Our Business is closed

Our unique arts school that we started from our savings five years ago has finally closed for good. Starting and running a specialised dual school offering academic subjects and five compulsory dance styles was definitely a highlight of my career.

  

It is all too surreal what has happened, the arrival of Covid, the lockdowns across the world; the panic, worry, the known deadly virus that led to devastation, the depression, doubt,fear,  anxiety, loss of work, loss of lives, loneliness.

It’s the 7th of February 2021, I have lost my business, I have gone through so many states- fighting tooth and nail to keep our micro school afloat, watching my staff and some parents  fight next to me to keep it going. I have moved from being strong for many that look to me for strength, guidance and hope -  to being numb and emotionless. Lately, I have been consumed by uncontrollable anger, to watch what seemed like the slow, long unbearable death of my business including that of soo many in my country- the collapse of it all. 

With all this said, I did not loose any close family members, my parents are still alive and strong.We are living through this pandemic.

I am alive and healthy - I am  deeply grateful.

Our dance industry has taken the biggest blow, dancers are looking for formal jobs in other sectors, dance schools have closed, dance and art and culture  companies are fighting  for support from the government.

I have to believe that this is just a moment in time and this too shall pass. Will the dance industry survive this? I have been asked .

My answer is - YES the arts are resilient , it will be different , strong - the arts define, support and save a people. A country without a thriving arts and culture, is a country slowly loosing itself.

Since being enrolled on MAPP DTP, I am constantly reflecting on the past year and presently experiencing the feelings of what seems like losing it all, to a new chapter of how much I have gained.

What a time to be alive, what time to experience ,watch, learn, feel, observe, listen, think, pray, love and live.