Returning to the dance studio safely (covid-19)

[jjLA]

To me (especially for Standard), it comes down to contact tracing.

I do both Am/Am and Pro/Am.

Assuming my am/am partner is practicing safe social distancing, I'm comfortable in full contact without a face-mask. Our number of contacts are low and known. A face mask provides no protection from each other; however, there may be some need for studio protection. Again *assuming* I trust my partner or one's partner is their spouse.

On the other hand, for Pro/Am, even with a face mask I'm at risk because the pro would be contacting many other people about whom I don't know what contacts they have and/or whether they are being safe. The number of contacts is high.

Hence, I really wonder if this might be a resurgence of Am/Am. Coaches can train students from afar while couples who feel safe with each other can dance. Studios can have set time allocation for couples to limit the number of people in a studio at any given time (and ideally maybe always have the same people there to limit the number of contacts). Same for Pro/Pro. Maybe a business model is to pay for a set recurring time slot at a studio whether one uses it or not (same people / same time).

I think the only safe Pro/Am would be if a Pro has one or maybe two students who they know are properly socially distancing while they themselves social distance. There is also the risk if husband/wife are dance teachers since now there is a contact chain through the students that the spouse is teaching. (Or even a husband/wife with different Pro teachers.)

 

[Warren J. Dew]

A face mask provides no protection from each other; however, there may be some need for studio protection. Again *assuming* I trust my partner or one's partner is their spouse.

I've had partnerships where where face masks would provide substantial protection for each other, and partnerships where they would provide little. It depends on how much you contact you have outside of dance hold during practices and lessons.

I'd feel comfortable as a pro am student if the pro wore a face mask and washed her hands thoroughly before and after my lesson. I'd expect to do the same. If I were really a hypochondriac I could shower and put on clean clothes after the lesson.

I do wear glasses because I'm nearsighted, though I'm not sure how much difference that makes. People who don't wear glasses could get noncorrective lenses.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I am not making this up. I got this picture from Doré’s Facebook page just now.



“Dore Designs has an amazing offer now for blinged out masks! These beautifully designed and stoned masks are now on sale!

This mask is constructed of a jersey exterior with a non-woven barrier in the middle and 100% cotton towards the face. The ear loops are more comfortable than elastic and smaller.

The masks will be available in Nude, Black and Red with stoning for $95 each plus s/h. The stoning can be AB, or tone on tone with the color of the fabric. We also offer custom masks with stoning as you desire which will be priced per the detail requested.

Contact us today to get your very own designer mask! Safety and fashion have never worked so beautifully together! #blinged #masks #nowforsale #doredesigns #fashion #safety #perfectmatch #ADORÉable”

 

[snapdancer]

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.

Sounds like Irish dancing. Irish dancing will repel anything, including viruses.

 

[IndyLady]

I am not making this up. I got this picture from Doré’s Facebook page just now.

View attachment 4193

“Dore Designs has an amazing offer now for blinged out masks! These beautifully designed and stoned masks are now on sale!

This mask is constructed of a jersey exterior with a non-woven barrier in the middle and 100% cotton towards the face. The ear loops are more comfortable than elastic and smaller.

The masks will be available in Nude, Black and Red with stoning for $95 each plus s/h. The stoning can be AB, or tone on tone with the color of the fabric. We also offer custom masks with stoning as you desire which will be priced per the detail requested.

Contact us today to get your very own designer mask! Safety and fashion have never worked so beautifully together! #blinged #masks #nowforsale #doredesigns #fashion #safety #perfectmatch #ADORÉable”

I just ordered one (just one - admire my restraint). I've had a bad week at work (today was particularly heinous) and it's not over, will be working this weekend into next week as well.

 

[Joe]

You shouldn't lose too many stones when you wash it.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I got this picture from Doré’s Facebook page just now.

It looks sort of dinosaur-ish to me. Like a blinged out snout, maybe. Then again, I didn’t originally like comp hair or makeup, when I first saw them...so maybe this will become the norm to me like those did.

 

[Dr Dance]

Good news: SHE will be returning to the studio safely!

Heartwarming homecoming for Delaware dance teacher who beat coronavirus

Veronica McAleer, 76, was supposed to be the Grand Marshall for the Wilmington Saint Patrick's Day Parade. But not only was the parade canceled, she also tested positive for the coronavirus.

6abc.com

Apologies for the ad and the glitchy presentation. But for me, it's worth it.

 

[Greybeard]

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.

I saw a demonstration of "wireless dancing." The couple danced at arms length and relied on sight leads. The lead would have to be exaggerated from what is done in hold, but

This was nightclub, I don't think it would work for Viennese Waltz, but some of the spot dances might work.

Still need to get back in contact for competition, but it might help. Or maybe another category?

