively unscathed, thanks to creative thinking and the support of local families.

“The biggest challenge was being completely shut down for 12 weeks and needing to figure out how to continue with classes through videos and Zoom,” owner/director DeeAnn Valine said.

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crucial, she said.

“The kids need something positive in their world and something to look forward to besides sitting at home in front of a screen,” Valine said.

The Academy of Danse was forced to close on March 13. By early April, the school was conducting classes online.

“We discounted our tuition for April, May and June by 25 percent and were very flexible with payments from those families who lost their jobs or were furloughed,” Valine said.

Good news came in June, when the dance school was allowed to reopen on the 10th with several safety protocols in place.

The chance for a June recital, however, was off the table.

But Valine held out hope, and the recital was eventually rescheduled as an outdoor event in August.

“When we were not able to hold it, I never gave up,” Valine said. “I’m very proud of the fact that we held a summer showcase outdoors on Aug. 29.”

Students and parents were thrilled to still have a recital, even with modifications, she said.

“The dancers and their families were so excited to be able to perform,” Valine said.

“Seeing the joy on their faces made it all worth it!”

Lisa Ernst’s daughter, Alyssa, is a senior in high school, and this is her last year at the Academy of Danse. Alyssa is enrolled in nearly every type of dance the studio offers: jazz, tap, hip-hop, and ballet. She’s also been a member of the competition team for about five years.

Ernst said her daughter will perform in at least 20 or so dances out of the 50 scheduled for the recital.

SPRING/SUMMER 2021