Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Public Health Officer Janel Heinrich, Governor Tony Evers:

We the undersigned are in support of in-person dance classes in Dane County. Emergency Order #10 seeks to prohibit dance school from conducting in-person classes, which children have been attending since September. The steps you have taken to slow the spread of COVID and keep children safe are appreciated. However, these steps have largely ignored the mental health aspects of isolating children and are keeping them from physical activities that promote their overall well-being. Dance can be a very important activity to a child, and equally, an important social outlet for them.

Consider these points:
● Children form relationships with their dance teachers, who encourage them every week to learn, grow, and persevere, even in these tough times.
● Children feel safe and healthy physical activity when participating in dance class.
● Children have developed friendships with others that share the same interest. These friendships have become extremely important to the emotional health of our youth. On a daily basis our community is seeing children struggle both socially and emotionally. And we are left to explain that another activity they have grown to love and appreciate has been taken away.

Please note the following:
• Dane County dance schools follow a curriculum and class structure that maintains a 6-foot distance between the dancers.
• Children (age 5+) and staff wear masks at all times while in the building, including during class.
• Dane County dance schools have repeatedly communicated reminders of guidelines from the CDC, such as washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, staying home if you don’t feel well or have a temperature, and more to both the parents and the students.
• In most cases, parents are not allowed in the classroom, lobby areas or in some cases, the building.
• The composition of the class does not change. The same children dance together each week.

Dane County dance schools have gone above and beyond to create a safe atmosphere for conducting in-person dance classes. For all the reasons above, they should be allowed to continue following these practices and remain open to conducting dance classes now, and in the event of other orders and mandates.

Sincerely, Supporters of Dane County Dance Schools