Brent’s Bunch Dancing Postponed to Thursday, Feb 17

Hi Brent's Bunch Members & Friends.

I apologize for the late notice, but as you have probably heard on the news, the BC public health orders were updated again this week and now prevent us from dancing until at least February 16, 2022.

Under the revised orders, group exercise is possible but basically, all individuals must be at least 2 meters from each other and there is a maximum of 25 people per room. Also, the City of Burnaby is not renting the Burnaby Lake Pavilion again until this order is lifted.

Therefore, our next possible dance night is Thursday, Feb 17, 2022. I'll get back to you that week with any updates.

Unfortunately, I'm not available for virtual "Zoom" dancing this week or next but will let you know if I resume this in February.

I hope you are all staying well and that we will be able to get together again sometime soon.

Best Regards,
Brent
Home: 604-594-8622

Virtual Mainstream Square Dancing with Brent - Cancelled for Thursday Jan 13

Hi Everyone,

It was great to see so many of you over Zoom at our virtual dance last week.  Unfortunately, I'm feeling a little under the weather today so have decided to cancel our planned virtual dance for tomorrow, Jan 13.  

I'm waiting to hear about BC public health updates as to whether we can dance in person again after Jan 18.  I'll let you know as soon as I find out.  If we are not able to dance in person on Thursday, Jan 20, I'll offer a virtual dance that night.  

Stay tuned and I look forward to seeing you again soon,

Brent

 

Brent’s Bunch Dancing Postponed to Thursday, Jan 20

Hi Brent's Bunch Members & Friends,

Happy New Year everyone! 

I hope you all had a good Christmas, celebrated the holiday season as best you could under the current public health orders, and are doing well.  It looks like 2022 will be another year where we will have to keep our plans flexible and have patience with the ever-changing public health landscape affecting our social, dance, and travel activities. 

Dance Schedule Change

As you have likely heard, under the BC public health orders issued in late December, adult indoor individual and group fitness or exercise activities are currently not permitted.  This includes participating in group exercise, fitness classes, and dance classes, and therefore includes square and round dancing.  This restriction is in place until January 18, 2022, so the City of Burnaby has cancelled our rental of the Burnaby Lake Pavilion for Jan 6 and 13.  If the restrictions affecting square dancing are not extended, our next scheduled dance will be Thursday, January 20.  I'll let you know by email the status of this dance as soon as I know, which I assume should be at least by Jan 18.  

Brent's Bunch Membership

For those that have said they would like to support the club with pre-purchased dancing membership, please hold your payment for now and let's see what happens by Jan 18.  We have the option of extending our dancing through May so when we know if we can resume dancing in January I will survey our members to decide if we shorten the season or extend it into May.     

Virtual ZOOM Dancing

I'd like to stay in touch and give us all chance to keep active so I will offer virtual, one or two couple dancing, via ZOOM on Thursday Jan 6 & 13.  Jan 6 will have an Elvis music theme as we had planned for this week already.  I'll email you details for the ZOOM dancing soon.  

 

Best Regards,

Brent

Home: 604-594-8622

Merry Christmas!

 

Chuck and I will deliver the club's donations to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau today.  Thank you to our generous contributors!

Daphne

Brent's Bunch Visit to SSW Tues Nov 9 & No Dance Thurs Nov 11

Hi Brent's Bunch and Friends,

This Thursday, Nov 11, is of course Remembrance Day, so the Burnaby Lake Pavilion is not available and therefore we will not have a dance this week.  

Brent's Bunch will resume dancing on Thursday, Nov 18.

With no dance this Thursday, this is a great week to visit the Surrey Square Wheelers (SSW).  Therese & I will be attending their dance tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov 9, and invite you to join us and meet us there.  I will be calling with Steve Edlund.  

This is a Plus dance from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at  

Brookswood Sr. Citizens' Activity Centre
19899 - 36 Ave. Langley, BC 

Please contact me for further details and their COVID safety plan.  

We look forward to seeing you there.

Best Regards,
Brent
604-594-8622

Brent’s Bunch is Resuming Plus Square Dancing on Thursdays Starting Oct 28

Hi Square & Round Dancers,

I am pleased to announce the re-starting of Plus Square Dancing and Round Dancing at Brent’s Bunch on Thursday evenings, starting Oct 28, 2021, at the Burnaby Lake Pavilion (6871 Roberts St, Burnaby, BC, V5B 3C1).

Everyone is welcome to join us but I recognize that everyone has different opinions and feelings about returning to group activities, including square and round dancing, based on their own situation and the safety protocols that will be followed by the group, and that’s OK.

Many people are missing the physical, mental, and social benefits that square and round dancing provides, but also only want to return to dancing in the safest way possible, while following current public health requirements.  Therefore, I have prepared a COVID-19 Safety Plan which was developed with guidance from the “FVS&RDA COVID-19 Return to Dance Committee”.

Key components to the plan include:

• Anyone showing or feeling symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or that has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, is asked to please stay home.
• The maximum hall capacity is 50 people.
• Everyone entering the hall must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (two doses) in the form of a BC Vaccine Card (digital or hard copy with QR code that can be scanned).
• Everyone must wear a suitable face mask at all times while inside the hall, including while dancing, except when drinking, eating, or for the caller/cuer while instructing the dance.
• Everyone must sanitize their hands when they enter the hall and must wash or sanitize their hands before each square dance tip.  Hand sanitizer will be provided.
• No food or beverages will be provided by the club.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water or beverage in spill-proof containers, and snacks if they wish, but do not share them with people outside your household “bubble”.
• Chairs will be available around the perimeter of the hall but tables for sitting at will not be available.

The full plan is posted on this blog site and will be available at the hall or from Brent on request.

We will open the doors at 7:30pm and offer dancing from 7:45pm until about 9:30pm.  The guest fee is $7.50 per person.

I’m sure everyone (including me) will be a little “rusty” so I plan to review movements as necessary and keep the tips short.

You are welcome to drop in any Thursday, but if you are able to let me know by email or phone if you plan to attend, I would appreciate it.  I can then send you the complete safety plan for your review.

If you would like to receive invitations to future dances from me directly, please email me at squaredancewithbrent@gmail.com and I’ll add you to my email list.  Please let me know if you are interested in Mainstream or Plus dances, or both.  If you do not wish to receive these notices, just let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in person soon.

Best Regards,
Brent Mawdsley

Email: squaredancewithbrent@gmail.com

H: 604-594-8622

Brent's Virtual Square Dances Break to January 25, return with Guest Caller Heather Reynolds

 Hi Everybody,

 

This week I'm participating in the Mineral Exploration Roundup virtual conference for my day job and I’m not sure what my availability will be like in the evenings.  Therefore, I won’t be offering any virtual dances this week. 

 

I will resume these dances the following week with Mainstream on Monday, Jan 25; and Plus on Thursday, Jan 28.

On Monday, Jan 25, I will be joined by special guest caller Heather Reynolds from Vancouver, BC.  I’ll send you an invitation with the Zoom access codes next weekend. 

 

Here is a link to a new information flyer about my virtual square dances that includes some YouTube links to a couple of examples of 2-couple dancing and to some of my recordings for Riverboat Square Dance Music for your listening pleasure. 

 

If you think your dancing friends may enjoy virtual dancing with you, please pass along my invitation to them.

If you do not wish to receive these notices, just let me know. 

 

Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you again the week of Jan 25.

 

Best Regards,

Brent