Covid-19 Policies
To help keep all dancers safe, please follow these guidelines!
Our policies are in accordance with current guidelines and recommendations. As such, they may periodically change as more information becomes available.
Please note: our summer classes will follow the CDC's new covid tracker for mask guidelines.
* Green: masks optional
* Yellow: masks required for entering, exiting, and in common areas (hallway, waiting area, dressing room) but optional once in class
* Orange: masks required at all times
Our policies are in accordance with current guidelines and recommendations. As such, they may periodically change as more information becomes available.
Please note: our summer classes will follow the CDC's new covid tracker for mask guidelines.
* Green: masks optional
* Yellow: masks required for entering, exiting, and in common areas (hallway, waiting area, dressing room) but optional once in class
* Orange: masks required at all times
Before Class1. Ensure that your dancer and all members of your family are healthy! Please keep your dancer at home if they or a family member is feeling ill or has been potentially exposed to Covid-19.
2. Make sure your dancer is dressed for ballet with hair done. 3. Fill a water bottle for your dancer and make sure it is labeled with your dancer's name. Please note that any unlabeled water bottles will need to be thrown out if left at the studio. 4. Make sure that your dancer has a mask that fits properly in their dance bag at all times. Classes will follow the CDC's new covid tracker for mask guidelines. * Green: masks optional * Yellow: masks required for entering, exiting and in shared spaces (hallway, dressing room, waiting area), optional once in the classroom and the previous class has left * Orange: masks required at all times *** Based on current research, normal face masks are requested instead of neck gaiters or face shields. Arriving at the Studio1. Dancers should be dropped off 5 to 10 minutes prior to the official start time of class.
2. Baby Ballet and Pre Ballet Parents may enter to help their dancer get on shoes. Parents of new and trial dancers are also welcome to enter with their dancer the first week of class (please arrive 10 minutes prior to class start time). 3. All dancers (and parents) must follow the mask guidelines when entering the studio. Please have siblings wait for you in the car. 4. Please adhere to 2 people or one "car" of people in the hall at a time. |
Entering the Classroom1. Dancers should line street shoes up neatly by the wall.
2. Dancers should place their dance bags at their places at the barre. Dancers with water bottles should grab a plastic tray on the way in. 3. Dancers must follow the current masking guidance at all times (see step 4 in "Before Class" for details). During Class1. Dancers should use hand sanitizer when returning from the restroom and after blowing their nose, etc.
2. Dancers will be asked to continue distancing during water breaks when we are in the orange zone, but otherwise will be allowed to return to class as normal. 3. Windows are opened when weather permits. 4. At this time, we are unable to accommodate parents watching class. 5. Waiting areas are currently open for dancers who arrive early for class. Please keep these areas limited to dancers only. 6. Baby Ballet parents may use the waiting area. Please continue to wear a mask at all times in the building if we are in the yellow or orange zone, and leave non-dancing siblings with another family member. After Class1. Dancers will remove their dance shoes and gather their belongings, waiting by their barre spot.
2. Dancers will leave the studio in pairs to avoid congestion in the hallway. Hand sanitizer is available for dancers who wish to use it before leaving the studio. |
Other Details
We now have cubbies in the dressing room! Nothing is allowed to be left on the bench, on the floor, or in the waiting area.
Virtual Classes and Meetings
The following guidelines will be in effect regarding virtual classes for the 2021-2022 dance season.
Please note that summer classes will be in person only unless there is a government shut down or curfew.
1. Virtual classes are intended for when a dancer is ill or there are extenuating circumstances that necessitate staying home a particular week. They are not intended to take the place of in person classes, so as always please schedule other reasons for absences (appointments, vacations, parties, etc) around ballet.
2. If your dancer does not already have an account on Band.com, please set one up prior to starting class. Each class level will have its own "Band" within the site, which provides a secure way for dancers to connect with the studio and each other outside of class. For the safety of the dancers, this is the only way dancers can access the link to take class virtually (links will not be emailed out to families or posted on any other sites). Each Band will also include class specific resources (stretching guide, barre warm ups, documents related to recital dances, etc).
