COVIT-19 UPDATE: The Ballet School will review the regulations on a regular basis. We will amend classes accordingly to either Online lessons and/or to postponing lessons to a later date.
January 2021 Update: Tier 4 regulations mean that until further notice we will be moving our ballet classes online! We will move the classes into the studios as soon as possible.
Welcome back to DT Dance!
We are delighted to be recommencing classes and can assure you that a warm welcome awaits your return.
We have worked with the required government guidelines to help you, our staff and teachers stay safe and COVID-secure. We do however need your support in this effort when you attend our classes. We have created this guide to inform you on how we can work together to do this. It is vital that each and every one of us follows the practices set out in order to protect ourselves and others. Staying safe is very much a joint effort.
There will be some new ways of working and changes to our normal procedures, practices and routines which will require us all to adapt. These are outlined below and explained in our risk assessment for the activity. It is therefore vital that this information is read carefully before you attend class. If you have any questions please contact me in advance of the term start date atdilektaptikdance@hotmail.co.uk.
GENERAL: Before attending classPlease ensure you are well and it is safe for you to attend class by the latest government guidance:https://www.gov.uk/coronavirusDo notleave home anddo notattend class if you or anyone you live with has coronavirus or any of the following symptoms: a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or tasteCheck with the NHS if you have symptoms:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus- covid-19/symptoms/
What we are doing to keep you safe Keeping you and our staff safe and healthy is our number one priority. The venue and I have enhanced cleaning procedures and social distancing measures, guided by the UK government and Public Health England and our own Awarding Bodies like the Royal Academy of Dance.
Updating of Guidelines: Please note that the guidelines will be updated at the end of August ahead of the September 2020 term and regularly when needed. Hygiene/Cleaning and Disinfecting Students must sanitise their hands when they come into the building and regularly during your stay. We'll be sanitising surfaces before, between and after classes. Equipment will be sanitized between classes but used to a minimum.
Social distancing You'll see new social distancing signs with clear floor markings. We're also limiting the number of students in the studio for the next term according to hall size/ages.
Changes to classes Class times and arrival have been staggered where possible. We have adapted the teaching spaces to reflect social distancing. In some venues/studio spaces only the Disabled Toilet will be in use. For some classes the class duration includes an extra 5min calculating exchange/changing times. Arriving at the Studios and leaving Entry in Waterloo will be via the Garden doors as will the exit. Parents will not be permitted to wait in the building for now. Once your class is finished, please leave the building as soon as possible to minimise the number of people in and around the building.
Face coverings Face coverings are not mandatory in the classroom, but we encourage you to wear them in class for extra safety. We will update this advice regularly in line with Government recommendations. There are some people who are exempt from wearing face coverings. You should bring your own face covering with you.
Payment Please pay the classes in advance as we will not be able to deal with payments during the classes.
Liability of the Dance School: The Ballet School has taken all measurements possible to return to physical face-to-face activity safely. However, no organisation can guarantee that students, staff and teachers will be 100% safe from the virus at all times. What we can guarantee is that we are adhering to all government guidance and we ask you to join us in keeping our setting as safe as possible by following the procedures we have put in place. We would like parents to be aware of the existing risk on their child's(children's) participation to the activity of DT Dance that may cause illness to COVID-19 that may lead to infection and health issues consequently. Please agree that you have read the guidelines set by the Dance School and will adhere fully. The dance School cannot be held responsible for unintentional exposure or harm due to COVID-19.
