Returning to Dance for 2020 - 2021 and a Letter from Ms Alice

A Message from Alice White, Wasatch Arts Center Studio Owner
Re: Studio Safety

Dear Current and Potential WAC Families,

As we prepare to return to the studio on Tuesday, September 8th, the health and safety of our students, staff and extended WAC family members remains our highest priority! We have been thoughtful in our preparation to use the guidelines of our local and state government to put plans and systems in place to minimize risk, keep our WAC family safe and healthy and keep our studio operational during this continued COVID-19 circumstance.

The Utah Department of Health advised that single reports of COVID exposure does not require studio closure, nor is it recommended. Under these conditions’ businesses (dance studios) are encouraged to continue conducting business responsibly by doing the following:

• If a dancer or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, or was in contact with someone who has, they must notify studio administration and report an exposure risk.
• If WAC receives a report of exposure risk, we will 1st contact the Utah Department of Health to report and 2nd notify the parents of dancers who were in class and potentially exposed (while keeping individual names confidential during reporting).
• WAC will conduct an exposure-risk level cleaning at the studio ASAP.
• The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 or was in contact with someone who has, will be asked to self-quarantine for two weeks and attend dance classes through live Zoom from home.
• WAC can monitor employee self-quarantine but not students. As such, parents of dancers potentially exposed should monitor their child closely over the next several days - weeks and pay careful attention to the possible development of COVID-19 symptoms.
• Parents of dancers potentially exposed will have the choice for their child to continue taking class at the studio or temporarily participate through live Zoom in the safety of their home.
• If WAC were to receive cluster reports of exposure risk, we would work directly with the Utah Department of Health and take the necessary steps to maximize the health and safety of our WAC family members

Knowing COVID rules and regulations can change daily or even drastically, WAC is prepared to pivot our decision making, planning and execution at any given time. For now, I hope this letter will offer proof of our thoughtful consideration during this pandemic and provide the confidence needed to trust our organization during continued times of uncertainty.  We will continue to provide excellent service while maintaining a comfortable and safe experience for all WAC dancers and families.

Our teachers and staff are excited to welcome you back to the studio in September!

Alice White

WAC COVID-19 POLICIES FOR A SAFE REOPENING

Welcome to Wasatch Arts Center 2020-2021 Dance Season!

The following information has been provided to ensure parents and dancers have a happy, healthy and safe return to WAC classes this fall! Please make sure to review these policies prior to your first class.

 

General safety policies

•  Frequent hand hygiene
•  Enhanced cleaning procedures
•  Minimizing mixing and mingling via physical distancing practices
•  Curricular and facility adjustments
•  Gradual re-opening and continuous parent communications
•  Parents are asked to not send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or respiratory symptoms.

•  Parents are asked to not send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

FREQUENT HAND HYGIENE

•  Employees are required to wash and sanitize their hands before and in between every class that they teach
•  Hand sanitizing stations are available at the entrance of our studio and inside every studio.
•  Upon arrival and in between every class they take, students are asked wash and sanitize their hands.

 

ENHANCED CLEANING PROCEDURES

•  We have increased our cleaning frequencies and sanitation procedures in high traffic areas and high touch surfaces of the studio such as doors, viewing windows, barres, floors, counters, stereos, and bathrooms.

MINIMIZED MIXING AND MINGLING

•  We have made facility and organizational changes to reduce mixing and mingling in support of physical distancing recommendations. However, we understand that unlike older children and adults, young children cannot be expected to maintain social distancing at all times.

FACILITY & CURRICULAR ADJUSTMENTS

•  Dancers are required to bring personal water bottles labeled with their names. Drinking fountains will not be available.
•  Dancers will limit the belongings they bring to the studio.
•  Class sizes have been modified to reflect no more than 10 preschool dancers and 14 grade level dancers in a room.
•   Classrooms will end five minutes early to allow proper sanitation between classes

 

 

 

GRADUAL RE-OPENING & CONTINUOUS PARENT COMMUNICATION

•  WAC will adhere to continuous parent communication by using "green, yellow and red" to communicate Utah risk levels and dance class status.
•  Green indicates it is safe to attend face-to-face classes, all studio activities will return to normal and parents are allowed in the lobby.
•  Yellow indicates a cautionary change to service delivery, some studio activities will not be allowed, i.e., extra visitors in the lobby
•  Red indicates clients should stay home and attend class online.  We will offer all classes on Zoom at their regular scheduled times.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

•   Only parents of dancers age 7 and under will be allowed in our studio lobby to help little dancers get ready for class and use the restroom facilities.
•  Siblings and visitors of dancers will not be allowed to wait or congregate in the lobby during class operations.

 

MASKS

• WAC dancers and teachers are given the option to wear their mask during class or remove it during strenuous physical activity