To improve accessibility to our program, we have decided to allow for rolling enrolment into the program. Thus, women interested in participating in dance classes can enrol in the dance program anytime until September 19, 2022. Classes are held every Wednesday from 4:00-5:15pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:15pm at the Scotiabank Dance Center and will continue until December 11, 2022.
Criteria, Details and FAQs
Who can participate in this research study?
Cis- and trans-women living with HIV who are able to fluently speak and read English and who live in Lower Mainland of Vancouver.
Who should I contact if I am interested in participating?
Please email [email protected] or call 604-827-1856.
What does this research study entail?
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- Classes will run from June 15, 2022 to December 11, 2022.
- You will be expected to 2 dance classes per week for 12 consecutive weeks. You can start classes at any time between June 15 and September 19, 2022.
- If enrolled in the research study, you will also be asked to complete a questionnaire and a blood draw at the beginning and at the end of your 12 weeks of dance class.
- Lastly, you will be asked to participate in an interview at the end of the study to discuss your experience taking dance classes and to help us improve the Positively Dance Program.
When and where will the dance classes take place?
The dance classes will take place at the Scotiabank Dance Center (677 Davie St, Vancouver, BC). Classes will run from June 15, 2022 to December 11, 2022. The dance program will usually be on Wednesdays (4:00-5:15 PM) and Sundays (1:00-2:15 PM). This includes 50 minutes of dance class and an additional 30 minutes (optional) to chat with the other women in the class. However, for some weeks, the Wednesday class has been switched to the following Friday (4:00- 5:15 PM). On these weeks, there will be a Sunday (1:00-2:15 PM) and Friday (4:00-5:15 PM) class.
Will I be compensated for my time?
The dance classes will be completely free of charge. Unfortunately, due to low funds, we are unable to provide an honorarium for participating in the dance classes. However, you will receive a total of $115.00 for participating in research activities (questionnaire, blood draws, and focus group).
You will receive a $30 per blood draw for a total of 2 blood draws (1 blood draw pre dance program and 1 blood draw post dance program for a total of $60).
You will also receive $15 for each questionnaire completion (for a total of $30 for 2 questionnaire completion time points pre and post dance program).
Lastly, you will receive $25 for participating in a 1-hour interview to discuss your experiences attending dance classes.
Do I need any dance experience to participate?
Not at all! The dance classes are open to all levels, and will be designed by the peer dance instructor tailored to the women enrolled.
What happens if I miss a class, or get sick?
If you are unable to attend a class, or you get sick, that is ok. We will be taking attendance at each class, but if you want to let us know in advance, we can then inform the dance instructor prior to the start of the class. If you miss more than two classes in a row, one of our team members will call you to check in to ensure everything is ok. While we know that not everyone will be able to attend every class, we do hope that women who enrol try to attend as many as possible. Also, if you end up stopping participation in the dance classes, we do hope you will help us at the end of the study by completing our questionnaire, blood draw, and focus group as these bits of information will help us know how we can improve the program in the future.
What is the COVID Policy for taking class?
We will be following the policy of the BC Health authorities as well as the direction of the Dance Studio at the time when classes are launched.