HYBRID Classes: Value, Evolution + Delight!

Hybrid classes were imagined, desired and talked about, here at Soma Ranch, for many months before they began to evolve. Over the past 12 months we’ve experience a phenomenal evolution, problem solving sound and lights, moving and mixing microphones, installing/adjusting/replacing cameras, navigating/connecting cables (OH yes wading through that never ending “spaghetti”).

We truly

  1. VALUE the opportunity to combine our growing local community with the blossoming global community,

  2. appreciate how the program and process has EVOLVED and

  3. DELIGHT in how finally we’ve navigated enough to be reaping the rewards and enjoying the joyful connection through Hybrid classes.

Thanks to

  • fast speed internet (a MUST),

  • the technical creativity of co-owner Joe Terry,

  • the patience and understanding of our local Montgomery participants and

  • the willingness and curiosity of our zoom “around the world” attendees

…Hybrid classes are now flourishing. Like a birthing process, all the pain, challenges, late nights, sleepless nights, frustrations and more, seem to fade into the review mirror. Finally all the effort now feels well worth the wait and we can look back and appreciate the journey we had to move through to get to where we are now.

Hybrid Classes bring together ONLINE participants via zoom, with folks IN PERSON dancing in the room. We’ve found having 2 cameras and a large projector helps enhance the experience for both ONLINE and IN PERSON participants.

  • “Angel Camera” is the camera we have installed from a pipe coming down from the ceiling, above the heads of the IN PERSON participants. This angle allows ONLINE participants to feel like they are an angel watching from over the teacher’s shoulder

  • “Community Camera” is the camera from the East Side Wall (a web cam on the computer that is streaming the zoom gallery participants.

  • Projector is a Movie Projector, connected to the Zoom Gallery that projects the Gallery participants on to the West Side Wall of the studio, fondly named “the wall of smiles”.

Hybrid classes offer an array of great options and features.

  1. HYBRID “Angel Camera” Facing the mirror (everyone in the room and zoom room, can feel like they are all moving behind me (when I say left, it’s everyBody’s left LOL).

  2. HYBRID “Angel Camera” Facing the class Zoom participants get to enjoy the more familiar view they experience in most ONLINE class formats, AND they can still see my back and the class in the mirror.

  3. HYBRID (Community Camera) When we use the other “web camera” the Zoom participants can feel even more part of the community AND In PERSON participants LOVE being able to dance with folks on the “Smile wall” (all the zoom participants projected LARGE on the wall with their names and where they are watching from)

  4. HYBRID (Community Camera) When we are dancing in a circle, moving in and out, Zoom participants share an incredible sense of connection. “I feel the community, like I’m right there moving in and out with you”

  5. ONLINE only. The zoom participants get my FULL attention. We talk and connect before and after class.

  6. ONLINE only. I move towards the screen and interact more, I can see everyone in the Zoom Room Gallery on a second screen, provide feedback, encouragement and even pick up and play with moves I see from participants!