“By having different generations dancing together, there is a greater love and awareness that ends up creating a cultural family.” For Dekkers BBT feels very much like a family. By dancing together, BBT has created a genuine community where there is caring, trust and a shared sense of purpose. Everyone is moving through space and time together and that’s a gift. “I am grateful for class every day,” Dekkers says. “The ability to be together with the community and impart my gratitude is a special thing for me to participate in.”
During this age of pandemic, dancers are forced to forego the studio and stage. Whether dancers are professionals pursuing a career or hobbyists who dance for the sheer joy of the experience, dancers of every incarnation must stay in shape. Across the country dance companies and schools shut their doors and many were slow to come up with online teaching programs, but not BBT. Dekkers responded immediately to the needs of the community by setting up zoom classes and also streaming daily classes from the BBT Facebook page.
Dekkers seamlessly adapted to working with the camera—both technically and learning how to present on camera. “There is a different rhythm to teaching on camera,” he says. “We use words and imagery to create more meaningful teachable moments.” He is quick to acknowledge that different skills are used to translate to online teaching. Teachers who might be exceptional in the studio are not necessarily able to translate well to an online platform. “We’ve had to learn step by step to master this new platform and the new way of teaching that it requires.”
Allie Papazian and Keon Saghari in Lavender Country.
Photo by Natalia Perez