Lydia Johnson Dance in the News: Has COVID crushed the arts?
LJD Artistic Director Lydia Johnson included in this article in danceinforma, speaks about her and the company’s experiences and resiliency during the pandemic in Dance Informa Magazine.
When COVID effectively shut down the world in March of 2020, no one knew what would happen next or how long it would all last — but we likely didn’t picture ourselves still wearing masks and physically distancing a year-and-a-half later. Throughout that year-and-a-half, as is widely known, the arts have faced immense unpredictability and financial strain.
Lydia Johnson Dance Artistic Director Lydia Johnson
“During our outdoor performance in Maplewood Village, a downpour started, and the dancers kept dancing. It felt redemptive, hopeful and triumphant as we were performing again despite the pandemic and weathering yet another storm, albeit of a different kind!” Johnson says. “As the dancers bowed in the pouring rain, we were flooded with love and gratitude. People had stayed – drenched — to see the end, and then they cheered so joyously. I truly think all of us were celebrating human perseverance and the survival of creativity and joy that day. Audience members described choking up, and many of us had tears in our eyes as the dancers came to the final moments and the piece finished.” — Lydia Johnson
Lydia Johnson Dance. Photo by Kate Spangler, courtesy of LJD
LJD dancers Brynt Beitman and Malik Williams rehearsing at Burgdorff for the July outdoor performance .
Lydia Johnson Dance, the Dance Company in Residence at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts is linked to the LJD School where many of the professional dancers teach classes. Both the professionals and the Student Company performed in September in partnership with Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture. The LJD School is a 501-c 3 organization serving the community by giving over $20,000 scholarships to local children each year.
Lydia Johnson Dance. Photo by Kate Spangler, courtesy of LJD