HOW WE DANCED THOUGH THE PANDEMIC

Five years ago, I accepted an invitation to go dancing without asking questions, and found myself in a West Village dance studio with eighty strangers. Little did I know at the time, but that dance practice was to become the most important therapy for me throughout the pandemic. Not just for me, but for many people.

I had no idea what I was getting into, but at that first dance class, from the very first beat, I fell in love with the practice, as well as with the diverse group of dancers who were moving to the music with me. It was mysterious, mystical, tribal, magical, unifying. I was hooked, and called that dance studio home three or four times a week.

For some, this dance form is practiced as a movement meditation. For others, it has morphed into a kind of freeform dance therapy. Whatever you call it, it is not only a liberating practice, but also healing. In fact, scientific research has shown dance to have major physical and mental health benefits, from improved cardiovascular functioning and lower body strength, to improved cognitive ability and healthy moods. 

As a New Yorker, I’ve lived through the AIDS epidemic (losing my brother and my best friend), and witnessed the collapse of one of the Twin Towers from my rooftop on 9/11. Like many other New Yorkers, these events had a significant impact on me. Fast forward to 2020, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, like so many others, I was paralyzed. But that would be short lived. My dancer friends and I found a meaningful and tangible way to stay connected – despite social distancing, masks, sanitizing sprays, lockdowns, and closed studios. 

We danced! We danced virtually – through Zoom video — and in person at safe distances. We took to the street and danced in parks, along piers, and anywhere we could find access to outdoor spaces, even in 30-degree weather. I started a Friday night group, in a very quiet park in the evening, bringing a heavy boom box, curating the music using Spotify. As we danced I and others would go inward entering an almost trance like uplifting experience, deep inside ourselves. We were entering the zone.

So often I hear how New Yorkers are tough and gruff, but I think our ability to survive when things get tough has more to do with resiliency, tenacity, and an enormous sense of community. It is our communities that have been lifesavers for many of us! On a personal level, it has allowed me to not only cope with the challenges of the pandemic, but also celebrate life in the midst of all this craziness and sadness. Dancing though the pandemic has helped me to maintain my sanity and balance, and positive perspective on life. 

These photographs were taken at Henya Emmer’s 5rhythms class in Battery Park.

Marc Yankus

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Chris Jordan