Illinois is currently in a state of emergency in the midst of a major public health crisis known as the COVID -19 pandemic. This crisis is not the only that should be considered a state of emergency. Ask your fellow pharmacist friends about the increase in young children being prescribed antidepressants and anxiety medications. Ask your fellow law enforcement friends about the elevated number of suicides that are taking place this year compared to years in the past. Loved ones are feeling hopeless and defeated through these uncertain times where little direction or clarity is being given to relax the countless Americans fighting their mental health.    

Local officials are taking action to minimize the impact of the global pandemic including closing CPS schools, Dance studios, and other youth based activities while giving NO INSIGHT to the damage this isolation is causing our youth and adults alike.

Yet big corporate based stores can remain open in a safely managed capacity? Why not feed our local small businesses like Dance studios with better information to be equipped to keep their families and clients safe? 

We, The Hive (Taylor’d Inc) employees insist that Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot see that Dance Studios pose no more of a threat than any other local business being able to remain open at 25% capacity currently. 

Give all Illinois Dance Studios a fair chance to remain open safely. We provide a therapeutic release to our clients and the choice to train in-person (with strict guidelines in place) should be the choice of the individual. Not all people have the ability to train virtually from home and it should not be assumed that this is possible for all. 

By mandating masks during class, maintaining and enforcing distance with personal grids, and high-end sanitation in the facilities, local dance studios have made it safe for dancers to return to the classroom. To close them down is unfair, and is targeting an industry that has not been identified as high risk by the IDPH. 

We understand how importance it is to be helping to decrease the curve of Covid-19.  We believe our local dance studios have been diligent, not only in adhering to government protocols but have also surpassed other businesses that have remained open. We are confident that the dance community is doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of students and staff.  

Please help save dance studios! Please help protect the mental health of our communities!