The coronavirus pandemic has kept the pupils, instructors, and owners of Delaware Valley Dance Academy on their toes, in more ways than one.
Yet, Montgomery Township residents Lisa and Michael Wasserman, owners of the Hatfield Township business, have enforced safety protocols and strived to keep their students and families safe. At the same time, they have continued to stay afloat and strive in the face of government restrictions and even one recent quarantine, where an asymptomatic student tested positive for COVID-19.
Their proactive efforts and leadership did not go unnoticed by the Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors, who honored the Wassermans at its Dec. 14 virtual meeting with a commendation for adapting business practices during the pandemic and thanking them for their continued commitment to the safety of their clients and their community.
“It’s been a really challenging time for everyone. We are in the middle of a pandemic and there is no rule book for this, for operating a township and for operating a small business,” said Board President Tanya C. Bamford. “The board wants to recognize and commend the Wassermans. They have done an excellent job in adapting their dance studio around the pandemic to protect their pupils and their staff, while also keeping their business afloat during a really challenging time.”
Bamford said DVDA, at the onset of the pandemic, went partially virtual, and then faced a full shutdown and went full virtual, and then were able to return to partial virtual and partial in-studio. The Wassermans, she said, require everyone to wear masks the entire time while inside, and require social distancing and proper hygiene in the studio. Parents are required to remain in cars for drop-off and pick-up, she said.
The Wassermans even built an outdoor stage and improved their indoor ventilation system.
“They really made it a community effort. They informed their students and their staff that, if we want dance to be a part of our lives, then we all have to embrace this both here in the studio and out in the community as well,” Bamford said. “Their dancers absolutely responded, and they had a wonderful success rate.”
Even though DVDA is based in Colmar, Bamford said, they serve a lot of Montgomery Township families. The Wassermans, she said, are leaders and an absolute credit to the township.
“They have gone above and beyond – and now they have to go 100-percent virtual again with the new restrictions in place,” said Bamford during the virtual session. “Unfortunately, the timing is such that they couldn’t have their annual Nutcracker performance. I hope that it doesn’t have too negative an impact on the community, and I hope they can reschedule the performance. I think they have done a phenomenal job.”
Bamford said if the students and instructors can do their strenuous activities and dancing while wearing a mask the entire time, then anyone can do it.
“I hope people follow your example,” Bamford said.
Board member Beth Staab said that, while she does not have dancers in her family, she does have athletes, and knows how important it is for both young and old to be active and following passions in their lives during the pandemic.
“It’s very stressful,” Staab said. “I applaud the tremendous efforts that have been put forward, including DVDA, in allowing this to happen in a safe manner. I think, in this time, it couldn’t be more important to having those safe opportunities for our families to take care of, as well as serving as an example to other businesses to do the same thing. We have to show those examples and thank you for doing that.”
Due to technical issues, the Wassermans were not able to speak during the virtual meeting, but they did thank the Board for the commendation in the virtual chatroom.
In an interview prior to the Dec. 14 meeting, Bamford said DVDA struggled this year, and there are businesses like it that are seeing enrollment decrease while taking a big hit on revenue.
“This is what we need to do more of – recognizing the good work of residents and businesses alike in the township and holding them up as a model for other people to follow,” Bamford said. “Here is someone doing it right and mitigating against the spread. They had all their students embrace this sense of responsibility around protecting each other. DVDA really stands out in this capacity.”
The Wassermans and Delaware Valley Dance Academy were the first recipients of the township’s new weekly business and resident “shout-out” of those who continue to do their part in helping the community be safe in the continuing pandemic, Bamford said. The township is seeking nominations for its weekly recognitions, and more details are available on its website and Facebook page.
“The Wassermans were proactive and it is something to emulate,” Bamford said. “We want people to see those examples and we want to hear about them.”
Delaware Valley Dance Academy is located at 515 Bethlehem Pike, Colmar. Call them at 215-822-4640.
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