Several professional dancers have the feeling of being treated like second-class artists, they who are still obliged to wear the mask during their performances in variety shows while musicians and other guests have been able to remove it for a few weeks already.
Last Sunday, for example, most of the dancers on the set of Star Academy had to wear face coverings throughout the gala. However, in recent weeks, the musicians have been able to abandon the face covering on stage. The drag queens who participated in Mitsou’s number last month were also not masked, even if they were not singing. No more than the women victims of domestic violence who joined Laurence Jalbert during his performance a few weeks earlier.
An injustice, says dancer and choreographer Lauri-Ann Lauzon, who points out how cumbersome the mask is for an activity like dancing, which requires significant physical effort. “Why can’t we just be tested and vaccinated, like all the other artists? Why, once again, do the dancers go last? she asks herself. “Last year, in the middle of a curfew, hockey players could continue to play without a mask, whereas we cannot even remove it today, even if we also practice intense physical activity. »
His cry from the heart on social networks has been echoed by several of his colleagues since Monday. In interview at HomeworkLauri-Ann Lauzon made a point of specifying that it did not aim in particular Star Academy, an exemplary production with regard to the working conditions offered to the dancers, she adds. Beyond the question of the mask, the former participant in the Revolution contest says she rather wants to raise awareness in a cultural environment where, according to her, her profession is not considered enough.
Different on stage and on TV
The Regroupement québécois de la danse recalls that under current health rules, dancers can form a bubble if they are adequately vaccinated, and thus perform without face coverings or distancing. In several dance shows, moreover, the artists no longer have their mouths and noses covered as may have been the case during other phases of the pandemic.
Last year, in the middle of a curfew, hockey players could continue to play without a mask, while we can’t even remove it today, even if we also practice intense physical activity.
But on the set of Star Academy, we prefer to be extra careful to protect academics. As soon as a dancer is within one meter of one of the participants during a number, he is required to keep his face covering. “For example, last Sunday, during the issue of [la chorégraphe] Lydia Bouchard, the dancers were masked since it was impossible to respect the distance of one meter with the academicians throughout the number. Only one dancer who was more than a meter from the candidates during one of the segments of this number was able to remove her mask, ”explained by email the telecrochet press officer, Junior Bombardier.
The dancers are also masked on the set ofLive from the universe, broadcast on Radio-Canada. Attraction Images, which produces the show, did not respond to our questions.