3. The studio will make use of Zoom on a "full studio basis" if needed. This may be if the studio needs to temporarily close due to a spike in covid cases, bad weather causes a snow or "cold" day, or if Miss Zachari isn't feeling well and wants to avoid spreading germs. Zoom has the benefit of Miss Zachari being able to see and correct the dancers in real time, as well as the dancers being able to ask questions. If Zoom needs to be used, the link will be posted on Band, and an email will be sent out to parents regarding the change in class for the day.
4. To attend class virtually when the rest of the studio is in person, please email the studio by 2:00 pm the day your dancer needs to do so. This will ensure that we are connected to Zoom for your dancer's class. If you find your dancer needs to attend virtually last minute, please have them try the link in case another dancer has already requested Zoom access to class for that day. If the Zoom meeting is not active, have your dancer follow the posted videos on their Band instead.
5. Zoom was found to be an effective way to conduct Parent/Student meetings. As such, all Parent/Student meetings this year will again take place via Zoom. Please familiarize yourself with the platform on your chosen device prior to the first meeting. If you have any questions regarding using Zoom, please contact the studio.
Please note that summer classes will be in person only unless there is a government shut down or curfew.
1. Virtual classes are intended for when a dancer is ill or there are extenuating circumstances that necessitate staying home a particular week. They are not intended to take the place of in person classes, so as always please schedule other reasons for absences (appointments, vacations, parties, etc) around ballet.
2. If your dancer does not already have an account on Band.com, please set one up prior to starting class. Each class level will have its own "Band" within the site, which provides a secure way for dancers to connect with the studio and each other outside of class. For the safety of the dancers, this is the only way dancers can access the link to take class virtually (links will not be emailed out to families or posted on any other sites). Each Band will also include class specific resources (stretching guide, barre warm ups, documents related to recital dances, etc).
3. The studio will make use of Zoom on a "full studio basis" if needed. This may be if the studio needs to temporarily close due to a spike in covid cases, bad weather causes a snow or "cold" day, or if Miss Zachari isn't feeling well and wants to avoid spreading germs. Zoom has the benefit of Miss Zachari being able to see and correct the dancers in real time, as well as the dancers being able to ask questions. If Zoom needs to be used, the link will be posted on Band, and an email will be sent out to parents regarding the change in class for the day.
4. To attend class virtually when the rest of the studio is in person, please email the studio by 2:00 pm the day your dancer needs to do so. This will ensure that we are connected to Zoom for your dancer's class. If you find your dancer needs to attend virtually last minute, please have them try the link in case another dancer has already requested Zoom access to class for that day. If the Zoom meeting is not active, have your dancer follow the posted videos on their Band instead.
5. Zoom was found to be an effective way to conduct Parent/Student meetings. As such, all Parent/Student meetings this year will again take place via Zoom. Please familiarize yourself with the platform on your chosen device prior to the first meeting. If you have any questions regarding using Zoom, please contact the studio.
Masks
There has been a lot of debate over wearing masks during physical activity. Research shows that wearing a mask is safe as long as the following conditions are followed:
1. The dancer wearing the mask is able to put it on and take it off by themself.
2. Rest and water breaks are given as needed.
3. Dancers gradually increase the amount of aerobic activity done in a mask each week to get used to it.
As such, please be aware that classes will be structured to allow dancers to increase what they are able to do while wearing a mask. This means that early classes in the semester will focus more on barre work and adage, with allegro patterns being added in as the term progresses. Dancers choosing to enroll mid-season should practice both with and without their mask on at home to build up to the activity level of their classmates.
Dancers have been wearing masks without ill effects for many decades (for example, the Nutcracker prince and Rat King often wear full head masks while doing large jumps and fast steps in the battle scene).
1. The dancer wearing the mask is able to put it on and take it off by themself.
2. Rest and water breaks are given as needed.
3. Dancers gradually increase the amount of aerobic activity done in a mask each week to get used to it.
As such, please be aware that classes will be structured to allow dancers to increase what they are able to do while wearing a mask. This means that early classes in the semester will focus more on barre work and adage, with allegro patterns being added in as the term progresses. Dancers choosing to enroll mid-season should practice both with and without their mask on at home to build up to the activity level of their classmates.
Dancers have been wearing masks without ill effects for many decades (for example, the Nutcracker prince and Rat King often wear full head masks while doing large jumps and fast steps in the battle scene).