B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 dancing ban is a bit too 乌鸦传媒淔ootloose乌鸦传媒� for musicians, bar owners and event planners in the province, not to mention people who just want to dance.
The 1984 movie was about a teen who attempts to overturn a ban on dancing in an American town.
And now, late in 2021, continue to not allow dancing during 乌鸦传媒渋ndoor organized gatherings乌鸦传媒� in B.C., among others restrictions for music-focused events including concerts, pub gigs and weddings.
Accordingly, there is no 乌鸦传媒渄ance floor乌鸦传媒� when Kelly Brock currently sings with her long-established dance band, , at an indoor venue, and it乌鸦传媒檚 become a frustrating and confusing situation for all involved.
The Surrey-based musician, among a growing number of others, wonders why dancing to live music isn乌鸦传媒檛 allowed in B.C. when, for example, country musician Eric Church can play a concert for thousands of mask-less, mingling, screaming fans, as he did at Vancouver乌鸦传媒檚 Rogers Arena last Friday (Oct. 29).
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e had a few people reach out to me directly saying it乌鸦传媒檚 ridiculous, this dance ban, and that they want to help get it reversed,乌鸦传媒� said Brock, who urged Facebook friends to write B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, about the issue, as a 乌鸦传媒渓ast hope for the live event industry乌鸦传媒� in the province.
乌鸦传媒淚 think Bonnie is close to opening up the dance floors again, I really do,乌鸦传媒� a hopeful Brock added. 乌鸦传媒淐apacities are increasing and people can mingle again, those kinds of rules. Maybe they just need to make people wear masks while on the dance floor, that could be a solution, for now.乌鸦传媒�
(Story continues below)
B.C. has proof-of-vaccination requirements, and indoor venues are returning to full capacity.
With Dr. Strangelove, Brock performed at Woody乌鸦传媒檚 Pub in Coquitlam on Halloween weekend.
乌鸦传媒淚 tell people that they can at least get their arms going, seated in their chairs, moving around a bit in their own space at their table,乌鸦传媒� said Brock, also the owner-operator of . 乌鸦传媒淏ut it乌鸦传媒檚 kind of weird, and not the same. It乌鸦传媒檚 challenging.乌鸦传媒�
In Canada, B.C. and Quebec are the only two provinces not allowing dancing right now.
乌鸦传媒淭his really impacts DJs hired to make people dance, and dance bands like ours, the bands in clubs and pubs,乌鸦传媒� Brock noted. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e seen videos of people dancing at banquet halls and private events, but it乌鸦传媒檚 not allowed in (bars). The ban does throw a wrench in event planning, for sure.
乌鸦传媒淚 go to the gym and have been doing that for over a year, so it乌鸦传媒檚 OK to work up a sweat while wearing a mask,乌鸦传媒� she added. 乌鸦传媒淎nd when you go on the dance floor, it乌鸦传媒檚 usually just for two or three songs before you sit down and take a break. I think people would be happy to put on a mask and go on the dance floor.乌鸦传媒�
At a recent news conference, Henry admitted the no-dancing rule is 乌鸦传媒渉ardest, particularly, for nightclubs and some of the bars where this is an important part of the atmosphere.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淲e are absolutely continuing to monitor乌鸦传媒� the situation, Henry promised. 乌鸦传媒淚 hope to be able to take off more restrictions as we get through the next few months, but it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a challenge for all of us.乌鸦传媒�
As Christmas-related events approach, B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 live-event industry hopes the dancing ban gets lifted soon 乌鸦传媒� but it might be too late for many.
乌鸦传媒淓vents are getting cancelled because of the no-dancing rule, and it乌鸦传媒檚 too late to get events going for November and December,乌鸦传媒� said Rob Steel, who works as at weddings and events.
乌鸦传媒淲e were excited and getting calls about doing events a couple of months ago, when things opened up again, but this dancing rule has just shut us down again. It乌鸦传媒檚 the worst timing for this, absolutely the worst.乌鸦传媒�
On Brock乌鸦传媒檚 Facebook post about the issue, Steel elaborated.
乌鸦传媒淕etting back to work, my arse,乌鸦传媒� he wrote. 乌鸦传媒淢y entire November, December, January and February events calendar have now cancelled because of this no-dancing crap, too late to salvage anything, plus they all want their deposits back.
乌鸦传媒淭hanks a lot, B.C., it乌鸦传媒檚 the start of the pandemic all over again for performers, this time with zero benefits (and giving deposits back). Oh, but the Canucks game beer line-up, shoulder to shoulder indoors, is totally cool for that industry, gimme a break.乌鸦传媒�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on
