COVID 19 Ups and Downs-Live Music & the Politics of Dancing

There are new live music scenes opening back up that are allowing Salsa couple dancing in the age of COVID 19. A few dining places in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California have allowed DJ’s to spin Latin dance music and have opened up a dance floor at their establishments. Although that’s a blessing to a few dancers, salsa aficionados, DJ’s and musicians who are now playing in smaller combos, there still isn’t a cure or a vaccine available to the general public. The COVID 19 pandemic still exists and it is dangerous claiming the lives of over 210,000 people and growing in the US alone. I don’t know anyone personally that wants to catch this coronavirus. Yet there are folks that act as if there is a cure and we are back at business as usual.

Although these places advertise that dancing is allowed with masks and social distancing, it seems to me these club re-openings are premature and pose a real danger to the people participating in these events. To all the frustrated masses that love live music, dj’s and social dancing, please be careful and don’t believe the misinformation given by the current administration.

Businesses have the right to open and make a living as long as the owners take the precautions to make it safe for the public that wants to take the risk to go out. I have spoken to experts from the Entertainment community who believe that mid 2021 may be the right time when venues will reopen for live music. Not great news for most musicians, bands, dj’s, producers, production companies, venue owners, music industry and entertainment workers. Hopefully, we’ll have a cure and a vaccine by that time so we can have a toast and put these dark times behind us. Please stay safe so we can celebrate together at a later time on the dance floor.