Small things, big impact. Being a young dancer is tough when Covid cancels your classes. Parkes School of Dance used a Micro Grant to keep students engaged.
Natalie Williams from PSD explains how they put their $560 to use.
What did you do with the funds from your Arts OutWest Micro Grant?
The Arts OutWest Micro Grant enabled Parkes School of Dance Inc. to provide a creative and educational outlet for our dancers, whilst learning dance on Zoom and then when we returned to the Studio in Term 3. The grant went towards purchasing 100x A4 exercise books from local provider, Parkes Stationery and Office Supplies, printing of cover pages and activities. A full set of rubber coloured stars and shapes were purchased so that parents could replicate what we do in the studio, at home. This was especially important for our pre-schoolers. The prizes were purchased locally, and were small incentives to encourage engagement in competitions along the way.
What were the benefits gained from your Arts OutWest Micro Grant and how did it help you or others during the Covid-19 crisis?
The Dance Diaries have helped and will continue to help our dancers to maintain their passion for dance. During lock down, all of our students missed dancing in the studio with their friends and teachers.
The diaries acted as a journal then, and now that we are back in the studio. For our pre-schoolers, receiving the Dance Diary as well as their coloured stars meant that their dance experience at home, even though through the television or device, was a little like being at ‘real dance’!