STUDENTS at Cohuna’s popular Pro Rock Dance School would normally be costume-ready and preparing for rehearsals at this time of year.
But the eased COVID-19 restrictions that came into force on Thursday do not allow indoor sport and recreation, so the school’s end-of-year show, scheduled for the last week in October, can’t go ahead.
While the State Government’s roadmap to reopening should allow the school to operate again in November, director Rebekah Sherlock won’t restart teaching this year.
“I did reopen for a little bit after the first lockdown but lost probably half of my students, then we had to close down again,” she said.
With hall hire and teaching costs to cover and no money coming in, she was unable to refund parents’ fees and said the continuing uncertainty made resuming classes unviable.
“Parents don’t want to invest money in something that’s uncertain.
“And normally we finish in October. It gets so hot kids just want to go swimming.”
The school teaches ballet, hip-hop, jazz and tap dance to children from age six up to adults in their 60s.
This year’s show would have been the school’s 13th and four students were set to receive trophies for their decade-long participation.
Ms Sherlock has been left devastated by the closure but is focusing on her students.
“The feedback is that everyone’s missing it, particularly the end-of-year show.
“I feel bad for the kids because it was such a beautiful social thing they could do. For some who are shy, that was their outlet.
“We also have a lovely connection with our adult students. Some of them rely on it for social connection.”
The former Melbourne resident said she had received great support from the community and from Gannawarra Shire Council, which has halved hall hire fees around the district until next July and credited Ms Sherlock’s earlier payments.
Although she has had to resort to Centrelink for an income for the first time in her life, she was trying to stay positive and looking to the future.
“It’s hard but we’re alive and we’re healthy and that’s all that matters,” she said.
“Hopefully next year’s a brighter one for everyone and we’re all strutting our stuff on the stage in October.
“If we’re able to put it on, it’ll be the biggest and best show ever.”
ALLOWED RECREATION
– Outdoor non-contact sport for adults
– Outdoor sport (both contact and non-contact) for people aged 18 and under
– Outdoor exercise and sporting activities with household members or up to nine other people, with physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres apart.
– Outdoor personal training in groups of up to 10, plus the instructor or trainer.
– Skating at outdoor skate parks
– Swimming in outdoor swimming pools – with a limit of up to 50 people or the number allowed under the four- square-metre rule
