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DESTREHAN — The COVID-19 pandemic and associated closures have many adults feeling anxious. Children can experience that anxiety, too.

Some recommendations by child psychologists during this quarantine period are: keep a schedule and routine, stay connected with friends and family, and keep moving. One local dance school is helping their students do just that.

Kelli’s Kreative Dance has studio locations in Destrehan, Kenner and Mandeville and has tapped technology to keep their classes going during the coronavirus stay at home order. They have switched their entire schedule of 90 dance classes a week to live, online classes.

“We are trying our best to give our students and dance families a little sense of normalcy during this time of so many uncertainties,” Director Kelli Manville said.

“Physical activity, movement, mental stimulation, and social interaction are all going to help kids (and adults) get through this trying time. Thanks to technology, our studio staff is providing an online studio experience for our dancers to keep them moving, learning and interacting with their friends while having fun during this time.”

Classes run five days a week during their normal, scheduled times, and the live format allows the teachers to watch each student and give appropriate, immediate feedback on technique and form, which Manville says is essential to dance education.

Manville said that the staff rose to the challenge while the technology was new to them with only a short time to learn it, and classes have been going well.

The move has received positive feedback as evidenced by the comments on their Facebook page.

Addisyn Ramsey joins her lyrical class from her living room.Jamie Doll Millet commented, “Our kids definitely are missing their dance family and to provide this as an option during this time is awesome.”

Bridgette Cupstid said, “Love how innovative KKD is being to bring a sense of normalcy to our kids!”

Manville said, “We have a responsibility to do our part in minimizing the impact of the COVID-19 virus throughout our community and the safety of our dance families is our No. 1 priority. At the same time, we are committed to providing our dancers with the classes and teachers that they know and love so they can continue to improve their skills while combatting boredom and keeping some normalcy in their daily routine.”