Michelle Richardson said the Silver-Hope Dance Academy is hosting free online stretch and strength classes to give back in trying times. Facebook/Submitted photo

Michelle Richardson said the Silver-Hope Dance Academy is hosting free online stretch and strength classes to give back in trying times. Facebook/Submitted photo

Hope dance studio running free online exercise classes for adults

With doors shut due to COVID-19, Silver-Hope Dance Academy is keeping dancers dancing online

  • Apr. 15, 2020 12:00 a.m.

As families are confined to their homes, dance studio owner Michelle Richardson is offering adults a chance to get some exercise at a free weekly class.

Held through video conferencing service Zoom, the free half-hour adult strength and stretch classes can be taken by anyone with an internet connection and even a small space in their home. If you can put your hands out and turn in a circle, Richardson said, you have enough space to do the class.

“I was trying to find a way to contribute to people’s health and fitness and connection during this time of isolation,” she said.

“Right now, a lot of the adults are taxed disproportionately, because they’re homeschooling, trying to figure that whole thing out, some of them are working from home.”

The weekly classes are held Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., they’ve been scheduled until the end of April but will likely continue on at least until the end of May Richardson said. The classes are self-paced, where participants can go as hard as they like or take it easy. There is no equipment involved and beginners are welcome as it’s not a high intensity interval type class she assured.

On April 29, International Dance Day, Richardson said several online classes will be free for the public to try out. The schedule for these is as follows:

2 – 3 p.m. – Adult Ballet (Ages 18+)

4 – 5 p.m. – Beginner Ballet (Ages 4+)

5 – 5:30 p.m. – Adult & Tot (Ages 18 months – 3 years)

5:30 – 6 p.m. – Adult Strength & Stretch (Ages 18+)

6 – 7 p.m. – Strength & Stretch (Ages 10-17)

7 – 8 p.m. – Contemporary/Lyrical (Ages 10-17)

7 – 8 p.m. – Senior Hip Hop & Progressions (Ages 11+)

For more details on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the Silver-Hope Dance Academy, pick up a copy of this week’s Hope Standard.


emelie.peacock@hopestandard.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

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