 

[Greybeard]

I do wear glasses because I'm nearsighted, though I'm not sure how much difference that makes. People who don't wear glasses could get noncorrective lenses.

I think side shields would be necessary because I'm not supposed to be looking at my partner. Home Depot has lightweight wrap-around safety glasses that shouldn't interfere with comfort. Ones that allow prescription glasses might be a different problem.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

Once the studios reopen, how closely will they be regulated, and by whom? And will there be legitimate ways around those regulations (loopholes)? Let’s suppose, for example, that there are some students who want to dance in closed hold with no mask, no gloves, and no eye covering, for whatever reason. (Maybe they tested positive for antibodies; maybe they’re risk-takers; maybe they have a death wish and dancing is the way they want to go; maybe they think the risk is much lower than the sensationalistic media hype implies; etc.) Could the studio have those students sign waivers? And if there were any instructors who also wanted to teach that way, could the studio have those instructors also sign waivers?

If not, how many current and future private-lesson students will the studio lose?
If too many, how many instructors will quit or get laid off due to lack of work at the studio?
If enough, how many students will go directly to those instructors to try & work out private lessons with them?
Will instructors be willing to accept the potential risk to themselves if they agree to teach private lessons “uncovered”?
Might there become 2 different types of dance studio: covered vs. uncovered? So students and teachers both could choose a studio based on their individual risk tolerance?

I’m just musing. I have no suggestions and no answers. My questions above might even touch on professional ethics rules of which I am unaware. And since I’m such a newbie to this whole system, I can’t offer an informed opinion about the future of partnered ballroom dancing. My hope, of course, is that it will return and be as it was.

No idea how likely that is.

 

[Dr Dance]

When studios reopen, there will no doubt be a greater emphasis on non partner skills and more emphasis on developing self improving traits. I call this social dis-dancing.

 

[snapdancer]

On Facebook yesterday, one local studio owner has expressed doubt that social dancing will be safe before a vaccine is developed and is planning around that. Another has posted that they are making plans and waiting for a green light.

I think the first is being more realistic than the second. But I believe the first is renting his space while the other is his own landlord, so there's that realism to consider. Hope it works out some how.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

Once the studios reopen, how closely will they be regulated, and by whom? And will there be legitimate ways around those regulations (loopholes)? Let’s suppose, for example, that there are some students who want to dance in closed hold with no mask, no gloves, and no eye covering, for whatever reason. (Maybe they tested positive for antibodies; maybe they’re risk-takers; maybe they have a death wish and dancing is the way they want to go; maybe they think the risk is much lower than the sensationalistic media hype implies; etc.) Could the studio have those students sign waivers? And if there were any instructors who also wanted to teach that way, could the studio have those instructors also sign waivers?

I think this is going to depend on the state. Some states are simply going to require masks for employees "where practical" or "where possible"; I don't think there's going to be any getting out of that. Same for reductions in occupancy limits to half of the fire code limit. Gloves and eye covering are less useful and are less likely to be required.

I would hope that studios will require masks for students while the risks persist, since mask wearing by others is my chief means of protection. I would prefer to shop at stores that require masks for customers, and the same would probably go for dance studios.

Gloves don't provide any more protection than hand washing, and that's if you change gloves as frequently as you wash your hands. I wouldn't care about gloves if the instructor washed their hands before touching me - that is, before the lesson - and of course I would do the same for them.

If students want to dance in closed hold with each other, I don't see that as a problem. Nor do I really see dancing in closed hold with a partner, including an instructor, as a problem - as long as masks and hand washing are in place, and they have no visible symptoms so they're not blowing their nose or anything. When I look at photos of the East Asian countries that have handled the pandemic so well, they are minimizing trips out of the home, but they're not maintaining a six foot distance in stores and such; evidently masks are more effective than a six foot distance. Sure, keep a six foot distance when you can, and from other couples, but I just don't see a problem with getting in dance hold when you need to.

Of course, after 9/11, a lot of useless "security theater" measures were adopted, and it's possible that we'll get pointless "medical theater" requirements now.

From a business standpoint, I don't think dance studios will be getting a lot of new students until a vaccine is developed. I think most existing pro-am and adult amateur students will be coming back, though the pro-ams will drift away if they can't actually dance with their instructors. I do worry about losses among kids and such.

I think the biggest potential issue with instructors will be where the extra unemployment insurance in the bailout bill makes it financially disadvantageous for instructors to start working again. And then when that runs out, they may not have students to teach any more.

 

[singndance]

I am a Pro Am student, and I honestly can't see returning to the dance studio for in person lessons unless there is a vaccine, or a test to show I have antibodies and so does my pro, and some kind of comfort level that the antibodies will prohibit us from contracting the virus again. Social dancing and parties are totally out for me. Competitions, no way, not until a vaccine. It breaks my heart, but I can't see any way around this.