Dance schools in limbo after numbers slashed
Dance teachers fear their schools will not survive after the state government halved the number of students they would be permitted after reopening.
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Dance schools fear they will be forced to fold after the State Government halved the number of students they can have in their classes from June 1.
Studios had expected to be allowed 20 students in each class when restrictions are eased on Monday after a tough two-month pandemic-forced hiatus.
However, on Tuesday night the Marshall Government revealed dance schools, as well as yoga studios and gyms, would only be allowed a maximum of 10 people in each indoor class.
The news has been met with anger and confusion, with dance studios calling for the government to revert back to the expected cap of 20.
Innis Dance Studio owner Lisa Innis said the last-minute change would devastate some schools.
“Financially, that’s not viable for many of us – many dance studios are having to close down,” she said.
“It just doesn’t make any sense. You can be in a gym and use gym equipment but you can’t walk next door and do a class.
Ms Innis said her Newton-based school will have to cancel some of its classes as a result of the last-minute change.
TIDC Performing Arts Studio in West Croydon owner Kerry Sarti said she was “very confused and very disappointed” by the reduction.
“The most disappointing thing is that on Monday the Premier gave the indication that there would be 20 people and we got onto our families and the families were excited and started everything in preparation for starting back on Monday, and then last night we noticed that dance studios have been put in with gyms … and we’re now capped at 10,” she said.
“Most of my classes have more than 10. It’s not going to be viable.”
Ms Sarti said she was now unsure whether she would be able to reopen on Monday.
“It’s just not on – We have followed every protocol; we’ve done everything correctly; we’ve been trying to stay alive via Zoom but the children are over it. I’m at a loss right now.”
Australian Company of Performing Arts is also reconsidering its reopening.
ACPA dance teacher Pep Rigano said the shock news had thrown the Thebarton school into disarray.
Mr Rigano said dance was a non-contact sport so it should be allowed to restart with 20 people per class, as originally planned.
“We’re dealing with kids who are allowed to go to school and have no limitations but have to have limitations in a dance studio,” he said.
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“I don’t think that dance studios will continue to survive.”
All three dance schools urged the government to return the number of students allowed per class to 20.
Premier Steven Marshall said the government’s decision was based on medical advice.
Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said there were fears coronavirus could spread more easily in such settings.
“The evidence is that there have been some clusters around the world associated with group classes and the reason being, that we surmise, is that cardiovascular workout in a space where you’re moving around probably has much more risk of droplet spread,” she said.
“On the other hand, fixed gym equipment, the risk of spread would be mainly from hygiene … from body secretions being on the equipment and we feel reassured … that that risk can be reduced.”
Gyms have also expressed concerns over the limited class sizes.
