A dance competition scheduled to take place in Whistler later this month has been relocated to Richmond and delayed by approximately a month.
Participants in the View Dance Challenge will record in-person performances at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel between May 31 and June 6, according to an email obtained by Business in Vancouver.
Dances will be broadcast digitally as part of the competition, which appears to be recording performances across Canada over the coming months.
Organizers have ignored repeated interview and information requests from BIV.
Earlier this week, BIV first reported that the View Dance Challenge was planning to record a number of youth dance performances in Whistler. The competition also had rooms reserved at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for out-of-town dancers and chaperones who were planning on staying in Whistler overnight.
The hotel provided the following statement to BIV after the story was published:
“The safety and well-being of our staff, guests and community is our top priority and as such, we always encourage individuals to follow current provincial health guidelines. The hotel works closely with every client to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis in order to abide by the ever-changing provincial protocols. In this situation, it was decided the event should not proceed.”
While structured dance activities for children and youth are permitted to take place in B.C. under adult supervision and with a COVID-19 safety plan in place, performances, recitals and demonstrations are not permitted under current provincial health guidelines, according to the Ministry of Health.
Travel to, from and between communities for athletic activities like competitions and training is prohibited.
