Update on Lindy Hop on the Rock’s Response to COVID-19: All Activities Postponed Until Further Notice.
/In light of new developments surrounding COVID-19 here in the province, weekly Swing dance classes and social dancing held Tuesday evening at the Elks Club are postponed until further notice. PractiSwing practice sessions held bi-weekly on Fridays at the MMaP Room in the Arts and Culture Center are also postponed until further notice.
New Developments on COVID-19
The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador was announced Saturday evening by the province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald. As the situation surrounding the pandemic continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly vital that we each take an active role in reducing the risk of transmission of the disease to protect each other and vulnerable persons from becoming sick.
Our Response
Lindy Hop on the Rock as a social dance club recognizes the increased risk that social dancing may present in the transmission of COVID-19 to its students, volunteers, and organizers. As such, we feel that by postponing all activities and practicing recommended COVID-19 prevention methods are among the best ways we can protect our membership.
Our response to COVID-19 follows the recommendations provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and other institutions in the province to practice social distancing during this time. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), an educational organization with whom we have had closes ties in the past, have announced the cancelation of classes and are recommending the postponement of non-essential gatherings and events of more than 25 people. While our activities are often below this suggested limit, we appreciate the concerns of our members surrounding COVID-19 and the ease of transmission during social dancing and are taking preventative measures as a result.
Lindy Hop on the Rock will continue to follow the development of COVID-19 carefully. In the case where the suspended activity is extended far into the future, we will explore other options on addressing class postponement. Please check your inbox, our website, and social media channels in the weeks to come for further updates.
For the latest news and updates on COVID-19, you can reference the following resources:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/#resources
What Do The Postponements Mean for Me?
For Currently Registered Students
If you’ve registered for the Winter 2020 session of dance classes with Lindy Hop on the Rock, you will be notified by email, our website, and social media once classes resume. We’ll continue where we left off with class materials for the remaining four classes of this winter session on Tuesday evenings. Date and location to be announced.
For Volunteers
For those that have volunteered as PractiSiwng instructors, teaching assistances, DeeJays, door shift or setup personnel, and warm-up leads, revised schedules will be published in the weeks to come that reflects volunteer availability and newly scheduled class and PractiSwing dates. Board meetings will also be postponed until further notice.
For Lindy Hop on the Rock Performers
For those participating in performances, you should have already received notification by the Lindy Hop on the Rock Performance Committee. All upcoming rehearsals and performance events are postponed until further notice.
For Instructors
Classes are postponed until further notice. Once classes resume, we will continue from week 3 of the current Lindy Hop partnered dancing curriculum for levels 1, 2, and 3.
Stay Connected
Practicing the Government’s recommended social distancing to help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 can be frustrating and isolating – all the more for members of a social dance club such as Lindy Hop on the Rock. In the meantime, we encourage you to stay connected with us through our online community on Facebook and other social media channels; we’re in this together as we each do our part in preventing further transmission of COVID-19.
Now is also a good time to check out Lindy Hop content shared by our community whether it’s watching old dance clips, reviewing routines, or listening to Swing Jazz! These materials are an important supplement to Lindy Hop classes. Don’t forget you can also practice your footwork or solo Jazz routines in the comfort of your home too.
We look forward to seeing you all again out on the social dance floor someday soon! In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about Lindy Hop on the Rock’s response to COVID-19, please email us at lindyhopontherock@gmail.com, and we’ll respond to you as soon as we can.
Take care,
Lindy Hop on the Rock
