I can tell you that the tourist-y Open Farm / Harvest Fest / Pumpkin Days haybaler gigs are up and running in VT/NH. On 10/15/21, Ridge Kennedy via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: > Bethlehem PA is starting in November. > > https://valleycontradance.org/ > > On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 11:51 AM Becky Liddle via Contra Callers < > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: > >> Hi caller friends, >> >> I’m the president of Toronto Contra Dance and we’re about to survey our >> membership about when they’ll feel ready to return to in-person dancing, >> and under what circumstances. We’re expecting that at first dances will >> be >> vaccinated-only spaces, probably with masks required. But it would be >> very >> useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that had already >> begun >> vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. (Do they >> require masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone gotten >> sick? What adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed to >> make to accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for >> verifying vaccination status?) >> >> I had hoped CDSS would be monitoring back-to-in-person dances to inform >> the rest of us how those ventures are going, but as far as I can tell, >> they’re not doing that. >> >> Any information anyone can provide would be most appreciated! >> Back-channel >> messages welcome! If I’m re-inventing the wheel here, please put me in >> touch with whatever group is looking into this! >> >> Thanks! >> >> Becky Liddle >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> > > > -- > Ridge Kennedy [Exit 145] > When you stumble, make it part of the dance. - Anonymous >

Our local contra dance group has not started dancing again. In June and early July we were discussing starting again in the fall and trying to figure out how that would work. It was likely going to be for vaccinated only, but wearing masks seems less useful when you are in physical contact with a large group of people. However, the Delta surge has made us put all these plans on hold. I'm not sure what conditions will need to be in order to start up again. Certainly I think we would want to wait until the transmission level is below "High". Whether we need to wait for it to be "Low" I don't know. However, our local English group did hold 3 dances in the late spring and summer. These were for fully vaccinated dancers (and band members). They were held outdoors and everyone wore masks (except the woodwind player in the band). Under those circumstances we felt comfortable enough to do some dancing. We didn't have any negative occurrences. We didn't specifically slow things down due to masks, but we did go a bit slower since it had been over a year since any of us had been dancing. Whether that made a difference with the masks or not I can't say. Jonathan On 10/15/2021 7:14 PM, Greenleaf via Contra Callers wrote: > Those of you who are sponsoring live contra events, can you answer Becky’s other question: > > "But it would be very useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that had already begun vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. (Do they require masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone gotten sick? What adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed to make to accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for verifying vaccination status?)” > > For many of us, it’s the mechanics of Covid regulations that are tricky. > > Thanks, > > Lisa Greenleaf > >> On Oct 15, 2021, at 12:39 PM, Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> >> we are going to one tonite >> U of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall >> >> On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 10:51 AM Becky Liddle via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> >> Hi caller friends, >> >> I’m the president of Toronto Contra Dance and we’re about to survey our membership about when they’ll feel ready to return to in-person dancing, and under what circumstances. We’re expecting that at first dances will be vaccinated-only spaces, probably with masks required. But it would be very useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that had already begun vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. (Do they require masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone gotten sick? What adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed to make to accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for verifying vaccination status?) >> >> I had hoped CDSS would be monitoring back-to-in-person dances to inform the rest of us how those ventures are going, but as far as I can tell, they’re not doing that. >> >> Any information anyone can provide would be most appreciated! Back-channel messages welcome! If I’m re-inventing the wheel here, please put me in touch with whatever group is looking into this! >> >> Thanks! >> >> Becky Liddle >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> >> >> >> >> -- >> / >> /Elizabeth Bloom Albert / >> >> / >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >

Hi, CFOOTMAD in Colorado started a while ago. Vaccinated only + masks. https://cfootmad.org/ Cheers, Ben Sent from my iPhone

We certainly realize that and have nothing planned for the foreseeable future. Maybe next year. I was just reporting on what has been taking place here locally (central Illinois) this past year as requested. Jonathan On 10/15/2021 9:18 PM, Woody Lane via Contra Callers wrote: > Hi Jonathan, > > Here's the thing: your local English group held dances in the late spring and summer. But I would contend that their experiences are not a good representation of the current situation. The Delta variant began its surge in midsummer and that has changed the risk equation. The Delta variant is at least twice as transmissible than the previous variants, and it increasingly infects younger people more extensively than previous variants. And younger people get sicker than with the earlier variants. We also know that vaccinated people can still transmit this virus, albeit at lower levels than nonvaccinated folks. Nonetheless there is a continued and disturbing occurrence of breakthrough cases. > > Current regulations with crowds are based on typical crowd situations -- sporting events, rallies, classrooms, concerts, etc. But how much good data is available for crowds that are actively moving together in a closed room, who are touching and holding each other and changing partners frequently, who may be breathing harder and are breathing close together even with masks? > > I love to dance, but I am very cautious. Both for myself and for any groups I organize. Perhaps the booster vaccines, the increased availability of rapid testing, the vaccination of young children, and the new antiviral drugs will make a big difference. I certainly hope so. Meanwhile, I prefer to wait. > > Best, > Woody > Roseburg, Oregon > > > On 10/15/2021 5:27 PM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote: >> Our local contra dance group has not started dancing again. In June and early July we were discussing starting again in the fall and trying to figure out how that would work. It was likely going to be for vaccinated only, but wearing masks seems less useful when you are in physical contact with a large group of people. However, the Delta surge has made us put all these plans on hold. I'm not sure what conditions will need to be in order to start up again. Certainly I think we would want to wait until the transmission level is below "High". Whether we need to wait for it to be "Low" I don't know. >> >> However, our local English group did hold 3 dances in the late spring and summer. These were for fully vaccinated dancers (and band members). They were held outdoors and everyone wore masks (except the woodwind player in the band). Under those circumstances we felt comfortable enough to do some dancing. We didn't have any negative occurrences. We didn't specifically slow things down due to masks, but we did go a bit slower since it had been over a year since any of us had been dancing. Whether that made a difference with the masks or not I can't say. >> >> Jonathan >> >> On 10/15/2021 7:14 PM, Greenleaf via Contra Callers wrote: >>> Those of you who are sponsoring live contra events, can you answer Becky’s other question: >>> >>> "But it would be very useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that had already begun vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. (Do they require masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone gotten sick? What adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed to make to accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for verifying vaccination status?)” >>> >>> For many of us, it’s the mechanics of Covid regulations that are tricky. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Lisa Greenleaf >>> > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >

The first Massachusetts dance to be starting up in person indoors is the Worcester dance: https://www.worcesterdance.org/. They list: "Documented proof of either full vaccination or a negative COVID test. The COVID test must be taken no more than three days prior to the dance. Photos of either vax cards or said test results will be accepted as proof. Per City of Worcester mandate, masks are to be worn at all times by everyone in the building. Each attendee must provide their name, email address, and cell phone number for contact-tracing purposes. The gymnasium where the dance is being held is quite large for the expected number of attendees. We will augment that by placing box fans in front of open windows in at least two locations to provide for the circulation of fresh air. The facility also has several ceiling fans which will assist in that process." Jeff On Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 4:00 PM tedsims--- via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Yes, I have talked to them, suggesting that they not allow tests as an alternative to vaccination, and that they provide free surgical masks (~$0.08/each) to people arriving with cloth masks. Jeff On Fri, Nov 5, 2021, 5:11 PM Ron Blechner &lt;contraron(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: