Update: Monday, 27 April 2020

• At 11:59pm Monday 27 April New Zealand alert level changes from Level 4 to Level 3
• Based on the current New Zealand Covid-19 Alert Levels [PDF, 1.7 MB] we will be able to participate in social partner dancing when we reach Level 1

Classes Closed: Sunday, 15 March 2020

Reasons behind this decision:

• Saturday 14 March 2020, The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced the measures the government were implementing in the attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. She called for community support and "no handshakes, no hugs, no hongis", referring to the need for everybody to employ social distancing/physical distancing.
• While the Ministry of Health have publicly advised that public events do not need to be cancelled, we know we cannot conduct a dance event and maintain social distancing. It appears to be critical at this point in time, despite the number of attendees being below the threshold number of any figures currently being floated that the length of time and critical distance between people at our events make them a very high of transmission if anybody is contagious.
• Sunday 15 March 2020, The Ministry of Health media conference confirmed a tourist in the South Island has tested positive and they travelled from Christchurch to Queenstown. We are concerned there is a chance other infected individuals have entered the country before the mandatory self-isolation requirements starts at midnight Sunday night.
• With a 2 - 5 day incubation period there is a chance that there is a higher number of people with COVID-19 than the number of confirmed cases. We know of locals who have travelled to 1b countries such as Australia and returned to Christchurch before the mandatory self-isolation start of midnight Sunday, and we believe there is a chance, however small, that they will be able to spread the virus in the community. If they do develop symptoms over the next 2-5 days it will be too late for us to close classes.
• We respect our whole community and believe we need to protect the vulnerable people who are old or immuno compromised.
• This is our contribution to "flatten the curve". In times of trouble many people are moved to donate to a cause. Giving up a portion of our sole source of income is a small price to pay to save lives.