Important Information regarding State of Massachusetts / COVID-19 Regulations, in conjunction with The Dancer's Sole's Policies

Updated September 30th, 2024
 

Hello TDS Families, Dancers & Staff,

In an ongoing effort to maintain the health and safety of all of our TDS families, all information below is based on Covid-19 guidelines currently put forth The Dancer's Sole in conjunction with protocols, advice and recommendations by the State of MA for small businesses, youth sports, recreational activities and recommendations from local Boards of Health and the MA Dept. of Public Health.  

 

UPDATED EXPOSURE / POSITIVE RESULT GUIDELINES
for in-person dance class:

IF YOU ARE EXPOSED: The following individuals do NOT need to quarantine -

  • Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses including boosters
  • Ages 5-17 and completed primary series of COVID-19 vaccines
  • You tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days

​IF YOU ARE EXPOSED: The following individuals DO need to quarantine -

  • Ages 18 or older who have completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines but have NOT received a booster shot
  • Any individual who is NOT vaccinated OR has NOT completed a primary vaccine series (which means you are not two weeks past your second dose)
  • You may return to TDS after five (5) days of isolation provided there are no symptoms (note that exposure date is Day 0).  When possible, please provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken on Day 5 or later.  

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE: 

  • If you are symptomatic, isolate for five (5) days.  Day 0 is your first day of symptoms.  If you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved, you may end isolation after five (5) full days.  
  • If you are entirely asymptomatic, isolate for at least five (5) days.  Day 0 is the day of your positive viral test (date you were tested).  You may return to TDS after five (5) full days.  

IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL:

  • Members of our dance community may not attend TDS if they are ill or have developed any symptoms of COVID-19.  In order to return to the studio in-person after exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, we require proof of a negative COVID-19 test (either PCR or rapid antigen test) and/or proof of clearance from a local health official and/or isolation for five (5) full days.  
  • Students who have taken fever-free medications within the past 24 hours may not attend in-person at TDS.  
  • TDS reserves the right to perform a verbal wellness check at any time to verify that dance community members are not experiencing any symptoms.  Students that become ill while in our care / in our facility will be moved to a separate area until their parent or caregiver arrives to pick them up.  We ask that your plan includes being accessible by phone at all times while your child is in our care, and the ability to pick up within 15-20 minutes if you are notified.

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19: Fever (100 degrees Farenheit or higher); chills; shaking chills; cough (such as chronic cough not related to other known cause); difficulty breathing or swallowing; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; headache when in combination with other symptom(s); muscle aches; fatigue when in combination with other symptom(s); nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; nasal congestion or runny nose (non-allergy related) when in combination with other symptom(s).  

 


1. MASKS:  POLICIES UPDATED 3/14/22:  Masks are now optional for all students, staff, visitors and guests at TDS.  Our #1 priority is the safety and health of our dancers, families and staff.  If your child is experiencing COVID or flu-like symptoms, please keep them home from class.  If your child has cold symptoms and has tested negative for COVID, we recommend having them wear a mask to class for the comfort of other participants.  

2. The studio will continue to be cleaned daily before and after every class, as well as a weekly intensive deep-clean every weekend.  Barres, mats & other handheld equipment will continue to be cleaned after every use.  High-touch areas will continue to be cleaned between every class.  

3. If dancers have back-to-back classes and need to wait while our staff cleans, these dancers should stay in the studio space (not the waiting area).  If dancers are waiting in-between classes (i.e., they have one class, have a 1-hour break, then have another class, they are welcome to wait in the waiting area.


4. Students/teachers must sanitize hands in the studio at the start of class and at the end of class.  Classes that use any props, equipment or mats will be asked to sanitize their hands more frequently.  

5. Street shoes must be left in the Studio I waiting area or at the bottom of the stairs in Studio II.  Individual buckets will continue to be sanitized after each class.  

6. We strongly encourage dancers to use the restroom at home prior to coming to class - especially for our youngest dancers!  We’ve had a few instances of the “potty train” (one little one needs to use the restroom, then suddenly everyone in the class needs to follow).  It is difficult for our teachers to maintain safety in class and cleaning protocols, while also taking little ones to the restroom consistently.  Parents, please encourage your little ones to use the restroom at home prior to coming to the studio.  Thank you for your help.  

8. Please remain at home if your child or anyone in the household is feeling ill for ANY reason at all.  Children demonstrating symptoms of illness during class will be asked to wait in the Studio I waiting area and picked up as soon as possible.  

9.  Payments can be dropped in our locked payment box outside of the studio office / in the Studio I hallway.  Office hours are available on Saturdays from 9:30-11:30am and by private appointment.  

Protocols are subject to change according to federal, state, or local guidelines.  Feel free to contact me at dancers_sole@yahoo.com with any questions.

Kindly, 
Kristen L. St. Laurent
Owner/Director, The Dancer's Sole

​