From ballet to jiu-jitsu, activities for children have begun to welcome them back.
For the first time in decades, dance floors, gyms and arenas fell silent in 2020. But as the risks decrease, the lights come on again in Eastern Oregon.
The director of the Pendleton Ballet Theater, Julie Sneden Carlson, calls the pandemic a lesson in flexibility and resilience. “We’re constantly switching to meet the rapidly changing mandates that have been met.” When the pandemic closed studios a year ago, PBT switched to streaming classes in an app, creating CDs of class music and watching video activities publish. The spring ballet was postponed and the annual performance of “The Nutcracker” became an outdoor production in December.
“We went from plan A to B to C to D to actually play ‘The Nutcracker’,” says Sneden Carlson. “The dancers were great and imperturbable! It was a joy that many in the church helped. “
To get back to class, wearing masks, temperature controls, and hygiene became part of the process and it paid off – PBT hasn’t had a single case of COVID-19 in the studio.
At Jr. Jam Dance, Debbie Kishpaugh outlined a similar routine: disinfecting equipment, temperature checks on the door, hand sanitizer before class, and masks. With size restrictions, most dance classes in Eastern Oregon are full for the current season but will open to new students this summer. This includes both Jr. Jam and Hermiston’s Dance Unlimited.
According to Studio Director Alexis McCarthy, one of Dance Unlimited’s biggest challenges was opening and closing the studio as restrictions changed. The studio reopened on February 1st and is now ending its 2020-2021 season. They usually close in August, but they’ll be open this summer to take advantage of all of the studio time they can.
McCarthy is grateful to be open. “We are happy that we can still do everything we love with these children and protect them in the process.” Offering classes has become almost a choreographed show in its own right, with class size restrictions and coordinated start and exit times to reduce the number of people in the hallways. “We sanitize everything between each class,” says McCarthy – bathrooms, ballet bars, and all door handles. “Everything you touch has been refurbished.”
Stanfield’s Eastern Oregon Family Taekwondo is now accepting new students. The Dojang was only closed for three months last year, but it was still losing students during the pandemic. When people get back on their way, the numbers get closer to normal, although they ask the kids to stay home if they catch a cold easily or are sniffing.
Morizi Jiu-jitsu in Hermiston is open again, currently only by appointment with limited capacity. The academy recently started a 4- to 7-year class and is offering a free introductory class for aspiring new students.
Restrictions also included gymnastics in Eastern Oregon in Pendleton for four months. “The team – the competition group for beginners – basically had to start from scratch,” says owner Gary Stanner. “Conditioning, flexibility and relearning the routines.” The gym is now accepting new students and is being refurbished regularly, with distancing requirements.
Outdoor programs like the Pendleton Mustangers and Umatilla Sage Riders have been able to keep children in arenas and on horses during most pandemics – with precautions and a limited number. Umatilla Sage Riders plans a full calendar of events in 2021, complete with mask, social distancing, and plenty of disinfectant, including a bridle horse show, a running race clinic, match days, and time-only runs.
The Pendleton on Wheels cycling group is open to all ages and plans to continue cycling on roads and trails this year. The POW website has information on preferred routes to go as a family or group and they are always looking for more members.
For Hermiston Recreation Manager Brandon Artz, tackling both indoor and outdoor programs, re-evaluating, restructuring and rescheduling activities was a challenge. Hermiston Parks & Rec is now planning personal activities this spring and summer.
“After a year of virtual learning, the last thing we want to do is offer more screen time. We need children who are out and about, ”he says. After losing employees during the closings, Hermiston P&R is actively recruiting new employees in the hope of offering further activities. Artz says they are moving on with a fishing derby, parkour and wilderness survival camps, swimming lessons, and a summer swimming team.
Swimming lessons could also return to Pendleton, with Pendleton Parks & Rec planning a big boost this summer. “We believe that swimming is an essential skill all children should learn that can literally one day save their lives,” said Liam Hughes, PP&R director.
According to Hughes, COVID has affected the department in a variety of ways, from closing the pool to recording participation in the rink. “During the pandemic, things changed quickly and we stopped planning too far ahead,” he says. “We hope for additional options as the restrictions relax.”
The organizers say the priorities are to stay safe and make activities available for children. Most are cautiously optimistic.
A year ago, the Pendleton Ballet Theater had to postpone the production of Beauty and the Beast. Now try again. Preparing a second time enables PBT to be prepared for anything again, says Julie Sneden Carlson. “But whatever happens, this group is so full of heart and soul that it will be wonderful. We will hold out! “
Jennifer Colton is the news director of KOHU and KQFM and a mother of three based in Pendleton.
