COVID-19 Protocol for 2021-2022 School Year
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, our goal is to minimize the risks of infection for all activity participants, instructors, volunteers and parents, and to follow government recommendations. The safety and wellbeing of our dancers, their families, instructors and their families is the most important consideration. The following guidelines will apply for any Vykrutas classes, rehearsals, auditions, performances, meetings, or other activities (referred to below as the Activity). These guidelines will be adjusted according to Government of Alberta recommendations as conditions continue to change over time.
Health Screening and Release of Liability:
Health Screening - All participants must screen themselves before attending every Activity, using the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist to determine whether to attend or not. Participants will be required to use the above form as a strict guide, and must not attend if the participant or anyone in the participant’s household or core cohort has any COVID symptoms.
Additionally, participants will be screened by an instructor or a parent volunteer before the start of class. We will use our screening document and add temperature checks this year. These measures will act as a record of attendance and will be produced, if required by the Alberta Health Services.
A Release of Liability Form must be signed and submitted before the first Activity of the dance year, and will be valid for the entire current dance year.
In case of any symptoms of illness during the Activity, the participant must alert the Class Instructor, who will then be able to direct them to the School Director or Parent Volunteer responsible for attending the lobby. The dancer will leave the class and wait in the lobby with the School Director or a Parent Volunteer. The parent/ guardians of the dancer will be contacted for pick up as soon as possible.
Leadership, Physical Distancing, Class Size:
The Activity (class, audition, performance, etc.) will be led by the Instructor, with assistance when possible by the School Director.
The Instructor and School Director will make efforts to have all participants maintain a distance of at least 3m from all others during any indoor Activity, or at least 2m from all others during any outdoor Activity.
The Instructor may enter physical distancing space for brief interactions with dancers (e.g. to correct form or technique) during the Activity.
Each studio has clearly marked squares on the floor. In the smaller studio, we can have 12 dancers physically distanced from one another, in the upstairs studio we can have 18 dancers safely distanced from one another.
Currently, there are no restrictions on class size, but if they are introduced, we will follow all guidelines set out by the Government of Alberta.
Hygiene:
Participants will be asked to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands before and after the Activity. Hand sanitizer will be provided near the entrance. Participants should bring their own hand sanitizer, as well as their own labelled pre-filled water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared. No food or pets are allowed at the Activity.
Masks:
The Evolved Movement Arts dance studio facility is not considered a Public Facility for the purposes of Calgary’s Mask Bylaws, since only registered dancers, instructors, employees and designated volunteers are allowed to enter the facility. Outside traffic is not permitted in the facility.
Instructors and Volunteers must wear a mask at all times during any indoor Activity and during any close interaction with parents or dancers, unless they are physically distant enough to remove their masks from students or are outside distanced.
Students are required to wear a mask when in hallways and public areas within the studio
To provide some consistency throughout all levels of instruction at this time dancers when distant will not have to wear a mask. Should they not be able to be distant they will be required to wear a mask and sanitize their hands before having any close contact. (this was quite effective during summer dance camp)
Should a dancer feel more comfortable wearing a mask at all times please do so.
Parents:
For indoor Activities: In an effort to maintain distancing, parents will not be permitted inside the building unless they are helping in a volunteer role during the Activity. Please drop off and pick up your dancers at the Evolved Movement Arts main entrance.
For outdoor Activities: Parents should walk with their child to the Activity location to ensure they find the Instructor. Parents may remain in the area around the Activity if they wish, as long as they maintain a distance of at least 2m from all others.
Curb-side Drop Off & Pick Up:
Parents should drop off their dancers outside the entrance doors 5 minutes before class. Dancers should arrive dressed in their dance attire, ready to participate. Parents are not permitted to wait inside the studio building during this time. The only parents who should enter the building are parents who will be volunteering/assisting during the Activity.
Class times will be spaced apart to allow for cleaning of studios between classes. This also allows for parents to pick up their dancers before the next group of parents drops off their dancers.
Parents should wait outside for their dancer(s) at the end of the Activity. Dancers will be encouraged to leave promptly, within 5 minutes of class ending (or after cleaning of floor after Senior and Ensemble classes).
Quarantine & Isolation:
Isolation is required if a person is sick, to keep them from infecting others. The isolation period is 10 days or until symptoms resolve. Please follow all Health Guidelines you are given at the time of testing positive.
If there is a COVID exposure at the dance studio and one or more entire class groups have to quarantine, we will plan to continue our classes from home using Zoom video conferencing.
As of July 29, 2021 close contacts of positive cases are no longer required to quarantine for 14 days.
If a Participant is experiencing possible COVID symptoms, they should isolate according to current Alberta Health Guidelines. They may only resume attending group classes when the symptoms have resolved.
Participating in classes from home via Zoom video conferencing is strongly encouraged so that dancers don’t miss out on new combinations and movements. Participation via Zoom is strongly encouraged especially for all Senior and Ensemble dancers who are not able to attend class.
Cleaning and Disinfection:
The studio floor, and any high-touch surfaces will be cleaned before and after each class. We will be following the guidelines for disinfection as laid out by our landlord as well as from AHS.
Washrooms:
Washrooms must be cleaned after each use by the person who uses the washroom. All Activity participants should use the washroom before arrival.
Online Registration:
Our main registration process will be completed through our online form at www.vykrutas.com. Additional forms and payment information will be available to be picked up at the studio and be sent by email at the beginning of September. At this time, all Vykrutas communication to parents and dancers throughout the dance year will be by email or Zoom meetings. Parent meetings will be held via Zoom, or outdoors with social distancing.
Refunds:
In case of studio closure, we will plan to continue classes from home via Zoom video conferencing.
We are unfortunately not able to issue refunds in cases where a dancer must quarantine or isolate due to illness or possible illness or if a dancer is not able to attend in-person classes due to any other reason. We encourage all dancers to continue to participate in class from home via Zoom video conferencing if not able to attend in person.
Cohort:
Vykrutas will implement a Cohort agreement for our dancers if the Vykrutas Board decides that this concept is a good idea after we have set our classes in September.
A performing cohort may be helpful to allow our dancers to rehearse choreography without social distancing and to perform publicly as opportunities become available.
As per Government of Alberta guidelines, a cohort is a small group of people, always the same people, that do not always keep 2 meters apart. When interacting with individuals not in your cohort, individuals must keep a distance of 2 meters, or wear a mask when in closer proximity than 2 meters. As part of the Alberta Stage 2 Relaunch, besides the core cohort consisting of close family members, there are other types of cohorts available. A Performing Cohort allows performers to rehearse and perform in a cohort of up to 50 people. The cohort numbers do not include parents, but can include instructors. The current guidance given by the Alberta Government is that if you find yourself in more than one cohort at the same time, you should try to limit the number of cohorts to which you and your core cohort belong.