Returning to the dance studio safely (covid-19)

[MerchantMe333]

Entry restricted to those possessing valid dancer's licenses
-Points accumulated for moving violations like failure to overtake at a safe social distance
-Suspension if points over a period exceed a certain amount; revocation in extreme cases like collision
-Non-moving violations include not wearing personal protective equipment, failed emissions test (e.g., coughing without proper usage of elbow)

- Saying American Rhythm is the best style. Immediate revocation of dancers license

Realistically, I don't like this idea.
- What about for people moving too slowly? would they lose points as they are effectively blocking everyone elses path?
- Collisions just happen sometimes. Newer leaders make mistakes. Sometimes you can collide by trying to avoid another pair. Plus, even professionals sometimes collide. Plus, I don't see how collisions spread the virus more so than dancing with different partners

In my opinion, if a studio is worried about the virus, they should require all attendees to send in a test that shows that they are clean

 

[Warren J. Dew]

Dance America is making and selling masks at the moment:

Protective Face Mask

They need enough colors to match any ball gown - or at least a dyeable white.

 

[snapdancer]

In my opinion, if a studio is worried about the virus, they should require all attendees to send in a test that shows that they are clean

You've got to be kidding. How are people going to get tested when even people who are exhibiting symptoms can't get testing?

And even if someone manages to wrangle a test, it will be worthless since the turnaround time is so long that someone could have been infected while waiting for the test results.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

I don't think TC's suggestion was intended to be serious.

 

[snapdancer]

Dance America is making and selling masks at the moment:

Protective Face Mask

It doesn't say how protective it is, just claims to be protective. Someone will get sick wearing their "protective" mask and sue the pants off of them.

 

[raindance]

It doesn't say how protective it is, just claims to be protective. Someone will get sick wearing their "protective" mask and sue the pants off of them.

Yeah, I'm not claiming they're protective. That's just the way the link appeared when I copied and pasted it. Based on the description of the layers they used, I think they tried to follow some of the current recommendations. This page has more details, and it's clear they're not making medical claims, despite the word "protective" in the title of the item:

Protective Face Mask - Pack of 2 - 2019 Colors

At Dance America, we provide ultra-soft and lightweight fabric filters protective face masks for dance students and teachers. Contact now to buy at (954) 601-1775.

www.dance-america.com

And I mostly just provided as a source for dancers looking for masks, since some places are starting to require people to wear them, even though medical versions aren't available to the public. I also thought it was nice that Dance America is able to use their supplies and workers to do something during this pandemic.

 

[snapdancer]

Yeah, I'm not claiming they're protective.

No, I didn't read it as your claim. It looks like these are cloth masks that may provide a small amount of protection. For dancing, particularly social dancing, a much better mask will be needed to be safe. Maybe an N95 mask ... one that's breathable because dancing requires more breathing. And that keeps its seal while dancing.

 

[Dr Dance]

The following is an excerpt from a post by ballroom instructor Tessa Antolini. I don't know her. Never met her. But I was moved by her words.

"I'm scared. I'm afraid that when the "economy reopens", partnered dancing will still be deemed unsafe. I'm afraid that the large groups we gather together for a workshop/social dance night (the gatherings of humans together--a thing I love so much) will be a serious opportunity for spreading this virus. I'm afraid that the close contact, the activity (which is bound to result in sweat, which one is going to wipe away with one's hand, unintentionally taking with it various other bodily fluids which then pass immediately to my partner's hands...and the hands of everyone else we dance with) will mean that partner dancing will remain a high risk activity. I'm afraid of how we're going to navigate this as a community (or not). How are we going to get together? How are we going to protect each other? How are we going to make it possible for our high-risk-dancers (those who, if they get Corona, will be at risk of having very bad cases) to keep dancing with us? How are we going to make dance events/conventions feasible? If there are no dance conventions, how will I see my friends (the friends I see on the road every weekend; the people I actually get to socialize with; the people who make me laugh and laugh with me)? If social dancing isn't safe, and conventions aren't safe, how are we going to keep people motivated to learn/practice partnered dancing? If we can't keep people motivated to learn partnered dancing, how will I make my living teaching dance? If I can't make my living teaching dance (and I can't necessarily go back to waiting tables, because the restaurant biz is almost as hard-hit as the dance business, and I can't go forward with getting my personal trainer certification, because gyms are just as much of a hot-bed for virus sharing as dance studios), how am I going to make a living? How am going to pay my rent, feed myself, put gas in the car? Screw food and rent: how am I going to survive EMOTIONALLY without being able to dance with people? I picked partnered dancing for a reason! I picked it over solo dancing because I loved interacting with people! How will I live without that? How will I be able to help my friends live without that? There are no clear answers. There is no way to "make a plan and execute it" (how I handle every situation that makes me anxious and stressed). There is no perfect solution. And that scares me. I'm scared. "

