Hi Everyone,
It seems that some things are opening up again, although not quite the same way as before because safety means there are regulations to follow. But there are people out dancing. I’m going to put a few events out there in this edition. If I have missed anything it’s because I either didn’t know for sure what was going on. Feel free to send me an update with times, places, rules, cost, etc. After all this time, I’m not looking to do a lot of research to find things. I’m happy to post events for you, but you need to tell me about them. I’m still ignoring the Calendar page. I still don’t want to toss out most of that only to have it come back and have to redo all of the posts. If events from there are not here, chances are they aren’t happening or I don’t know about them. I’ve been kind of ignoring a lot of the dance stuff that was being posted in the last 6 months.
Each listing will have contact info for you to use to find out what you need to know about any event. I am still doing the Facebook page for Friends of Country Dance, as well as my own Dancin’ with Linda page, although tonight is the first time I will have posted on either for a while.
I don’t know if this will be weekly again for a while or not. It depends on what’s out there that changes.
If you travel out of town and find something interesting, let me know & I’ll pass along the info or put it in the Links page for other dance friends who may travel. you want to subscribe to the email updates, please send it to me LBLOYER@YAHOO.COM or lbloyer@friendsofcountrydance.net
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Enjoy your family and friends while you have them. Hugs are always good. We never know how long they’ll be with us.
REMINDER: I leave this in even though few of the bars are open, but some are so……Those of us who dance at various restaurants or clubs need to remember that the ONLY GOAL the business has in having dancers there is to INCREASE SALES of drinks or food or both. The landscape is littered with clubs that either do not exist anymore or places that welcomed dancers for a while & then ended the dancing. This has been a big issue for country bars, for many years. Remember that if you want to have those places to dance, that the owners aren't in business to provide you with entertainment for free. DO NOT ASSUME that a good-sized crowd makes a bar/restaurant/club successful. Don’t expect others to foot the bill for your good time.
For the dances that are run by instructors at other types of locations…..they need you to show up in order to make it successful. Rent is paid by the instructor and there needs to be sufficient attendance to pay the expenses or the dance is cancelled.
Welcome to the new readers. The last 6 months has been a rough ride with nothing much to report, other than online lessons and some outdoor parking lot events. I did not choose to keep up with those as there wasn't much regularity to them.
Thank you to those of you who send info for what you send to me. If you have info on something I should list or change, please send to me.
What's happening...................
******* 'Country by the Bay' is coming back! The next dance will be on Saturday, 10/10. The format will be pretty much the same, but we are limited in the number of people. We’ll need masks for dancing and moving around the room. Temperatures will be taken when you arrive. The Barn Dance will NOT be played. Dance floor etiquette has always been good. The band will be 'Southern Winds'. Dancers, it's definitely worth the drive. The band will play from 8pm – 11:30pm. Linda & Rich will be teaching a line dance at 7pm & a couples' lesson at 7:30pm (details when I figure them out). The $15 cover includes dance lessons, draft beer, soda, & snacks, as well as 3.5 hours of open dancing. The hardwood floor is the biggest in the area and easy on the feet and legs. I am taking ALL of the table reservations by email at LBLOYER@YAHOO.COM. Due to the limited number of attendees allowed, RESERVATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL. There are some changes to the reservation process: 1. When you send your reservation, I need a firm number of people attending with your group (names would also be helpful) so that I have an accurate count to allow as many groups as possible. 2. Additions may be allowed, depending on the number of people I have on my list by that time, but MUST BE SENT BY MIDDAY FRIDAY before the dance. Letting me know ASAP about cancellations is helpful to allow others to attend. I will keep a ‘Waiting List’ if needed. 3.You may request table assignments, but I’m not sure if the tables will be set exactly the way they have always been so I can’t promise exactly the same location you ‘always’ have. 4. I’m going to give my list to the door for verification of arrivals. 5. Reservations must be claimed by 7:30PM. Walk-ins take the chance of not getting in. If I know we’re booked full, I’ll send out a notice to that effect. We're looking forward to seeing many of the dancing friends.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE DANCE.....
The Legion will take your temperature at the sign-in table.
They will ask you in the last 14 days have you:
a. have any of the symptoms associated with of COVID19?
b. been out of the DC metro area?
c. been in close contact (less than 6ft for longer than 15 minutes) with a person who is know to have laboratory confirmed COVID 19?
d are you self quarantining because you may have been exposed to some with COVID19?
e. are you awaiting the results of a COVID 19 test?.
