Internal Memo to Our Members

We have resumed our weekly milonga since this June, showing our determination to face the pandemic with a positive attitude, our confidence in coping with the situation, and our willingness to put trust in each other in the group. COVID-19 will continue to be a fact of life for a long time. We cannot let it stop us living and dancing. But in order to do that we must be vigilant and take precautions to protect ourselves from the virus.

Unfortunately, what we are dealing with is not just the virus, we are also dealing with the selfish and irresponsible attitude of many people in this country. They put their personal liberty above the safety of others, continue to travel, party, attend public events, and resist any precaution that may restrict their personal freedom, including wearing masks, social distancing, quarantine and vaccination. America is the richest country with the best medical facilities and best medical staff in the world, yet there have been more than 50 million confirmed cases and more than 800,000 confirmed deaths in this country already, the worst record in the world. While in China, a country of 1.4 billion people, the virus has been contained long ago, in the US, with only a quarter of China’s population, the number of confirmed cases still exceeds 200,000 per day. The Americans are clearly more victims of their own crazy ideologies than coronavirus.

While the pandemic is still so severe, many public tango events, including festivals, marathons and encuentros in this country, have already resumed or are preparing to resume. We do not think that is a good idea under the circumstance. Letting a large number of people who come from various places and don’t know each other packed in a room dance tango in close embrace increases the risk of spreading the virus. It takes only one carrier to infect the entire herd, who then will bring the virus to the hotels they stay, restaurants they eat, airplanes they fly back, and to their homes. We believe the best way to enjoy tango during the pandemic is to have small private milongas among dancers who know each other well and are taking precautions. Different groups should not interact with each other to avoid cross-infection.

Out of these considerations, this group has formulated the following rules for our gatherings during the pandemic:

1. We are temporarily closed to the public. Please do not bring outsiders to dance during this period.

2. Participants must complete the vaccinations including the booster shot.

3. Wear masks and sanitize hands frequently during the gathering.

4. Dance only at this group and not any other group to avoid cross-infection.

5. Take preventive measures and avoid risky activities in your daily life.

6. Quarantine yourself for 7 days if you have suspected symptoms or may cause risks to the group after attending social gatherings, traveling by plane, staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, etc. You need to be tested negative before returning to the group.

7. Be a vigilant and responsible team player.