Liz Dance: full of good cheer into the new year!
On Tuesday, January 12, we were told that the lockdown as we know it will last even longer. Many business owners are affected by this, including the locations we work with. We are curious to know how they are faring during this difficult time and we will introduce them to you right away. Who knows, we might inspire you in your search for a new hobby, like Flamenco dancing at Liz Dance!
Liz Dance, the place to learn to dance Flamenco
Liz Dans is the company of Lizzy Verloop. She is a Flamenco dancer, dance teacher, fitness instructor as well as doing freelance small-scale events and show productions. After years of teaching fitness and Zumba classes under Liz Dans, she now focuses mainly on that beautiful Spanish dance: Flamenco. “Besides giving classes and workshops, we also give Flamenco performances with Live music and participate in events. Flamenco has become increasingly popular in the Netherlands in recent years. In the Haaglanden region Liz Dans is the largest Flamenco dance school and I am quite a bit proud of that”
Impact of the corona crisis
“The corona crisis has had quite an impact on my business. We are now in lockdown for the third time this year, which means I cannot teach dance. Terribly unfortunate, because dancing is not only a passion of many people, it is also a very social activity. Both me and the students miss it tremendously.” When asked what Lizzy expects from 2021, she replies, “I hope we can continue again in 2021, albeit in a different way perhaps. In the period between the lockdowns we did dance, but obviously according to the guidelines of the RIVM.”
For example, the group size has been adjusted. “We have more hours per week this season to keep offering lessons to everyone. To keep enough distance, we have drawn boxes on the floor and everyone dances in their own box. There is always time between classes so that contact between groups is kept to a minimum. It’s a lot, but this way we can get back to dancing after the lockdown and still have a good time together.”
Has the crisis made you more creative in your work?
“Whether I’ve really become more creative I don’t know, but creativity has always played a big role in my profession. I did start to look differently at aspects that apply in a dance school.” Lizzy did develop new ideas as a result of the current situation that she plans to pursue in 2021. “For example, last season we had more “short courses” and that proved to be a good move. A short course consists of eight lessons. These are easier for both us and the students to schedule. This allows us to respond more flexibly to needs and opportunities.”
What is your wish for 2021?
“That we can have the Flamenco show in the Rijswijkse Schouwburg this year. This one unfortunately had to be canceled in 2020. And of course that we can dance again as before! I expect that, given the experience, the current set-up of dance classes and short courses will have a positive effect in 2021.”
Did Lizzy’s inspiring story make you curious about this form of dance? Then be sure to check out Liz Dance’s website and who knows, maybe you’ll sign up for a trial class!
This blog was created in collaboration with Liz Dans.
