To Mask or Not To Mask...That is the Question

As dance studio owners and dance educators begin to prepare their spaces for reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown, traffic pathways are being re-established; tape, hula hoops and other props are being used to ensure dancers observe distancing guidelines; and new cleaning regimens are being adopted. 

The question on most minds is whether or not dancers need to wear masks….

·       we are not used to wearing masks

·       they make breathing a bit more difficult

·       young dancers are apt to spend  A LOT of time adjusting them

So….are they really necessary?

What We Know

-        COVID is a respiratory virus – it is spread through droplets released when we breathe out

-        a study done in the 1930s by Harvard researcher, William Wells, found that these droplets tend to land about 3 feet away from the person who exhaled

-        staying  6 feet apart can keep these droplets from landing on other people

-        The Center for Disease Control believes these droplets can live on surfaces for 2-3 days.

-        outside air that is circulated through indoor spaces can help disperse the droplets

The Problem

-       it is difficult for dancers, who are constantly in motion, to remain 6 feet apart consistently

-        6 feet of social distancing is recommended under normal circumstances, dancers who are moving will be breathing heavier

-        dancers touch surfaces in the studio like barres and the floor frequently

-        many dance studios do not have access to windows and rely on an air conditioning or closed ventilation system that will recirculate these droplets

Although masks may not be 100% effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19, they provide a barrier and can catch droplets before they are sent out into the air, and land on barres, mirrors, floors or someone else. Dance USA’s guidelines, Dance and Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Selina Shah, and the Yale School of Public Health have all been clear – DANCERS NEED TO WEAR MASKS WHEN DANCING!

While it’s clear that wearing masks is necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19, is it healthy for dancers to limit airflow?.......Actually, it might even be beneficial….check back for my next post on how dancers might be able to use masks to become stronger dancers and athletes…