All non essential businesses closed during the state shutdowns, economies suffered and unemployment rose. Dance studios and dance clubs had closures and cancelled events that arrested ballroom dancing. The dance environment has been trying to fight back with online lessons and special social distance parties, dance exercise videos, and taped videos of recent dance events to attempt to keep the spirit alive. But the Trumpanzees got involved and it went too far. The cases went up and the deaths are still going up. What does it all mean for ballroom enthusiasts? When and if dance studios and club do reopen, will patrons respond by returning to practice their beloved sport and art? Or will the combined fears and uncertainties of ballroom dancers prevent the revitalization of ballroom dance?
The answer depends on how you define "death." The end of all ballroom dancing? Certainly not. In a self-centered view, we could call ballroom "dead" if there were no more social dances in our area, if there are no places where we can take lessons. We are fortunate that our island area has many interested parties. Some could disappear but we will gain new ones and there can still be a market for dance. Equally, one could fairly consider any significant reduction in the community as "death," since it will make for an ecosystem that looks very different from the one we knew in 2019. Death of "dance as we knew it," you might say. But most of us will dance again.
Count me in with the "dancing is not dead" crowd. In spite of the perception that this thing has been dragging on FOREVER, it may be only a couple, three months more. The State may close again but it should be temporary. I'm sure it will take a while, and we could anticipate some difficult bumps along the way (spikes in cases or deaths), but humans are not going to tolerate living like this forever. We will find ways to get back to what we like to do, much of which involves close proximity with other human beings. Well, The SPIRIT of ballroom dancing is alive and prospering! Dancers have too many fine memories to be willing to let go of their passion so easily.
“Social dancers do not concentrate on their sufferings.
They would rather concentrate on their hopes."
They would rather concentrate on their hopes."
The answer depends on how you define "death." The end of all ballroom dancing? Certainly not. In a self-centered view, we could call ballroom "dead" if there were no more social dances in our area, if there are no places where we can take lessons. We are fortunate that our island area has many interested parties. Some could disappear but we will gain new ones and there can still be a market for dance. Equally, one could fairly consider any significant reduction in the community as "death," since it will make for an ecosystem that looks very different from the one we knew in 2019. Death of "dance as we knew it," you might say. But most of us will dance again.
"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K
Count me in with the "dancing is not dead" crowd. In spite of the perception that this thing has been dragging on FOREVER, it may be only a couple, three months more. The State may close again but it should be temporary. I'm sure it will take a while, and we could anticipate some difficult bumps along the way (spikes in cases or deaths), but humans are not going to tolerate living like this forever. We will find ways to get back to what we like to do, much of which involves close proximity with other human beings. Well, The SPIRIT of ballroom dancing is alive and prospering! Dancers have too many fine memories to be willing to let go of their passion so easily.
"Perfection is Annihilation, it paralyzes us from working with the heart.
Humans are not perfect by nature and imperfections are
what makes the world beautiful."
Humans are not perfect by nature and imperfections are
what makes the world beautiful."
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