We dance everywhere on the planet, except in Montreal

Despite the fourth wave, we will reconnect with culture this fall. In Quebec, cinemas, theaters, museums and concert halls are authorized to accommodate spectators adequately vaccinated, with however some restrictions, including reduced gauges. A semblance of a return to normal… except for nightclubs, which feel abandoned by decision-makers when practically all other sectors of activity are coming back to life. When will recreational dance have a healthy return?

The Salsathèque, a true institution of Montreal nights for 40 years, welcomed its first customers in 18 months last weekend. But no one danced because of this sentence written in a decree issued by the provincial authorities in June 2020: “In rooms and terraces covered by a permit authorizing the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the spot. […] the practice of dancing is prohibited. »At the controls of the decks during this reunion weekend, DJ Dany-O played salsa, reggaeton, Latin trap and merengue for an audience who remained seated in groups of up to ten people around tables set up. on the dance floor. “I had decided to reopen in the hope that the measures would be relaxed – we believed that by announcing the vaccination passport, they would allow us to welcome people to dance, even if it is with limited capacity [à 50 %]. But they didn’t give us anything at all! »Deplores Maxi Fernandez, boss of the Salsathèque, which nevertheless intends to open its doors again this weekend. “For 18 months, I have been losing money; by opening, I will not do any, but I hope to limit my losses… ”

“I feel that the fall will still be dark for us, with all the information we receive about the [variant] Delta and with the measures that remain restrictive, ”anticipates Jonathan Gagnier, co-owner of Salon Daomé, a small nightclub on the Plateau Mont-Royal frequented by lovers of good house. Closed since March 15, 2020, the Daomé reopened its doors two weeks ago, during a press conference during which the mayoress Valerie Plante announced an investment of $ 600,000 to the MTL 24/24 organization for the revival of nightlife. “We want to support the nocturnal ecosystem so that, when it will reopen, there is already an energy”, declared the mayoress.

These days, the energy of nightclubs is at zero. No one in the industry knows when it will reopen or what specific conditions must be met for the relaxation of health rules to end up being lenient to them. Asked about this, the Montreal Regional Public Health Department responded to the To have to to be “working [r] with event promoters to ensure that their protocol complies with the measures and decrees put in place by the government ”, referring us to the Ministries of Health and Social Services and Culture concerning a hypothetical deconfinement plan for nightclubs.

“The problem is that it dances everywhere on the planet, except in Montreal! »Laments Jonathan Gagnier. On July 9, nightclubs in France turned on their sound systems again under certain conditions (vaccination passport required, limited capacity, masked staff), but a first study published by Public Health France at the end of July reported a upsurge in cases of infection in nightclubs and bars.

Two weeks later, Great Britain allowed the clubs to resume their activities. New York and Toronto (since mid-July) also allow dance evenings – but masked, as far as the Ontario capital is concerned. Since last weekend, Berlin, capital of European electronic music, once again welcomes “clubbers”, vaccinated or cured of COVID-19, without requiring the wearing of masks.

“In all these cities, we decided that the health passport would be useful; here, the passport is only an additional restrictive measure, even for bars and restaurants, notes Gagnier. What is the point, then, if everyone is vaccinated? We would accept to open at reduced capacity, even to dance while wearing a mask – that would be boring, but it would be better than nothing. “

Nightclub owners and their customers hoped that the imposition of the passport would allow dancing evenings “as is the case across the world, but this passport will not allow relief from sanitary measures, and no one wants to commit. on a target or a schedule ”, says Mathieu Grondin of MTL 24/24, adding nevertheless to have felt a“ certain openness ”in this direction during his discussions with the regional public health directorate of Montreal“ As since the beginning of this crisis , the environment has always been faced with accomplished facts, as was the case for this announcement of the passport, three weeks before its imposition. What we would like is a little predictability. “

Stigma

Rue Laurier, the Datcha opened its doors by complying with sanitary measures. “I went there three weeks ago,” says Grondin. There were about forty of us, all seated, without masks. We were talking and drinking while the DJ played. I had this thought: remove half of the tables, ask these people to wear a mask while dancing, what is safer? Masked people dancing or people without masks speaking? I’m having a little trouble understanding the logic behind all of this. I also wonder if there is not a certain stigma, prejudices in relation to such an activity, as was the case at the start of the pandemic with regard to young people and nocturnal activities. “

“I find it discriminatory”, slice Mighty Kat, musician and DJ, who believes that the middle of nightclubs, artists and dancers, had a broad back during this pandemic. “We are often pointed out as if we just enjoy drinking, dancing and listening to music. We just think of the side party, without seeing the benefits of nocturnal activities, if only on the aspect of mental health. People need to go out, to see each other, to let off steam ”and thus forget the daily worries for a few hours.

“Today, the shopping centers are crowded, but as far as we are concerned, we are not able to find a way to make the situation viable. […] We were forgotten in all of this, ”says the DJ who, during the pandemic, did a useful job by broadcasting her Purr Club Social live on Friday nights on the Twitch platform, where she continued to mix the records, often in the company of Montreal DJ colleagues. “I realized that what I’ve been doing for 23 years, being a DJ, it makes people feel good – it’s not fair. party, it’s a balm for mental health. “

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