All Corona related issues

[lucia_l]

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Now a few dancers at all levels, of all ages, come to dances and do their best in masks. Meanwhile, haven't seen many active, highly-trained, hard-working, enjoyable fellows for months.

These people may be continuing private lessons and avoiding group social dances. This lets them focus on improvement while not exposing themselves in setting where there are large number of people. Statistically, this has a more favorable risk/reward balance.

In the meantime, by not exposing themselves at group dances, they minimize their potential for exposing their teacher. Teachers who specialize in private lessons in turn will want to minimize unnecessary exposure at public venues to protect their private students and their own business.

Meanwhile, around here, venues whose big business was always "group" are tending to start to open. Those group lessons tend to attracted more of the "moderately trained" who will, to a large extent, always remain "moderately trained". Yes-- some highly trained people sometimes show up at group lessons, but for the most part, it's beginner-advanced beginner, and terminal-intermediate.

I don't think I count as "highly-trained" .... yet. But I'm on the verge and may somehow manage to get ther. (I wouldn't if I only took group lessons). But as someone who is taking privates, there is no way I am going to group dances, bars, studio mixers and so on. Something has to be very important for me to risk being in a group.

I have decided to do a competition in November, provided it doesn't end up cancelled! So that's willingness to take a risk. But I still won't do socials mixer dances until death/new case rates are back to dropping in Illinois. I wouldn't be surprised if a number of people taking private lessons don't weight risk/reward something like I do.

 

[raindance]

Another factor for some may be other financial and lifestyle disruptions this year. Some dancers have lost jobs or have reduced income, have increased or changed childcare routines, etc. So there could be lots of factors keeping people from getting back to normal routines, even if they aren't personally concerned about the Covid risk of a given activity, such as attending activities at their local studio.

 

[Cal]

If competition organizers offered Adult Solo Stars events, I might be tempted to enter an in-person competition. Otherwise, I’m not going to risk attending comps for events where I have to take dance hold while Covid-19 is still such a risk factor.

 

[lucia_l]

I've been taking lessons in dance hold (wearing a mask). So obviously I don't worry too much about dance hold with my pro. (This is not to say there is no risk. I've just decided I accept the risk given the reward.)

I do worry about dance hold with dozens of people at a social. I also worry about conversation with dozens at a social. It's just a probability argument of risk reduction. . .

I need a less complicated dress though-- to spend less time dealing with snaps and so on in the ladies room!!!

 

[DanceMentor]

I've been taking lessons in dance hold (wearing a mask). So obviously I don't worry too much about dance hold with my pro. (This is not to say there is no risk. I've just decided I accept the risk given the reward.)

I do worry about dance hold with dozens of people at a social. I also worry about conversation with dozens at a social. It's just a probability argument of risk reduction. . .

I need a less complicated dress though-- to spend less time dealing with snaps and so on in the ladies room!!!

This is exactly my thinking. I have not returned to dancing yet but I will start with this. I will start dancing with one person who does not dance with too many other people and uses a mask.

 

[scullystwin42]

This is exactly my thinking. I have not returned to dancing yet but I will start with this. I will start dancing with one person who does not dance with too many other people and uses a mask.

no social dancing for me at all, no group parties, no group classes. just private lessons with my pro. always masked. Yes, he's dancing with other students, but he's masked, and they are masked. The one plus is we have so many couples (oddly enough for franchises in this region) that he doesn't dance directly with them often. Definitely still a risk, though, i'm not fooling myself about that it's more elevated than no contact.

husband runs outside in a group now, everyone masked. Those are our biggest risk factors now.

i did just splurge on the under armour masks for them to run in and me to dance in. I really like the structure! not a fan of the ear loops, they are too loose for me, but they are way comfy to wear for longer periods and for exercising.

 

[Joe]

I don't care for ear loops either so I wear masks with head loops. The masks with ear loops can be modified though, if you cut the ear loops at the back and sew or tie some elastic from side to side of the top and bottom snips.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I don't care for ear loops either so I wear masks with head loops. The masks with ear loops can be modified though, if you cut the ear loops at the back and sew or tie some elastic from side to side of the top and bottom snips.

