Special to the Opelika Observer

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting day-to-day life as we know it, Mandy Moore, owner of Opelika’s Make Your Move Performing Arts, was quick to respond. MYM temporarily suspended physical classes and productions on March 13. 

With potential studio closure looming, Moore got creative with her business model, launching an entirely new virtual site with educational resources that would keep her students, families, and extended community, dancing, training and having fun during this unprecedented time.

This past week, MYM launched a virtual site with topics such as Live Story Time, Lunch and Leadership classes, adult Tap and Hip Hop classes, Pilates for dancers, coloring pages, access to professional master classes across the country and more. 

“Our main focus is to sustain and continue developing the social and emotional health of our students and families during this time of isolation,” Moore said. “Our mission is to provide a safe-haven for our dancers, the place outside of home and school where they feel as though they matter and belong. I give credit to our entire five-star team who have spent countless hours creating, researching, implementing, collaborating, coding and putting in additional time to produce MYMtv Online, which houses family-friendly virtual content for our entire community. Right now our families need something that is consistent in their lives, something that is familiar so our children don’t feel so alone- that is what inspired the idea for MYMtv Online.”

Starting April 6, MYM will be expanding their online learning portal to house a new, member-based platform which will include both MYM virtual classrooms and MYMtv Online— real-time classes with Q&A sessions for both parents and children. 

“We have created content for our kids and families at MYM in addition to those parents and teachers looking to entertain or better educate their kids around the world,” Moore said. “We were able to send the link to our friends on the West Coast so that they could also take lessons and be a part of the MYM community. It was incredibly special. When I share with parents near and far, I remind them that we are all in this together.”

The response so far has been humbling. Parents are sharing photos, videos, comments and emails of gratitude that MYM is still a part of their everyday lives.The studio appreciates that families are getting a chance to spend time together doing an activity that promotes both health and happiness. Seeing dads and brothers joining in on the fun is a highlight, too— dance is for everyone! 

“Nothing brings our team more joy than seeing pictures and videos of our students taking adversity and using it to their advantage. Together we are confident that we all will come out of this stronger,” Moore added. “Our theme this year is Be Excellent. With everyone on our team stepping up to serve our community, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we are doing just that.” 

For more information regarding this new online platform,  or inquire about membership, send email to mymovedance@gmail.com.

About Make Your Move Performing Arts Studio: 

MYM is located in Opelika at the USA Town Center and serves children as young as 2 1/2 years old through adulthood. Offering lessons in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, acrobatics, and hip hop for all abilities, MYM welcomes beginners through pre-professional. Make Your Move has been a staple in the Lee County area for 26 years and has cultivated a learning space that builds professionals on and off the dance floor.