Dear Bender Performing Arts Families,
What a whirlwind the last week has been for families, schools, community leaders and local businesses. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve daily, we wanted to take the opportunity to provide clarity and share our plans.
We want to thank everyone who has reached out by way of email, text, direct messages and calls to offer support. Your partnership at this time, more than ever, is so appreciated.
We are all in uncharted water, which is requiring a level of flexibility and adaptation like never before. Many of you are now homeschooling your children and balancing working from home – We have a new-found appreciation to those who have done it all along!
Our faculty’s goal is to continue providing you dance and music lessons. Now that all schools are closed and kids may be home for a while, parents are going to need outlets for their kids more than ever! Because this whole situation can be difficult for kids, we are committed to keeping their routine going. We are approaching this with a proactive heart of service and a desire to provide your kids with a great class regardless of the external circumstances. Here is how will we do this…
Starting Monday March 23rd, Bender Performing Arts is moving to temporary online classes.
YOU CAN LOG INTO your LIVE class at the normal day/time. Same teacher, same classmates. Here is how it will work. On the day of your class, we will send you a link via email/text and the link will also be available inside your parent portal. We are using the ZOOM platform. Please download zoom now and practice in advance of your student’s first log in so you can trouble shoot any problems in advance. We will have customer support available during class hours for you. Just call (602) 971-9170. We anticipate new users may need assistance, so please be patient during our transition.
While online classes may look a little different than in person classes, your child will continue to warm up, work on technique, learn combinations, and work on the recital dance. Please see the attachments for information and instructions on our virtual classrooms. Also check out the attachment showing the virtual learning scenes across the country with our studio friends.
In addition to your live classes, our faculty has been working hard over spring break recording dance videos and fun activities which will be available to you and your students through your parent portal soon. You will be able to access these at any time and view them as many times as you would like! We also have plans for bonus classes, dance challenges, live story time, leadership classes, oh and be on the lookout for some surprise pop up classes from Mr and Mrs Bender for dancers and parents too!
So, the natural question is “What about the June Recital?” Since our Recital performances are scheduled for June 2nd-6th, we are hopeful we can conduct them as scheduled. Our dancers, staff and faculty have worked very hard all season long and it would be a shame to not reward them. We of course will continue to monitor the situation regarding our recital and update you accordingly.
Musical Theater department, Disney parade participants, and all performing group teams, we will continue to update you on team specific details in separate email. Please be on the lookout for these additional communications.
We have so much gratitude for the staff and faculty at Bender Performing Arts. During this extraordinary time, they have come together with grace and compassion, choosing to be innovative, proactive and wise for the good of our dance school and students. We are so fortunate to have them guiding and loving the children of our school.
Thank you for your continued support.
In Partnership,
Kevin and Meri Bender
