How To Make the Theaters Safe Again
August 19, 2020
You may be wondering if you will able to ever be able to step into an entertainment venue or theater ever again in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. Theaters have been working hard to ensure the safety of their patrons moving forward. Here are some things theaters have been working on!
- Improving ventilation and filtration system
- Covid-19 is known to spread more indoors than outdoors. While we are outside, the droplets we may breathe on others can be blown away by wind.
- Installing HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters
- Installing automatic door and bathroom equipment
- No contact payment and digital tickets and programs
- Physical Barriers
- Plexiglass at concession and reception areas
- Dividers between audience members
- Rethink Bathrooms
- Have shorter shows with no intermission: no one uses bathroom
- Have longer intermission: less people get up to go to bathroom
- Maintain Indoor Humidity
- Humidity between 40 and 60 percent reduces viability and transmission of the virus
- Having a bit of humidity indoors helps our respiratory defense system
References
https://www.dancemagazine.com/coronavirus-theaters-2646364524.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
Dance Documentary Recommendations!
September 16, 2020
- Alive and Kicking: Explores the history and origins of Swing dance and how it has impacted the 21st century
- Ballerina: Follow the story of 5 ballerinas from the Vagonova Academy and the Mariinsky Theatre
- Ballet 422: Choreographer Justin Peck goes through his journey of creating a new ballet to its world premiere
- First Position: The Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), the worlds largest global network of dance, is the focus of this documentary as young dancers compete for jobs and scholarships
Reference:
https://www.playbill.com/article/step-into-the-world-of-dance-with-these-14-streaming-documentaries
Keeping Dance Studios Alive During Covid-19
October 5, 2020
As many know, dance studios, performing arts centers, theaters etc. have mostly all been temporarily closed due to covid-19. I came across an article in the Montclair Local titled, “Dance and Find Moments to Cherish, During Covid-19” that had some interesting thoughts.
Carlisle Nelson, the executive director of Dance New Jersey, says, “dance is about moving in space: By definition, a person cannot dance sitting still.” Many people would have never thought their kitchen counter would be their ballet barre or their bedroom would have the most space to take a contemporary class. As dancers, we have to adapt quickly to any given situation. For example, if someone slips slips and falls on stage during a performance, you don’t stop and look but rather keep dancing like nothing happened. Dancers are trained to make things look easy, however, this pandemic has only made dance harder.
Although many dancers do not have as much space as they would like to dance in currently, we CAN still move, and need to remember this! Yes, you won’t be doing jumps, turns and kicks, but accepting what you have is a part of being an ever growing dancer. Keep taking your kitchen barre class and dance outside. USE your resources, just as Nelson says “dance is about moving in space.” There are no rules on what spaces work and don’t work. You can dance literally anywhere!
Many dance studios are ready to give up, being that many lost a ton of their students due to the pandemic. Sharon Miller, owner of Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA) says, “that when you have a passion that feeds your soul, you want to share that with people.” If you are passionate about something and want to share it, there is a way to do it no matter what, even in the midst of a global pandemic!
Resources:
humanillustration.com 