FAQ and GUIDE - LIVE INTERACTIVE ONLINE SOUL SANCTUARY DANCE
FAQ
Is the music exactly in synch, so that everyone is dancing on the same beat?
In general, no, because delay time varies for each person. When there are many people participating, you will often find a few people who ARE in synch with you, by chance! But everyone is hearing the same song, and close to the same time. Just like in-person dancing, you will be inspired by the movements of others.
Why do you expect me to use "Stop Video" while I'm not dancing or I'm out of view of my video camera?
We have found that having a screen full of dancing people, whether in a big or small group, is the best way to be inspired by each other and to interact if you want to. When you use "Stop Video", you become a "Non-Video Participant," and others can use the "Hide Non-Video Participants" feature to ensure they don't see any blank boxes or still profile photos. See Zoom how-to info below for more details.
Can I use the "chat" function of Zoom?
During the dance, participants are only able to send a private chat to the Host. During "Community Announcements" at the end of dance, public chat is opened up. At the start of lunch (1:00pm), the private chat is also opened up. We have chosen this chat policy to minimize the distractions that can come from using chat.
Can people join from anywhere?
Yes. If you want to invite others, here is the world time zone map: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/map/ .
Is there an admission fee? Can I donate?
No admission fee and all-volunteer run; but you are invited to pay it forward at this link to enable us to pay our expenses and keep our chain of gifts alive through our dance: paypal.me/soulsanctuarydance (note:account name says Zachary Pine.)
USING THE WEB-BASED AUDIO STREAM FOR MUSIC:
The built-in speakers of a computer, tablet, or phone are usually not good for listening. Connecting external speakers, headphones, or earbuds using a plug or Bluetooth will be better.
Use the music link (not the Zoom link) at the top of this page. Click the "Play" button (red triangle) (at the top left on desktop).
No need to login, signup, or chat. Only click the "Play" button, and ignore the rest of the screen. Don't click anywhere else on the web page.
Volume adjustment: use your device volume controls first. If you need more volume, you can also use the volume slider on our web streaming music page. (It is in the gray rectangle below "+FOLLOW" and "SHARE.)
USING ZOOM:
Join our dance using the Zoom info at the top of this page.
To join in, you need to have the (free) Zoom application on your device, but you do not need to sign up for a Zoom account or need to login to Zoom. If you don’t have Zoom installed on your device, and you try clicking the clicking the meeting link, it will prompt you to download or install Zoom right then. So ahead of time, it’s best to install it here before Sunday’s dance: https://www.zoom.us/download . (On computers, the application is called “Zoom Client for Meetings.” If you search for ZOOM in the app store, it will be called “ZOOM Cloud Meetings, Meet Happy.”)
When you first click the link to join, Zoom will give you two options: “Join without Video” or “Join with Video.” We hope you’ll click “Join with Video” so you can be seen while you see us. You can always stop and start your video later (see below).
On a smartphone only, after you initially click the link to join, and join with video, you will be prompted “To hear others, please join audio” and given two options: “Call using Internet Audio,” or “Dial in.” Best sound is “Call using Internet Audio.”. If you click “cancel,” then you get no sound, meaning no music.
Stop Video/Start Video: We ask that you turn off your video camera while you are not dancing or leave the view of your video camera. On a computer, near the bottom left you will see an icon that looks like a video camera. You can use that as a button to turn your video camera on and off. A red line diagonally through the camera icon means your video is currently off; no red line means it is on. (On mobile, tap the screen to see the buttons, including the stop/start video button, at the bottom of your screen.)
Hide non-video participants: You will probably see some black rectangles (no video) in the grid with names inside, or still photos (profile pictures). Those are non-video participants, including people who have temporarily stopped their video. On a computer, you can hide all those by clicking inside the black rectangle, then clicking on the menu item “Hide Non-Video Participants.” (On mobile, you can't do this.)
Gallery View: It’s usually best to use “gallery view” which places everyone’s video in a grid on the screen. If you are not seeing the gallery view, look near the top right on a computer and click “gallery view.” (On mobile, swipe left and right to see grids with up to 4 participants.)
Mute/Unmute your microphone: During Closing Circle only, you will be invited to use your voice if you want. On a computer, near the bottom left you will see an icon that looks like a microphone. You can use that as a button to turn your microphone on (unmute) and off (mute.) A red line diagonally through the microphone icon means your microphone is currently muted; no red line means it is unmuted. (On mobile, tap the screen to see the buttons, including the microphone button, at the bottom of your screen.)
Breakout Rooms: A few times during the dance, the host will invite you to a "Breakout Room" where you have the benefit of being with a smaller group. This allows you to see each other more clearly in "Gallery View," so it is easier to be inspired by and interact with each other in your dance. The invitation to join the Breakout Room will pop-up, and give you two choices: "Later," or "Join Breakout Room." If you join the room, you can click "Leave Breakout Room" at the lower right whenever you want. (On mobile, tap the screen and use "leave" at the top right.) When you are initially invited to a Breakout Room, you can click "Later," and then join later by clicking the "Join Breakout Room" button at the bottom of your screen. You can also use this same button to rejoin the room if you leave it. (On mobile, tap screen and tap blue "Join Breakout Room" icon at top left.) While dancing in the Breakout Room, please stay muted and don't chat. As always, stop your video if you are not dancing.
Hide your view of yourself: On a computer you can click inside your own rectangle, and select “hide self-view.” (“Show self-view” button will then be at top right of your screen.) No mobile option.
