SLO dance studio owner honors coronavirus workers with Christmas lights, cutouts

San Luis Obispo dance studio owner Ryan Beck wanted to do something to honor the essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beck, a San Luis Obispo native who owns Studio @ Ryan’s American Dance, took inspiration from posts on Facebook that suggested decorating a house with Christmas lights.

“I wanted to bring that cheer, that hope, and that nostalgic feeling,” Beck said.

This wasn’t a far stretch to accomplish because Beck’s father-in-law, Marty Henderson, has one of the most elaborate displays in San Luis Obispo during the holiday season.

Beck ran the idea by Henderson, who had recently taken down thousands of Christmas lights, and got the go ahead.

Beck also decided to add cartoon-themed cutouts of frontline workers in masks as well as a cute, cartoonish firetruck and an ambulance to the festive tribute.

In addition to a nod to the essential workers, Beck wanted the display to be a “drive-by viewing” for kids and families to enjoy without getting out of their vehicles.

“This is the perfect time to do some sort of a tribute, especially do something fun that kids could come, drive-by with their families and see,” Beck said. “I wanted kids to drive by, totally social-distancing and to look and say, ‘Oh yeah, those firefighters, the policemen, the doctors, and the store workers, they’re good people.’ ”

The display is located at the home of Marty and Beverly Henderson is at 1619 Pereira Drive in San Luis Obispo.

The Christmas lights are turned on daily from dusk to 11 p.m.

While the display is best viewed by people driving by, Henderson said that he’s happy to welcome pedestrians but asks that they follow social distancing.

People can pull up and park to look at the display, too, Henderson said. He asks that visitors not honk as a courtesy to the neighbors.

“The firefighters around the corner from Henderson’s house drove by and saw the display at 3 a.m., then later walked to Marty and Beverly’s to thank them for doing all this,” Beck said. “That just gave them hope right now.”

“Thank you, thank you guys for all your hard work and for figuring this out.”