Dancers warm up before classes at the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts (Photo Courtesy Gates Guarin/CHATNewsToday)

By Gates Guarin

'A second home'

Performing arts school recounts ‘huge challenge’ of pandemic lockdowns

Jun 8, 2022 | 5:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The COVID-19 pandemic took away some important outlets of children’s lives, such as sports and the arts. Students at the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts have just come off their first full season since the pandemic forced many indoors, having to participate online.

Mya Stupak was one of those students, and says having the doors close on the studio when the pandemic began was a surreal feeling.

“It was weird, definitely weird because all the girls I’ve danced with, it’s our life and our world basically revolves around dance in our everyday,” Stupak says. “We see each other everyday, and then it just stopped suddenly.”

Stupak, like many of her classmates, had to get creative to make sure she was getting the most out of her training from her teachers.

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“We had to find space in our homes to try and do all of our choreography and try to figure out what way we’re all facing, and how we can all see each other.” says Stupak.

Genevieve Bourdon, owner and artistic director of MHSPA echoes Stupak’s sentiments. She and her staff were devastated for their students when they couldn’t have in person classes.

“It was heartbreaking, not being able to be with your students and see your families and be together and in what you love to do and your passion and you put so much into helping them learn and grow and so, it was just devastating.” Bourdon says.

Bourdon says her studio is a safe place for her dancers to express who they truly are.

“For many of our students, this is like a second home to them,” says Bourdon. “Their friendships here, their connections with the teachers, an escape from a bad day, just a place to come and express themselves and be physical.”

Stupak says the biggest change of the pandemic was not being able to see all her classmates, who were also some of her friends.

“Yes, we missed dancing together and our lives were dance, but I think it’s just the relationships all of us had with each other, even all the young girls. We always danced together, so to have that split up was I think a really big change for a lot of us.”

Bourdon knew she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. The school turned to online classes on social media to make sure students felt that connection. When she was able to open her doors again to in-person learning, she knew she had to pull out all the stops for her outgoing dancers.

“This is their graduation year. They’re final year with their best friends and their besties and dance and competitions and so, we were just going to do what ever it took to make it happen.” Bourdon says.

For Stupak, who is one of those graduates, says she is moving to Saskatchewan to attend post-secondary. But her dream of dance isn’t stopping now.

“One of the choreographers here has a sister where I’m moving, and she teaches adult classes,” Stupak says. “I’m hoping to take some dance classes up there when I’m in schooling.”

Stupak offered some advice for students entering their upcoming season.

“Staying true to what you know is what your aspect in life is. You know that’s what you love to do, and whatever makes you happy, I feel like you should continue it. No one else can tell you what should motivate you, because everyone is different.”