HOT OFF THE PRESS

1. On Tuesday 19 October, Ausdance NSW was proud to launch the 2021 revision of its ‘Re-Opening Dance in NSW COVID-19 Guidance Notes’*. This revision is exclusively available to Ausdance NSW members. This document guides the NSW dance sector to safely return to the studio and provides information and advice for planning and managing COVID-safe artistic, business and community activities.

   At the heart of this revision is dancer wellbeing. This section is available as a publicly available excerpt from the guidance notes and entitled, On Dancer Wellbeing. From incremental loading, sleep and recovery to the social, emotional and psychological needs of a dancer, the notes include a timely and rich new section outlining key considerations to promote and maintain dancer wellbeing co-authored by a working party comprising Australians clinicians, researchers and expert practitioners.

   In consultation with Create NSW, Office of Sport and Service NSW the revision also includes new sections on vaccination, ventilation and mask-wearing. Finally, there is an additional appendix detailing FAQs for the dance studio sector. Ausdance NSW wishes to thank all contributors from last year as well as this year. We are indebted to their generous input, expert advice and kind collaboration.