A large crowd took part in a day of dancing on Mount Royal on Saturday to urge the Legault government to lift the ban on dancing in bars and nightclubs.
A DJ blew music through a speaker. Several protesters wearing shimmering wigs, jumpsuits and costumes waddled to the beat of the music, waving signs urging people to “dance for the right to dance”.
One of the demonstrators, Quentin Levasseur, recalled that there was a large community that needs “that it reopens to go dancing and spend your energy and have fun”.
Several protesters argued that it is unfair for the government to allow large venues like the Bell Center to reopen at maximum capacity for concerts and hockey games while nightclubs and bars cannot open their doors. dance floors to much smaller crowds.
“We’re at a point where you can have a big crowd in a big room. I don’t see why we can’t allow nightlife activities if people respect public health measures, ”said Mélanie Leeson, another protester.
Quebec and British Columbia are the only two provinces that continue to ban dancing in bars and nightclubs as part of their regulations to curb COVID-19.
Quebec has said it is taking a gradual approach to lifting restrictions on the pandemic, and experts have said dancing can be dangerous due to lack of distancing and other factors.
But protesters believe the ban has gone on long enough and it’s time to let people relax and have fun while sticking to measures to limit risk.
“It’s one step after another. We cannot reopen everything at once, concedes Sophie Trolliet. But now is the time to open the dance floors. We can be together to have fun. Dancing is fun and joy. “
Quentin Levasseur, he is just eager to return to the club. “Just hang out with friends and go see an artist you like and jump around the room until you can’t take it anymore and go home to bed. Have a good time together with music. “
Ms. Leeson misses the other dancers, a community she describes as “warm, welcoming that is non-judgmental.” “
“I miss the feeling of being free on a dance floor and sharing that with a community. Because that’s what people dance for: to escape from a world where conditions are difficult. Yes, I miss that a lot. “