Relief for dancers as restrictions are relaxed
Perth dance teacher Julie Young was overjoyed to get the news she and her young pupils had been waiting months for - that dance studios can open from August 31.
The Scottish Government has agreed that indoor classes at gyms and fitness studios can resume from next Monday with a series of measures to keep dancers, parents and staff safe from infection.
Speaking from her base at 251 High Street, Julie told the PA: “I’m so excited. This is the best news. I’m so happy we can go ahead next week.”
Julie Young Studios closed a week before lockdown because she became ill with suspected COVID-19.
Her post-illness symptoms continue and she needs an inhaler, still finds it hard to talk and gets easily breathless.
Julie initially called on now professional past students to teach her classes on Zoom before coming back in herself.
But she found, particularly with younger ones, that dancers found it difficult to engage with online classes.
She was frustrated that on Zoom she could not give individual tuition: “There was no substitute for being able to correct posture and body positions.”
She believes that the big halt, followed by the restrictions on numbers who can resume classes, will cause private dance studios a range of problems.
She explained: “We don’t know how many will return, a lot of time has passed and I expect it will be hard as many don’t have the stamina they had when they came regularly to dance.
“I worry about the feasibility of lower numbers per class. And during the week there’s limited time after school and children need to get to bed.
“But it is great to begin planning a return to classes, the majority dance for fun and have hugely missed the camaraderie they get from meeting their friends.”
Julie mentioned her dancers Stephanie Rae and Rohanne Compson-Bradford were performing at Revival, the drive-in live variety theatre extravaganza at Scone Palace last weekend and next.
Brooke Robertson at Inspire Dance Studio on Victoria Street was also jubilant to get the green light: “I’m over the moon we can go ahead now.”
But she admits to being “a bit thrown” by the announcement on Thursday that dance studios can reopen on the 31st because previous indications had been for September 14 and she had flood damage.
“The carpets were soaked and had to be ripped up,” she said. “I thought I had a month to put everything back right, then I got the news and it was just 10 days to do it all. I’ve drafted in my pals to help us get ready in time. It’s manic on the painting front.
“Meanwhile we are awaiting guidance on how we will operate. Dance has no overall governing body in Scotland, so will we follow Sport Scotland’s advice on keeping children safe?
“Sport Scotland tells us there must be nine metres square per person. I understand for me, that’s an upper limit of 26 dancers in the building at any one time.
“Previously I had two studios going at once, so working the restricted numbers is a big hit financially.
“Before lockdown, I had 170 dancers on the books. We are a recreational club, I hope the majority will come back.”