Is the music exactly in synch, so that everyone is dancing on the same beat?
In general, no, because delay time varies for each person. When there are many people participating, you will often find a few people who ARE in synch with you, by chance! But everyone is hearing the same song, and close to the same time. Just like in-person dancing, you will be inspired by the movements of others.
Why do you expect me to use "Stop Video" while I'm not dancing or I'm out of view of my video camera?
We have found that having a screen full of dancing people, whether in a big or small group, is the best way to be inspired by each other and to interact if you want to. When you use "Stop Video", you become a "Non-Video Participant," and others can use the "Hide Non-Video Participants" feature to ensure they don't see any blank boxes or still profile photos. See Zoom how-to info below for more details.
Can I use the "chat" function of Zoom?
During the dance, participants are only able to send a private chat to the Host. During "Community Announcements" at the end of dance, public chat is opened up. At the start of lunch (1:00pm), the private chat is also opened up. We have chosen this chat policy to minimize the distractions that can come from using chat.
Can people join from anywhere?
Yes. If you want to invite others, here is the world time zone map: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/map/ .
Is there an admission fee? Can I donate?
No admission fee and all-volunteer run; but you are invited to pay it forward at this link to enable us to pay our expenses and keep our chain of gifts alive through our dance: paypal.me/soulsanctuarydance (note:account name says Zachary Pine.)
USING THE WEB-BASED AUDIO STREAM FOR MUSIC:
The built-in speakers of a computer, tablet, or phone are usually not good for listening. Connecting external speakers, headphones, or earbuds using a plug or Bluetooth will be better.
Use the music link (not the Zoom link) at the top of this page. Click the "Play" button (red triangle) (at the top left on desktop).
No need to login, signup, or chat. Only click the "Play" button, and ignore the rest of the screen. Don't click anywhere else on the web page.
Volume adjustment: use your device volume controls first. If you need more volume, you can also use the volume slider on our web streaming music page. (It is in the gray rectangle below "+FOLLOW" and "SHARE.)
USING ZOOM:
Join our dance using the Zoom info at the top of this page.
To join in, you need to have the (free) Zoom application on your device, but you do not need to sign up for a Zoom account or need to login to Zoom. If you don’t have Zoom installed on your device, and you try clicking the clicking the meeting link, it will prompt you to download or install Zoom right then. So ahead of time, it’s best to install it here before Sunday’s dance: https://www.zoom.us/download . (On computers, the application is called “Zoom Client for Meetings.” If you search for ZOOM in the app store, it will be called “ZOOM Cloud Meetings, Meet Happy.”)
When you first click the link to join, Zoom will give you two options: “Join without Video” or “Join with Video.” We hope you’ll click “Join with Video” so you can be seen while you see us. You can always stop and start your video later (see below).
On a smartphone only, after you initially click the link to join, and join with video, you will be prompted “To hear others, please join audio” and given two options: “Call using Internet Audio,” or “Dial in.” Best sound is “Call using Internet Audio.”. If you click “cancel,” then you get no sound, meaning no music.
Stop Video/Start Video: We ask that you turn off your video camera while you are not dancing or leave the view of your video camera. On a computer, near the bottom left you will see an icon that looks like a video camera. You can use that as a button to turn your video camera on and off. A red line diagonally through the camera icon means your video is currently off; no red line means it is on. (On mobile, tap the screen to see the buttons, including the stop/start video button, at the bottom of your screen.)
Hide non-video participants: You will probably see some black rectangles (no video) in the grid with names inside, or still photos (profile pictures). Those are non-video participants, including people who have temporarily stopped their video. On a computer, you can hide all those by clicking inside the black rectangle, then clicking on the menu item “Hide Non-Video Participants.” (On mobile, you can't do this.)
Gallery View: It’s usually best to use “gallery view” which places everyone’s video in a grid on the screen. If you are not seeing the gallery view, look near the top right on a computer and click “gallery view.” (On mobile, swipe left and right to see grids with up to 4 participants.)
Mute/Unmute your microphone: During Closing Circle only, you will be invited to use your voice if you want. On a computer, near the bottom left you will see an icon that looks like a microphone. You can use that as a button to turn your microphone on (unmute) and off (mute.) A red line diagonally through the microphone icon means your microphone is currently muted; no red line means it is unmuted. (On mobile, tap the screen to see the buttons, including the microphone button, at the bottom of your screen.)
Breakout Rooms: A few times during the dance, the host will invite you to a "Breakout Room" where you have the benefit of being with a smaller group. This allows you to see each other more clearly in "Gallery View," so it is easier to be inspired by and interact with each other in your dance. The invitation to join the Breakout Room will pop-up, and give you two choices: "Later," or "Join Breakout Room." If you join the room, you can click "Leave Breakout Room" at the lower right whenever you want. (On mobile, tap the screen and use "leave" at the top right.) When you are initially invited to a Breakout Room, you can click "Later," and then join later by clicking the "Join Breakout Room" button at the bottom of your screen. You can also use this same button to rejoin the room if you leave it. (On mobile, tap screen and tap blue "Join Breakout Room" icon at top left.) While dancing in the Breakout Room, please stay muted and don't chat. As always, stop your video if you are not dancing.
Hide your view of yourself: On a computer you can click inside your own rectangle, and select “hide self-view.” (“Show self-view” button will then be at top right of your screen.) No mobile option.
