Covid-19 closed our schools and I was teaching online. I wasn't getting a lot of interaction with my students and I was missing them. I had extra time on my hands and I just wanted to keep busy. I got it in my head that I wanted to make a PassionDan app but then I remembered that I do not like doing sales calls and trying to sell to anyone. I like to just do my thing and keep making. However, I still had this plan in my brain to create what I would have made for the app. Instead of spending the money on an app and charging people, I used Google Classroom. I had ten friends from life and Facebook join me in six weeks of movement explorations. I made six themed weeks of movement exploration tasks to share with them. The first couple of weeks were really great. However, I lost them all along the way.
I was torn between tying to motivate them to re-join me in the movement explorations and sharing and knowing that this is a strange time for everyone and not wanting to bother anyone. Everyone is dealing with the pandemic in their own way. Maybe this isn't what they need right at this moment. I tried not to take it personal. I know that I have students whose work ethic I totally adore, who I can't keep their attention online at this time. It is just a difficult time and everyone is allowed to deal with this time the way that is best for them. No judgement.
I was doing this to keep myself motivated. I was doing this to cope. I was doing this to keep moving and keep creating and to keep connecting in a time when we were all stuck in our homes... adjusting to this new world. I also knew that this is something I could use in my teaching in the future. It can be adapted for different levels and I would have it all written out with video examples to use in class.
I did start to lose interest when it was just me and we had a few rainy weeks in Vancouver. I did not get every task done myself because even I had days where I was feeling like, what is the point? Then, the sun would come back out, my solar motivation would be recharged and I would continue on with determination.
I imagine running this again with students. I even started designing what I imagine to be the next level: Task Team 2: Concept Creators. You never know, maybe one day I will have my own app.
If anyone reads this and is interested in going through this program - you can do it on your own - or reach out to me. I would love to run it again with a fresh crew of dancers. I think this is one of those things that will evolve each time I run it changing and morphing with the new Task Team crew that takes it on.
