Dancing with Endless Lockdowns

In Da Nang, Vietnam, we are now in our 5th lockdown. This variant is going around and the country is not vaccinated. So, the government mandates strict quarantines with transportation services, restaurants, delivery services, and anything considered non-essential, closed. 

Ever since the beginning of May, the Vietnamese have been dancing with this new Delta variant. At times, things are open and then shortly thereafter, closed again. It’s been a never-ending loop between experiences of the lockdown life & the free movement life. It can get dizzying and tiring. 

Here’s a quick overview/ timeline of how we have danced with lockdowns: 

1. Emerging from the first lockdown, Dork Dancing was introduced in June 2020.

2. Second lockdown hit August 2020, we experimented with online Dork Dancing for the first time

3. Over the course of months September 2020-May 2021, during a time of COVID19/ public health safety, a vibrant mental health community emerged

4. Beginning of May, lockdown hit once more and we went online again

5. Lockdown lifted and we started with sunrise Dork Dancing — on and off, as restriction rules varied over the course of 2 months

6. Now, it’s the end of July 2021 & we are back in FULL lockdown, with few movement privileges

BUT — we can do something about this. We can look at what is within our control and what is not, and focus on the things that we can do. For our community, we have danced together throughout this pandemic experience and this will not change, despite the challenges that these lockdowns present. 

Bence, a Dork Dancing host, is offering a new idea. ONLINE Sunrise Dork Dancing. Dorks will find open spaces; some will head upwards to their rooftops and others will stay in their bedrooms or living rooms — it doesn’t matter. We’ll be home, dancing, online, together. Hope to see you there!