While a large portion of regional Victorian businesses celebrate by opening their doors, nothing has changed for regional studios as they have been categorised alongside gyms.
The Dance Arts Alliance is calling for dance schools to be reclassified immediately, and those with students aged 18 and under to reopen in line with schools.
Black Cat Dance Studio owner Billy-Jo Royle bought the studio in January but hasn’t been able to teach since March.
“We’ve tried online but most people don’t have the internet or the space to cope with it. When we did it, we had about a fifth of the class able to participate,” she said.
“The students were ready to start in term three when restrictions were lifted the first time, but Mitchell Shire got locked down again.
“I sent out a survey asking about online classes again, and no one was keen because they couldn’t do it because of internet or space restrictions.
“There’s been no income since March, but we still have the bills. I have a lease to pay but haven’t been able to use the building.
“Our earliest open date is the end of November. That gives us three weeks of term and then we close gain until February. We can’t afford to not have income until early next year.”
In a statement, the Victorina Government said in regional Victoria, under the third step of restrictions you can exercise, do sporting activities or dancing outside with up to 10 people (including yourself).
You must be able to keep at least 1.5 metres distance between yourself and others. Dance studios can also run classes outside with groups of up to 10 people, plus the instructor.
As stated in the industry restart guidelines for physical recreation, under the third step dance instructors can attend the facility for the purpose of recording or streaming digital classes, with up to five people permitted.
Ms Royle said it was frustrating to see students allowed at school and to do contact sports, but couldn’t come to an indoor dance class with 10 people.
“It’s ridiculous that we’ve been lumped in with adult gyms. We’re battling to get moved under the creative industries banner so we can open,” she said.
“Growing up as a dancer, all my friends were from dance. It’s an important part of the student’s lives and vital for their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Not everyone is interested in playing football or netball and their needs to be an outlet for those people."
To keep the dance school afloat, Ms Royle is offering her professional photography skills for photoshoots in the unused dance studio.
"We’re doing everything we can to save ourselves and keep some money coming in. We want the studio to still be here when students are allowed back,” she said.
“It’s a big space so we can accommodate most photography requests. More information is available on the Black Cat Dance Studio Facebook page.”
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said indoor physical recreation facilities, including gymnastics and dance studios are closed as the nature of exercising in an indoor space carries a high risk of transmission, due to sweat and heaving breathing, as well as shared equipment.
“Under both the regional Victoria and the metropolitan Melbourne roadmaps, indoor physical recreation facilities are scheduled to reopen in the last step," the spokesperson said.
“The last step is expected to start from November 23 subject to having no new cases and public health advice.
“We understand everyone is making huge sacrifices and the closure of gyms and dance studios have been difficult, but this strategy is working, and we are driving cases down.”
The latest guidance on the third step is available at sport.vic.gov.au/our-work/return-to-play/Restrictions-for-areas-outside-of-metropolitan-Melbourne
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