You are expected to wear your mask when not at your table (that includes dancing)
You have determined that the people you choose to dance and sit with pose no health risk to you.
You will likely to be asked to fill out a form that answers the questions above, plus give your name & contact information. This information will ONLY be saved by the legion for a few weeks & ONLY to be used in the event that contact tracing is needed due to someone who attended the dance testing positive for COVID 19.
********Sandy Garrish is dancing at the following locations during the week. She’s at Hawk’s club on Tuesday & Wednesday from 7-10pm. Cost is $8pp. People need to wear masks. If you have any questions about the rules, please contact Sandy at sandy@timetolivebetter.com She’s at Cancun Cantina on Thursdays from 6pm to 10pm (more about CC elsewhere). She’s doing a mixture of Line and partner dancing. Line lesson at about 6:30pm, couples’ lesson about 7:30pm. The open dancing music is a mix based on who comes out. $10pp. Masks are requires at all times except at your seat. Due to reduced capacity Sandy’s Halloween Dance weekend in OC is sold out. If you were thinking of attending, message Sandy because there are sometimes cancellations. Address for Hawks 430 Riverside Dr, Essex, MD 21221
*******Sharon Hume of Sharon’s Scholl of Dance had to cancel the Line dance weekend event that was to be this coming weekend, I believe, but there was a problem with the venue. She is teaching at the Westminster Moose (309 Buena Vista Dr. Westminster, MD 21157)on Tuesdays at 7pm and on Thursdays at the Frederick Moose (828 E. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701) at 7pm. Both classes are $10pp and are for all ages and all levels. She takes beginner aside and shows them basics to help them get started. I don’t know about the rules for these two events.
***********Cancun Cantina is open again as ‘The Original Cancun Cantina’. I have not been there, but in an effort to bring the place back to the ‘old days’, the people that took it over undid some changes that the previous owners had made. They are, I believe, open on Wednesday through Saturday. There is Ladies' Night on Wednesday with Mark Paulino teaching. Sandy is teaching & DJing on Thursday. There are bands on Friday and some Saturdays. I’m not sure of the Saturdays. There is limited capacity and masks must be worn except while sitting at a table. I have heard from a few that have been that they had a good time. The outside bar and deck are open as well. The inside country music and dancing ends at 10pm, while the outside stays open later. https://www.facebook.com/theoriginalcancuncantina/
************The Winners Circle had a reopening in June with restrictions. One of those was that reservations were required, again because of limited capacity. They have had some bands, but, as usual, they are not too forthcoming with information on either the Facebook page or the website. 604 Station Rd, Grantville, PA (exit 80 on I-81) in Holiday Inn; 717.469.0661; winnerscirclesaloon.com
*********Line Dance Cheri is hosting and teaching FREE Lessons & open dancing every Wednesday at Billikens Smokehouse 623 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 It’s outdoors!
*******Laurie Armstrong is teaching line dances ever Thursday that the weather permits on the parking lot at NewLife Church, 5502 Trin St, Alexandria 22310; 6:45 – 8pm; $5pp
*********Various others have done or tried to do outdoor dancing, with some success and some with many weather issues. I didn’t get a chance to contact any of them, but will try to do so in the future. NOTE: if you are one of them, please send me what you’d like me to post.
********A few instructors are still posting lessons online.
What’s NOT happening….
******NVCWDA has cancelled dances for the rest of the year. I presume the Board of Directors will make some decisions closer to the end of 2020 as to reopening. Since the primary location is a senior center which is still closed, a reopening may not happen until the center reopens, or until the association finds other locations that may be suitable and affordable.
*******Country Pride is not dancing at this time because the VFW they use is not yet having activities.
*******HCWDA has cancelled dances for the rest of the year.
******Nick’s in Alexandria has not reopened. There is information circulating regarding the status of the business, but I will not discuss that here.
******Wednesday dancing with Mike Bailey
*****Wednesdays at Cherry Hill
*******Dances at Colvin Run
******Pretty much anything that takes place in a senior center
There are more, but you get the picture.
The bottom line is that many places have not opened for dancing. Many dancers are still not ready to get out in the crowds and dance. Time will tell how long this will take.
Stay safe everyone,
Linda