Over the weekend of March 6 to 9, 2020, the world changed. The COVID-19 virus was sweeping the world and “social distancing” became a common phrase. Before that weekend, washing hands and using hand sanitizer were the things to do; afterwards, self-isolation, quarantine, sequestering at home, whatever you want to call it was recommended. Any gatherings of more than 1000 people, then more than 250 people, then 100, then 50, then finally I heard today, no more than 5 people should gather together.

Folk dance events were being cancelled, including our fabulous Lyrids Folk Dance Festival! It is postponed an entire year. Will the world be back to normal then? We hope!

The weekend of March 6-9, 2020 was the Laguna Folk Dance Festival, and what an amazing festival it was. We were sheltered there from the reality growing in the world, particularly China, Italy, and Iran. Other countries soon followed. None of us there realized that the Laguna festival would be the last folk dance gathering for a very long time.

Hard to believe that was only 2 weeks ago.