Hello Destin,
Thank you for your post, and please accept my apologies for not being more prompt with this reply.
So far we have not imposed any formal regulation of either of the two issues you mentioned: children in the space during dance and where on the floor one must be for any particular kind of dance.
We all agree - children are welcome at dance!
That said, we are working on a children's program, though it is still very much in the formative stages. It will be very low cost, not necessarily dance oriented, there will be adults supervising and activities for the children.
So far, the children who have attended Dancing Together dances have been well behaved and/or their parents have been very present with them. We recognize that as we grow, safety issues are likely to come up. We hope to have a children's program in place very soon.
I have had safety issues related to being on the floor and chaos... Once years ago my baby toe was broken when a couple was doing the most beautiful aerial work and the woman flew through the air in a wonderful spin and landed right on my toe. I was so mesmerized watching that I didn't realize my foot was right where she would land... Another time someone had lifted me slightly off the floor while turning, the momentum took my legs out, and I felt my foot connect with something that could only have been a body part. By the time I was on the ground and could look, the person I had kicked was gone. I never knew who it was... So I understand where people are coming from who wish to regulate the dance so as to prevent accidents.
I don't know what the absolute best answer is to this problem, but I believe that by having the conversation about these issues up front, we make people more aware of the problems that can come up and therefore we are all more careful as our dances get bigger and as we notice children in the space. I hope that as we discuss these issues more, we will come up with solutions that work for everyone and so that everyone will be as safe as possible.
From conversations with the other Guides and with management, I know that everyone involved in Dancing Together is very concerned with and interested in these and other issues around safety.
Please feel free to keep the conversation going here, about these and any other safety issues.
Thanks again for your input!
cu@dance,
Rebecca