An 85-year-old Asian man dances to “Uptown Girl.” A black woman in a wheelchair waves her arms to the beat. Their genuine, radiant smiles extend ear to ear. These were just a couple of the faces I saw on Zoom while teaching weekly dance lessons during the winter and spring of 2021. During Covid, it was difficult seeing my grandparents cooped up in their home as they tried to stay safe, especially since I knew my doorstep grocery delivery was the highlight of their week. That’s when I decided to integrate my love for dance and teaching with my desire to support older adults who might be struggling with isolation. In January 2021, I approached the local county health department with a proposal to teach seniors how to dance online. A few weeks later, I was excited to see this idea come alive in partnership with the health department and low-income housing sites in Oakland, California. From the beginning, this new diverse group of 40 seniors reminded me of my five-year-old dance students. Class time was less about learning techniques and more about connecting. The seniors loved to unmute themselves to chat, so I learned to re-mute them strategically. Even though we only saw each other through a screen, there was a feeling of camaraderie as they moved enthusiastically and worked to remember the routines. Sometimes the seniors wouldn’t leave after class; they continued to wave and say goodbye, lingering to spend time together and hear other voices. This October, I led another online dance class in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. I was glad to teach over 70 seniors across seven low-income housing sites, and I hope to continue sharing my passion for dance with seniors, helping them be healthier, happier, and more connected.

When the pandemic threatened the financial future of my childhood dance studio, I stepped up with a creative solution. Using my three years of teaching experience, I developed and instructed three virtual dance classes for ages 8–16, volunteering my time for more than 15 months to raise nearly $40,000 for the studio. Teaching dance online was a challenge. It was difficult to model the steps for the girls on camera and correct them from afar, so I adapted my teaching style—narrating each of my movements and giving explicit instructions so my students could follow me. I also learned to keep them engaged by asking individual students to lead the dances while spotlighting them on Zoom. Next, I taught myself video editing using Final Cut X and started a YouTube channel so I could create and showcase video collages of my students’ work. The YouTube videos gave the girls extra motivation to practice. When ready, they filmed themselves over and over, eagerly anticipating the final video post. They commented on every upload and actively participated in group texts, complimenting each other’s high kicks and creative costumes. Together we created a supportive online community when we couldn’t meet in person during lockdown. Parents emailed me appreciations, describing how they cried while watching the Christmas and Mother’s Day dance collages. The best part about this leadership experience has been building relationships with girls who I can love and encourage like little sisters. When one girl texted on New Year’s Day, “Ally, you’re the best dance teacher. You totally made my 2020 a thousand times better,” I realized that the key to leadership and having an influence on others does not depend on titles or exertions of power but on a commitment to others’ well-being. My initial goal was to save the studio, but the result was so much more. I brought instruction, community, and excitement into some of the darkest times in my students’ lives. These experiences as a leader and dance teacher not only motivate me to make choices to continue being a role model for my students, but also drive my hunger for learning and improving my skills as a dancer in order to have more to offer them. Similarly, I’ll apply what I’ve learned through this journey as I start college next year and continue my higher education. I’m looking forward to new experiences and absorbing more knowledge so I can keep on sharing what I learn with a new generation of people who I can lead and inspire. Another student told me, “You are definitely my hero in many ways.” This will be my driving force for pursuing excellence in all that I do.

An 85-year-old Asian man dances to “Uptown Girl.” A black woman in a wheelchair waves her arms to the beat. Their genuine, radiant smiles extend ear to ear. These were just a couple of the faces I saw on Zoom while teaching weekly dance lessons during the winter and spring of 2021. During Covid, it was difficult seeing my grandparents cooped up in their home as they tried to stay safe, especially since I knew my doorstep grocery delivery was the highlight of their week. That’s when I decided to integrate my love for dance and teaching with my desire to support older adults who might be struggling with isolation. I also hoped to create a safe place for them to bond while being inclusive of their diverse backgrounds, especially during the most recent national wave of anti-Asian and anti-Black violence. In January 2021, I approached the local county health department with a proposal to teach seniors how to dance online. A few weeks later, I was excited to see this idea come alive in partnership with the health department and low-income housing sites in Oakland, California. From the beginning, this new diverse group of 40 seniors reminded me of my five-year-old dance students. Class time was less about learning techniques and more about connecting. The seniors loved to unmute themselves to chat, so I learned to re-mute them strategically. Even though we only saw each other through a screen, there was a feeling of camaraderie as they moved enthusiastically and worked to remember the routines. Sometimes the seniors wouldn’t leave after class; they continued to wave and say goodbye, lingering to spend time together and hear other voices. This October, after my back surgery, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation asked me to lead another online dance class in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. I was glad to teach over 70 seniors across seven low-income housing sites, and I hope to continue sharing my passion for dance with seniors, helping them be healthier, happier, and more connected.