Show off your dance moves.

During the state’s stay-at-home order, organizations have had to come up with innovative ways to engage people, especially kids. The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh introduced virtual dance parties from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday nights in April. The parties will continue through May.

The online events have averaged 135 participants per session.

The YMCA uses Google Meet to connect its members while disc jockey Joshua S. Walker plays the tunes — taking song requests via a comment section.

Courtesy of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh hosts virtual dance parties on Friday nights.  

Each week features a different theme or a special appearance from childhood icons such as the Easter Bunny on Good Friday to neon this past Friday. This Friday’s theme is Star Wars.

“The kids still enjoy dressing up, and having a blast,” said Kim Black, youth and family program director for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. “And we saw grandparents watching their grandchildren virtually.”

Black said the plan is to keep the dance parties going into May even when things start to open up, because there will still be people who stay home or stick around the house more than they did before the pandemic.

“It has definitely been an adventure,” she said of coming up with different ideas to keep people engaged. “It’s been a learning curve.”

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