Balancing risks

As the city and state have started to allow places to open (hair salons, gyms, restaurants etc), we're also hearing that the number of COVID cases has risen sharply. I've been wearing a mask everywhere, and limiting the indoor places I'm going to, but it's hard to know where it's worth engaging again and where it's not. 

As the ballet studio has been starting in-person classes, I've been realizing how much I hate taking class at home. It has rarely felt like I'm getting any kind of work out or maintaining any kind of technique. This week I took Veronica's class, which like Chasen's also was online. Again, only 3 people (one of them was Allegra) and I didn't mind the slower pace required for the teacher to manage the online group. James' Thursday class was the first in-person only and full 90 minutes. My balance needs to be strengthened again among other things, but it has felt so good taking these classes that I can't bring myself to take online classes right now. It's not easy wearing a mask the whole time but it's something you get used to.

This weekend I checked out an AR performance by Heidi Duckler Dance at LA State Historic Park. This is a park located north of Chinatown that I've never been to. I was required to install an app that will allow me to interact with the on-site material. There were a decent but well scattered population of people using the park. Seemed like most of them had no idea what the various art posters were about. I had a hard time initially figuring out how to work the AR app. Eventually, an email to the company led to instructions and it turned out to be really cool. The company had scattered random plastic things sitting or hanging on the lawn or plantings in the park. In two locations there were small posters stuck in the ground. When the app was used to capture the image, a video played. In one location, the videos were of dancers performing in different locations. In the second location, they were of reef and other sealife. Not only was this a great way to present dance, but I also explored a new park for the first time 

On Sunday, I took a class with more than 3 people! It still felt safe and everyone kept their distance properly. After, Joyce and I met Kelly and Margie at Rustic Kitchen's outdoor patio. It was so enjoyable to catch up in person, share a meal, and feel a little more normal. We kept our masks on while speaking, only taking them off for eating and drinking. We all put our masks back on after eating without even having discussed it. 

It still makes me anxious to dip my toe into the world like this, but the rewards are so huge right now.