Making the most of a crisis

When we set out to create Dance Fit Flow, we had community in mind from the start: creating a community and caring for our community. It’s always been about more than just taking a dance class. It’s an opportunity to share space with people who are similar and dissimilar to ourselves and align together for a common purpose and experience. I’ve met wonderful people whom I respect and admire through the studio, and my heart grows 3-sizes when I see friendships and connections emerge between others as well.* Relationships breathe life into our community and into our business.

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 crisis is wreaking havoc on small businesses. Protecting ourselves and others requires us to avoid gatherings of people. As a business who relies on people gathering together to take class, this eliminates our entire revenue stream. Poof! Dance Fit Flow is just approaching 3 years of being in business. This is when a start-up needs to gain serious momentum, not come to a standstill… But here we are. And I am determined to make the most of it. More on this later.

I believe one of the keys to life and to business is having a (sometimes irrational) spirit of boldness: an ability to take risks, shrug off unhelpful criticism, and confidently enjoy and pursue your unique combination of natural gifts and talents and fruits of your hard-work. This attitude is a cornerstone of my identity and personality, drives a lot of my behaviors, and has been a source of freedom and confidence. And it’s under attack.

A pandemic brought the economy to a screeching halt. We’re trapped in our homes rationing toilet paper, making TikTok videos and desperately wanting to return to some normalcy --- for an unknown period of time. It’s unprecedented. Who the heck knows how to navigate this?! I sure don’t. What I do know is that many of us are feeling a heightened sense of unease and responsibility. I’m responsible for my business, my community, my family, and my daughter; and it feels like no matter what I’m doing it’s not enough. That I’m not enough; as a wife, mom, business leader, friend, daughter, or sister. As an achievement oriented person, this is a suffocating feeling.

Vision and opportunity: I’m holding on to these like two horns of a bull that’s trying to pitch me off. It’s how we make the most of it.

Dance Fit Flow’s vision is to lead a movement for adults to keep their passion for dance alive. We can still do this. A pandemic doesn’t stop us. Keep taking virtual classes.** Keep teaching virtual classes. We’ll re-open. It will be ok. Whatever your vision is, your ‘why’; cling to that. Don’t lose sight. Our opportunity is to provide for our community and reach new audiences. We will continue to offer classes and we will continue to pay our staff to teach classes. What’s your opportunity? What are you uniquely positioned to do? Do that. Do it to the best of your ability, and give yourself grace.

Keep your head up. You’re not alone. Let’s cast off our fears and cling to power, love and discipline to carry us through.

Kerri Pomerenke, Owner Dance Fit Flow

*If you’ve made an impactful connection at Dance Fit Flow, I’d love to hear your story! Email me at [email protected]

**Our virtual classes are free. If you are enjoying them, you can consider sponsoring a class or just save your money and buy a class-package when the studio re-opens.