 

[snapdancer]

I share her fears. And think it's even worse: she mentions hand hygiene but it's also just breathing near someone, even more so when breathing more heavily due to activity.

If you look at the guidelines rolled out by the White House today, "social distancing" will be required during what they call Phases I and II and only relaxed when we get to Phase III. I think that at best we will get to Phase II and more likely go back and forth between what I call Phase 0 (the reality of the moment) and Phase 1 until a vaccine is approved and deployed hopefully next year.

I fear that by the time it's safe to dance again that all the dance venues will be out of business, and all the dance instructors will have moved on to other careers (hopefully they will be able to do that if necessary).

 

[DanceMentor]

This is what I think is going to happen when dance studios reopen, and parties resume. The number of participants will be limited. If that happens, it will be interesting to see how studios decide who can attend the parties. Who has the priority? Active students (i.e. those taking lessons)? Or first come, first serve? Somewhere in between, not taking lessons but regular attendees of group classes and parties? Studios might have to go to invitation only for parties just to keep the numbers down; some kind of RSVP system. For example, if the total has to be 50 or fewer, and there's 7 staff members, that 43 or fewer guests. That's not a lot, especially for a dance community that's (probably) eager to get back to dancing. And that also begs the question, do single students get a plus one? I can think of single ladies who bring a partner to an event just to have someone to dance with.

I kind of think that dancers will also slowly re-enter the ballroom so there will be a sort of balance. Probably there won't be too many issues with denying entry. Maybe for small Studios maybe there will be more of a problem. One studio I go to has several rooms so maybe they can spread people out more this way.

 

[Purr]

I kind of think that dancers will also slowly re-enter the ballroom so there will be a sort of balance. Probably there won't be too many issues with denying entry. Maybe for small Studios maybe there will be more of a problem. One studio I go to has several rooms so maybe they can spread people out more this way.

I know of two studios in the metro area like this, that have a main ballroom and one or more smaller ballrooms. So yes, this could work. Unfortunately, the studio I attend doesn't have that option, but it does have a big ballroom for couples to spread out. Attendance would still need to be limited, though.

When the studio reopens, I might stick to lessons with NP, and forgo the parties. I just don't know. If there were more testing, that I knew I had the antibodies or not, it would help. The testing isn't here yet. I'm hoping when I get back to work in the office, my employer requires testing. We have a health unit onsite, so it's possible. Then I'd know.

 

[Greybeard]

I don't think any of the ballroom studios I've ever been to has come anywhere close to the fire code limit, so I'd be surprised if a limitation to half of that would be a problem.

I've been to two that I think broke through the safe limit. Both were grand re-openings two months after moving studio locations, separated by one week.

I think there was a lot of pent-up demand because people couldn't go to their normal weekend dance. People wanted to see the new venue and they also wanted to support the owners who had had reduced income for two months.

 

[Dr Dance]

If dance teachers were in charge of quarantine, this whole thing would be over by now. Everyone would execute proper spacing and nobody would be out of place. They wouldn't touch their faces because their hands would be on their hips. And they'd do it all with a smile on their face.

 

[Purr]

I'm just trying to imagine what initial dance lessons will be like. I can see it now...NP standing 6 feet away...talking me through drill exercises...and no partner dancing to speak of. That's a real possibility.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

If dance teachers were in charge of quarantine, this whole thing would be over by now. Everyone would execute proper spacing and nobody would be out of place. They wouldn't touch their faces because their hands would be on their hips. And they'd do it all with a smile on their face.

Only if all the students were perfect!