Heh... I do the opposite. I don’t like head loops, so I cut the straps behind my head and tie them together on the sides, so that I can wear them as ear loops. There is a HUGE variety in the ways mask-makers try to make the straps adjustable, and some are definitely more successful than others.

At least the masks are cheaper than dance shoes, so the process of experimentation by buying lots of different styles doesn’t hurt the bank account quite as much.

 

[jjLA]

I tried the Under Armour mask. I liked it for breathability, but when the mask gets wet (heavier) from sweating the ear loops are not strong enough to hold it and it starts to sag. The ear loops need to be completely re-designed to really be usable.

The most successful mask that I've used is from DanceAmerica. Once the material is wet from sweat, it get's harder to breathe but stays in place. When that happens, I just replace it with a fresh one. One can get 4 of the DanceAmerica masks for the price one Under Armour mask. Under normal use, they are effective for me for the same amount of time. They are quite as breathe-able as the Under Armour mask (maybe 10% worse), but are adequate when dry. As they get wet, they must be replaced.

 

[IndyLady]

The most successful mask that I've used is from DanceAmerica. Once the material is wet from sweat, it get's harder to breathe but stays in place. When that happens, I just replace it with a fresh one. One can get 4 of the DanceAmerica masks for the price one Under Armour mask. Under normal use, they are effective for me for the same amount of time. They are quite as breathe-able as the Under Armour mask (maybe 10% worse), but are adequate when dry. As they get wet, they must be replaced.

+1 for Dance America mask. I bought the bling version in every color, as well as a pack of plain ones (I don't *always* need to draw attention to myself). They are by far my favorites, esp for dance. And lots of compliments when I wear the bling ones in public.

 

[j_alexandra]

I just took a look at them. The photos look like there's an extra pocket-y hole below the chin. T/F? The ones from Dance With Me certainly have that extra pockety-y hole.

 

[IndyLady]

I just took a look at them. The photos look like there's an extra pocket-y hole below the chin. T/F? The ones from Dance With Me certainly have that extra pockety-y hole.

I would say T, there's extra space under the chin. Frankly, I haven't yet found a mask that perfectly conforms to my face and makes me look like a model, so I'm willing to tolerate that. (Side note: many of them gap on the sides for me, which is more unflattering than the extra chin space).

 

[raindance]

I would say T, there's extra space under the chin. Frankly, I haven't yet found a mask that perfectly conforms to my face and makes me look like a model, so I'm willing to tolerate that. (Side note: many of them gap on the sides for me, which is more unflattering than the extra chin space).

I flip it the other way and use the extra space for my nose - more comfortable for breathing. Experiment with it both ways and see what you like.

 

[IndyLady]

I flip it the other way and use the extra space for my nose - more comfortable for breathing. Experiment with it both ways and see what you like.

I think I did accidentally put it on upside down once.... turns out it works better for me with the space in the chin. But you never know until you try.

 

[IndyLady]

As I've posted previously, my studio has resumed events (e.g. mini-comps, Showcase, etc). The next Showcase is coming up in November, and (once again) the judge is one of the internal studio staff members. It was announced (disclosed, mentioned, whatever) at party last night that outside pro judges won't agree to come judge our events unless we are all wearing masks. And for those not stalking my story, that is a mixed bag here - by the last heat of our most recent event, only 2 of us students were still wearing a mask. The looks on the face of some of my fellow students - the unmasked ones obviously - was priceless. A combination of gut-punch, dismay, disdain, "how much longer is this going to go on", but enough restraint not to shout out anything whiny. #yesjudgingyou #wearthemask

Also of interest, is that they are clamping down on spectator tickets and random wanderers at the events. i.e. if you want to bring a guest, they have to buy a dinner ticket (no more of the cheaper spectator-only tickets) - basically be on the official list for the venue for the food head count. (nitpick if you want about spectator-only list possibilities, this is the venue's current policy, not under studio control).