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The pandemic has impacted the lives of many of our students - in particular, those undertaking their HSC this year. We caught up with Year 12 Dance captain, Clare Dovey and Year 11 student, Leah Vitler (accelerated HSC Dance) to find out how things changed for them.

How has Dance changed in the HSC this year due to COVID?

Clare: Normally every student across NSW would perform two dances as a performer and choreographs a composition piece for another dancer. There is also a major works piece which would be an essay, composition, a film, or another performance, as well as a six to 12 minute interview and two written exams.

Leah: This year, due to physical distancing, we had to perform the composition piece ourselves. This was really hard for me at first to come to terms with. I've danced for so many HSC students in the past. I was excited for it now to be my turn to choreograph and teach someone a routine I had created. 

Clare: It was definitely hard at first to come to terms with. Since Year 9, we’ve all been working towards our HSC and then suddenly COVID appears. Changes across HSC subjects were being announced but Dance was one of the last. At one point we were left wondering if we were even going to be able to do it.

Leah, you're on the accelerated HSC Dance program. How did the changes impact you as a Year 11 student?

Leah: It was really worrying for me. I was left wondering if I had made the right decision to accelerate. Should I have waited until 2021? A lot of ‘what if’ questions went through my mind. Keeping physically active and being mentally fit and prepared was also hard during isolation.

What was life like for both of you as dancers during lockdown?

Clare: Most people underestimate how physically, emotionally and mentally demanding Dance is. You need an incredible amount of endurance and strength. At the back of our minds were were worried about losing fitness during lockdown.

Leah: You also need a good amount of space to dance so it was hard finding room to practise without moving furniture or getting in the way of your family. And we missed being with our peers and friends face to face. Performing for someone in person will always trump seeing people over Microsoft Teams!

Clare: As soon as we could get back into the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ« Dance studio, Mrs Koch (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ« Dance teacher) set up times for each of us to see her in person and start practising. We used every available moment of school holidays and before and after school to spend time in the studio. Mrs Koch was amazing. She's given up so much of her own time to help us. I calculated that in just one week she spent 25 hours with me. She really went above and beyond for all of us.  

How have you remained positive?

Clare: Despite being initially upset, worried, even angry, I soon came to the realisation that we are so lucky at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ«. The school was super quick to help makes things work for us. We were always in communication with our teachers which was reassuring. The support given to us was incredible.

Leah: I think the pandemic has taught us to make the best of a bad situation. At the start it was easy to be negative but Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ« were amazing. They made sure things went as smoothly as possible. It could have been easy to just let things go but ultimately, we had no option but to keep going. We could not stop. I think we've all drawn a lot of strength and resilience from that.