What to expect while dancing in the times of COVID-19

What to expect when you return to dance? Here are the changes we have made and the new procedures we have put in place: 

• Our Lobby is closed 

  • ​We have installed a new camera system which has password protected live streaming from home, or your car

  • The lobby will now be used as a waiting area for dancers whose class is located in studio A

  • Should parents need to come into the studio we ask that you wear a mask.

  • Masks are encouraged but not enforced in the hallways (on your way in and out of class).
     

• Change rooms are closed  

  • ​Dancers will arrive wearing their dress code dancewear underneath their street clothes. Bring all clothes, shoes, water bottles, snacks, etc into class
     

• Girls Change Room walls have been removed entirely

  • This open space will now be used as a waiting area for dancers whose class is located in studio B: Physical distancing will be enforced and made fun by stickers on the ground
     

• Boys Change Room is now an ALL GENDER change room for emergencies 

  • The former boys change room remains a space where dancers can change if they are unable to come to the studio dressed for class, or if they need to remove their dancewear before leaving the studio
     

• Supervised ONE WAY Entrance AND Exit for dancers and staff only 

  • No parents will be permitted into the building for now

  • We will have a staff member at each door to supervise and co-ordinate

  • All dancers will enter through the front door. From there they will head straight to their waiting area until called into class

  • All dancers will exit through the back door: parents will drive around to the back parking lot (did you know we had a back parking lot!!), pick up will be done in a loop to ensure safety for all.
     

• Hand Sanitizer stations located everywhere!

  • Dancers will need to sanitize hands upon entering the building and class, this will be enforced by staff and teachers

  • Our new sanitizer units and the sanitizer itself are sourced from local small businesses

  • Proper hand washing instructions are also posted in the restrooms
     

• All cleaning products in use have a government approved DIN number and are verified for use to prevent the spread of COVID-19

  • And sourced from a local company!
     

• Plexiglass shield at the desk

  • Our desk staff will now be safely seated behind a shield to protect any parent or dancer that needs to come speak to us at the desk
     

• Physical distancing stickers on the ground 

  • We have replaced our carpets with vinyl flooring to ensure cleanliness and to stick fun physical distancing stickers to the ground

  • Just like in retail shops, these visual aids will help us maintain a safe distance
     

• Staggered class start times

  • Classes held in studios A and B will not start at the same time. This will allow for smoother and less congested drop off, hallway traffic and pickups
     

• Physical distancing in classes and much smaller class sizes 

  • Each dancer will have their own 2m x 2m “box” that will be their dance space

  • This will limit our class sizes to ensure dancers will have enough space to dance 2m apart at all times 

  • An additional Barre has been installed in studio A so that dancers can be 2m apart at the barre as well
     

• Cleaning studios between classes

  • Teachers will be cleaning and sanitizing all commonly touched surfaces between each class (barres, mats, door knobs, etc)
     

• Props will not be used in class

  • We often use instruments, scarves, ribbons, therabands, yoga blocks etc in classes. This will be suspended for now, or if required we will ask dancers to bring props from home
     

• Back to back classes will be scheduled when possible 

  • For dancers who will take junior acro and junior ballet for ex, those classes will happen back to back to eliminate hallway traffic and multiple pickups/dropoffs
     

• Pre-school classes will begin later in the fall

  • Our littlest ones will begin class one month after the older dancers: Dance Adventure classes will begin on Monday, Ocotber 18th.

  • FOr our Dance Adventure 1 kiddos, this class will now be done with parent participation, it's Dance Adventure Duet!
     

• Dancers and staff asked not to come to the studio if feeling ill

  • If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 do not come to class 

  • Our new camera system will allow dancers to live stream the class and participate at home
     

• All staff will be tested for COVID-19 prior to the start of the season 

  • Yes, we are willing to have our brains poked to make sure we are not ill, that is how much we love our dancers! 

  • If repeat testing is required should we have a second wave, we will do it!
     

• Contingency plan for second wave of COVID-19

  • Should the government shut down our industry again, we will reduce class sizes further and/or continue classes online 

  • Our new camera system will allow dancers to see class from home if this happens