Disgruntled dance teacher ready to hang up tap shoes

Tutor has had enough of confusing virus guidance

A dance teacher who runs a school in Caldercruix admits she could call time on her classes after getting fed up with the Scottish Government’s Covid- 19 policy.

Audrey Clark has taught her classes for more than 30 years but has been unable to teach from her bases since lockdown began.

Audrey has been left cooling her heels and wondering when she will be allowed to resume classes with her kids.

The 52-year-old said: “I have been running a dance school for more than 30 years in Caldercruix and in Cleland.

“Five weeks ago we thought that we had got the go ahead to go back to the venues.

“It seems that it is just dance classes in some council-run centres, or ones who have their own studios, but about 80 per cent of dance schools still run from the likes of chapel or church halls.

“I don’t understand the difference between a council-run hall or one in a church.

“We have been told that if we did reopen we could only have a maximum of eight children.

“We had already organised a oneway system and have plenty of hand sanitiser.

“I’m losing money hand over fist and it is getting to the stage where I will have to say enough is enough.”

Audrey, who also works as a dance tutor with a local authority, has written to her local MSP, Alex Neil, about the issue and wants to see changes being made to help businesses like her own.

She added: “I don’t blame the Diocese because they have to follow the rules they have been given or, indeed, the council.

“If they are allowed to open then fantastic, but it’s a nightmare for myself and other small businesses like mine.

“My gripe is with the Scottish Government because the guidance is very confusing.

“About 95 per cent of our kids are under 12 so they don’t have to socially distance in schools but they can’t be in a hall for a class.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

Airdrie MSP Alex Neil told the

Advertiser that he had written to Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, to ask her to take action to sort out the problem.

He added: “We want to see dance schools return to as near as normal as possible as soon as possible.”

I’m losing money... it is getting to the stage where I will have to say enough is enough

Fed up Audrey has been unable to teach from her bases since lockdown began