Guidelines for Ballet:
Entrance to Waterloo Action Centre will be via the Garden entrance. The door to the left of the main entrance. Changing room facilities will be very restricted and for September there will be no waiting area in our Waterloo venue. Students should come dressed for class and ready for class where possible, wearing the required dance/activity clothing underneath any additional clothing required to travel in to stay warm. Students should travel home to change/shower after class. Changing spaces will only be accessible for essential needs. In these cases social distancing rules should be maintained and facilities should be used as quickly as possible. Where possible, students should come to class carrying as little as possibleno bag Additional luggage like prams etc. will not be able to be accommodated within building and parents are to collect children from either the Metal staircase (for Mezzanine classes) or from the Rear Door entrance at the Rear Hall studio. Always wear clean, freshly washed clothes to avoid cross contamination from other activities or places where clothes may have been worn previously. Students must wear a form of dance shoes. Bare feet will not be permitted. Masks are not required to be worn in the dance studio where social distancing will be in place. Please inform us by emailing dilektaptikdance@hotmail.co.uk in advance of the term start date regarding any medical conditions that require our addtional care (I.e. children who are in the highly vulnaerbale group)
Arrival/drop-off: Students should arrive only few minutes prior to the class time given (unless coming from school) Students should NOT arrive late as this will disrupt the new entry/ exit system Adults who accompany students to the building must keep social distancing. No waiting area inside the Waterloo building during September. There are many cafes nearby for waiting. At Chandler Hall there is a limited waiting space Parents must ensure to arrive on time to collect the student to avoid delay
In class On arrival outside the dance studio, students will be required to remove their outdoor shoes and change into their dance shoes, outdoor shoes will remain outside the studio. Students should wipe their feet on a disinfectant mat outside the studio and use hand sanitiser to cleanse their hands before entering one by one. Masks should be removed carefully using the elastic that wraps around the ears to avoid contact and placed either in the available bin (if carrying two) or with the student’s belongings. Hands should be sanitised after removal. Dance studios floors will be markes by Floor marekrs for the oyunger children. We assume a common sense policy with our older dancers. Students will be advised by teachers where their spot is and how to move around the studio safely. Students should listen carefully to teachers and assistants throughout their time in the studio and within the building. Class numbers have been restricted, below government guidance. This places us in the safer distanced activities than many others. Once groups have been set, students will be unable to change group/class for the duration of the course. Therefore no change of class requests can be taken once the term has begun. Similarly trial classes will be restricted to the first 2 weeks of term. Students should ask teachers and assistants for advice during class if they are unsure of the instructions given or have any concerns. Dance studio ventilation will be carefully monitored by our Facilities team. For this reason students must not alter open or closed windows/doors at any time. Going to the toilet Students, where possible go to the toilet in their own home, school prior to travelling to the studios. If required to use the toilet within the building, students will be given access to the nearest available facility. Only one person will be allowed in the toilet at any one time. Please be as quick as possible & wash your hands using soap and water provided. In Baby Ballet Classes teachers/assistants will assist the dancer to and from the toilet When you arrive home Wash your clothes and PPE in preparation for your next ballet class. Any student that does not obey the instructions of staff may be asked to leave and not be granted access to class in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions Will I / my child be safe at Ballet from COVID-19? We will do everything we can to ensure that Ballet is a safe environment for all students and staff at all times. However, no organisation can guarantee that students, staff and teachers will be 100% safe from the virus at all times. What we can guarantee is that we are adhering to all government guidance and we ask you to join us in keeping our setting as safe as possible by following the procedures we have put in place.
The dance studios / school / fitness centre somewhere else in London are doing things differently, why are you not doing the same as them? Every setting is unique and will be making choices and implementing a plan that is best for their users depending on their building and the way in which it operates. It is not possible to compare one setting to another.
I haven’t seen my teacher or friends for a long time. How should we say hello to each other? We are aware that students have been training at home for some time and will be pleased to see friends and teachers they have not seen for a while. We understand that you want to say hello but we ask that you do this from a distance and avoid physical contact, perhaps do so with a big smile, nod of the head or a ballet curtsey instead to ensure we keep everyone safe as we return to the studio.
Is more regular cleaning taking place within the building? Yes, the studio facilities cleaning processes will be increased around the building with frequent cleaning taking place across all areas and frequency will be based on use.
Can I make a face mask? Yes, guidance on how to make and wear a face mask can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and- make-a-cloth-face-covering