“It’s over,” launched Eric Zig Martel this week in a Facebook message to his community. After two years of relentlessness, the director of the school of street dance ReBelles et VagaBonds, in Laval, has lost more than 70% of its clientele and now finds itself too indebted to continue.
His case is far from isolated. The Réseau d’enseignement de la danse du Québec (RED) counts that around forty schools have had to close their doors for lack of resources since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The passion has remained, but there is a fatigue that has been added”, explains Véronique Clément, director of RED.
In nearly two years, the organization that brings together schools and dance teachers has seen its environment crumble through measures. And the official reopening, Monday February 14, will not bring everyone back to class. “I understand that the circumstances are exceptional, but we have lost a lot, and we have no help, lamented two weeks ago in an open letter Ilham Rouissi, head of the Toca Danse school, in Boucherville. What does the government intend to do in the long term? We can’t just shut ourselves down and ask us to reinvent ourselves. Everytime. »
Since March 2020, when she was not forced to close, the one who has been teaching Latin dances for more than 15 years has followed all the measures, and imposed on her students the distance of two meters and the wearing of a mask. Despite this, it has lost almost 80% of its clientele. “We don’t just offer lessons, but an atmosphere, a moment of socialization, a community. We dance on pellets, we do not change partners… The pandemic has distorted our practice, ”she laments. Before the pandemic, Toca Danse could accommodate up to 300 students per week. Since January, the school has launched a single course, virtual, which has 7 participants.
RED has actually seen a loss of clientele in almost all dance schools over the past two years. Last fall, they had regained around 80% of their 2020 clientele, already reduced by the pandemic. With the latest confinement, “the falls are quite dramatic”. “We are talking about 40 to 50% loss of customers in general, 30% for adults and 60 to 80% loss among adolescents”, explains Mme Clement.
France Dionne, director of the Danse mode action (DMA) school, says she is lucky to have a dance-studies program. “Without that, we would have had a really worse time,” she thinks. Indeed, from the first school closures, it was able to count on motivated students to continue the programs, even virtually. “We completely closed during the first confinement. Afterwards, we did online lessons, but also in Jarry Park. We adapted, and our loyal customers have always been there. “Despite everything, it shows a decrease of about 50% of its clientele. On the other hand, she has noted a real enthusiasm since the announcement of the reopening of places of leisure and art. “It’s the first time I’ve said it in two years, but I see the end of the tunnel! We’re off again! she rejoices.
Insufficient aid
In addition to dwindling student numbers, many schools are now facing a labor shortage. “Many teachers have given up and completely changed careers,” says Véronique Clément.
Mme Dionne had to pay the price. “I managed to replace those who left, but it has never been so difficult to find teachers. I find myself, often, since January, giving lessons myself, ”she explains.
Since the start of the health crisis, dance schools have always found themselves in financial uncertainty, and some have not been able to continue to pay their teachers. “There are only about fifteen schools that are subsidized by the Ministry of Culture. The others are private companies and are therefore subject to the Ministry of the Economy, but also to the Department of Sport, Leisure and Physical Activity at the Ministry of Education. It’s very complicated, she says. The majority of schools were unable to qualify for financial aid. »
Many teachers have given up and completely changed careers.
Toca Danse is one of the schools receiving a grant. “It helps, for sure, but it didn’t allow me to pay all my financial obligations,” says Ilham Rouissi. For two years, I have continued to pay the teachers with what I have, but there, if there is a new closure, I will no longer be able. »
“We are helped to pay the rent, but it does not pay taxes or other expenses, adds Eric Martel. In electricity alone, I’ve had $15,000 for the last two years,” explains the man who had run a studio of more than 14,000 square feet since 2008, before deciding to close it.
After his public announcement, Mr. Martel received many messages of support, some even seeking solutions, such as a crowdfunding campaign. “It would just be a bandage on a wound that was too big,” explains the renowned dancer. It’s not love that’s missing, it’s trust. […] Give me a year, and we could reopen something, start from scratch, in a small studio. But there, for the moment, it is no longer possible. »
Fears for the future
It is not only the financial aspect that worries the schools, but also the future of their practice. Ilham Rouissi believes that a tax credit for anyone wishing to enroll in a dance class could be a solution. “It will take us at least five years to find a clientele and pre-pandemic financial comfort”, calculates Mme Rouissi.
“We talk about the recreational component, but professional dance begins recreationally, from the very first steps. We have to train young people well if we want Quebecers in our colleges and in dance companies, ”concludes the director of RED, Véronique Clément.