Lisa鈥檚 School of Dance will not return for an encore performance. After 35 years in the community the studio is closing its doors.

鈥淢y decision has not come lightly, there have been countless tears, months of sleepless nights and anxiety ridden days,鈥� said owner Lisa Dew.

鈥淏etween the financial losses due to COVID-19, unpaid accounts, the 鈥榣et鈥檚 wait and see鈥� mindset, and overall student enrolment down by 65 per cent, there is no way to sustain the business.鈥�

READ MORE: Tourism, small business getting COVID-19 help, B.C. minister says

Dew first opened the studio in September 1985.

鈥淚 was an 18-year-old young woman with a dream. I succeeded in making my dreams come true, and I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of the journey,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have made lifelong friends and have wonderful memories and experiences to look back on.鈥�

Dew said it was in September when the future of the business became a reality to face.

鈥淚t was touch and go because of the limitations on class sizes due to COVID, and people鈥檚 fears about coming back,鈥� she explained. 鈥淏ut unfortunately if you wait and see, the business is not there to come back to.鈥�

READ MORE: The arts are not a 鈥榝rill,鈥� say B.C. groups frustrated with lack of communication

Dew said she hasn鈥檛 cut herself a paycheque since January, and has been operating at a loss.

鈥淚鈥檝e just been barely covering the bills,鈥� she said.

Provincial restrictions imposed on the fitness and dance industry made it nearly impossible for the studio to conduct classes, Dew added.

READ MORE: Canadian small businesses rack up $135 billion in debt to survive pandemic: report

However, the studio did access provincial subsidies to help keep afloat but they fell short.

鈥淯nfortunately, there isn鈥檛 a enough support for small business right now,鈥� Dew claimed.

The dance studio will complete the current season. The final class will be held on June 14.

鈥淎lthough this is an incredibly sad moment in time, I want to celebrate all the love we have shared and continue to have fun and learn together for the remaining weeks of the season,鈥� Dew said. 鈥淚 hope you will continue to dance in the future and keep developing. Please keep your passion alive.鈥�

READ MORE: WATCH: 75-year-old mom shares daily dance video to keep 91原创 smiling

joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .