After several months of being quarantined and attending classes virtually, dancers from Sue Albert’s School of Dance in Catasauqua had July 11 circled on their calendar.

Since mid-March, the Catasauqua-based studio had been closed due to COVID-19. The regularly scheduled dance recital in June was canceled due to the pandemic, but a July date at a different indoor venue was quickly reserved in the hope things would improve, allowing them to hold their recital.

As June progressed and the state’s numbers started to decrease, the July date seemed possible. When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Lehigh County was going green June 26, classes were immediately scheduled for the following day, following all the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and safety protocols.

Students worked hard in classes for two weeks leading to the dress rehearsal July 10, followed by the recital July 11 at Scottish Rite Cathedral in Allentown.

The dancers wore masks while waiting backstage but removed them just before going on stage to perform. The masks were put back on right after performing. Audience members also wore masks and were spaced out and staggered appropriately to follow safety guidelines.

The recital was shortened to reduce the amount of time everyone was in the building.

It was reported the recital was a success, with many families appreciative of the effort shown in order to make it happen for the students.

“I was going to do everything I could to get the recital in,” Sue Albert said. “These kids have had a difficult few months, and we just wanted to give them something to look forward to, especially the seniors. A lot of time and parents’ money had been invested in the dance season, and we were going to try our best to get it in.”

The timing couldn’t have been any better because the following week, Wolf limited indoor gatherings to 25 people.

With the 2019-20 dance season committed to history, the studio is preparing for the challenges of in-person, as well as virtual, classes for the 2020-21 season.