Updated on September, 2020
COVID-19 Response & Policy: Facility Rentals
FACILITY COVID SAFETY PROCEDURE
We are extremely excited to welcome facility renters to our building, and we have been diligent in defining new processes to ensure a safe rental environment.. We have created a plan with the current health and safety information available from government and public health officials, and we will continue to update our processes to remain aligned with these recommendations. We thank you for your cooperation as we continue to navigate this new normal.
RENTAL CONTRACTS / WAIVER
Anyone wishing to rent the space within the SaskExpress building will need to sign a facility rental agreement. A new part of this agreement is the signing of a COIVD – 19 waiver that stipulates the renter recognizes the risk in renting during these times, and will hold harmless, SaskExpress, its employees, volunteers, students or parents, should someone associated with the rental become infected with COVID-19
MASK POLICY
It is the policy of SaskExpress that masks will be worn by all individuals while entering the building and in any shared spaces. Once you are in the specific isolated space you have rented, you may choose not to don a mask (although we do recommend you do so), assuming that the door to your specific case stays closed throughout your rental period. Once you leave the isolated room, you must then don a mask again. Should anyone associated with the rental have a medical reason for not being able to wear a mask, please provide the details to SaskExpress in advance of
the rental date.
BUILDING TRAFFIC FLOW
Traffic Flow
Please see below for a step by step breakdown of the new traffic flow and entering/exiting procedure.
- Enter the building through the south doors no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled rental time. If you require set up time, please discuss with SaskExpress prior to the rental date.
- Check in at the sanitization station. Everyone entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry.
- SaskExpress has instituted a one way entrance and exit policy. Everyone will enter through the south doors and exit through the north doors.
- SaskExpress has removed all seating from its hallways. There will be no waiting in the hallways at any time. We have a parking lot and many street parking spaces available for the convenience of parents who would like to wait in their vehicles.
- Studio Rentals
- Follow the one-way directional arrows down the hallway to your designated rental
space. - We ask that during the rental period that the studio doors remain closed.
- Water fountains are not to be used, however, there is a water bottle filling station for renters to fill their own water bottles.
- You must adhere to social distancing within the studio space. Each studio has been sectioned off in 2 metre (6ft) increments. Prior to renting please discuss the number of people who will be involved with the rental to ensure there will be enough space to accommodate you.
- Studio rentals involving children:
○ One parent/guardian may accompany a youth (under 6 years) into the building. It is expected that children over six will not be accompanied into the building
○ The children will take off their outside footwear and carry them to the rented space where they will use the provided rack to place the footwear and jackets
○ Parents/guardians may assist their child and then continue down the hallway, exiting through the north doors of the building.
○ Children may not wait in hallways for rentals to begin, or between rental periods
○ It is requested the children arrive in whatever attire is required for the purpose of the rental
○ When the rental is over, one parent/guardian per child may again enter the studio through the south doors for pick-up. Everyone will exit through the north doors of the building.
6. Theatre Rentals
- Due to current guidelines outlined by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the theatre may not exceed 30% of its stated capacity. Our theatre has a maximum capacity of 130 seats, therefore, anyone renting the theatre must not have more than 39 audience members present and social distancing must be maintained between audience members.
- In instances where there will be no audience members, the 2 metre (6ft) physical distance requirement will be in place.
- Should the rental consist of any singing, those singing must maintain 4 metres (12ft) apart, unless they are wearing face masks or shields in which case the 2 metre (6ft) distancing requirement will be sufficient.
- It will be required to keep the doors to the theatre closed once all renters have arrived.
- At this time, we will not be able to provide any catering along with a theatre rental, as our kitchen is closed. We also will not be allowing in any catering during this time.
FACILITY CLEANING
- For the safety of everyone, we will require the renter to clean and sanitize any commonly touched surfaces, such as door knobs, ballet barres, mats, theatre seats, tables etc.
- SaskExpress will provide the necessary cleaning supplies.
- Should the renter wish for SaskExpress to provide the cleaning services, we are happy to do so for an extra fee.
COVID-19 RESPONSE & POLICY: Studio
COVID-19 Response
We are extremely excited to welcome both new and returning families to the studio this fall, and we are prepared to implement new processes to ensure a safe return to class. We remain committed to providing an inclusive, inspiring, and family-friendly space for all of our students, while keeping health and safety a top priority for our studio families, staff, and community. We have created a plan with the current health and safety information available from government and public health officials, and we will continue to update our processes and communication to remain aligned with these recommendations. We thank you for your cooperation as we continue to navigate this new normal.
Traffic Flow
Click here for a video walk through of our studio space and new safety procedures!
- Enter the studio through the south doors no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled class time.
- One parent/guardian may accompany young dancers (under 6 years) into the building.
- All musical theatre students must remember to pack their provided face shield, and all dancers with breaks lasting longer than 15 minutes must pack a face mask.
- Check in at the sanitization station. Everyone entering the building must sanitize their hands upon entry, and all students and instructors will be temperature screened.
- Any students registering outside the acceptable temperature range (38 degrees Celsius and above) will NOT be permitted to attend class until they have been fever free for 24 hours.
- Follow the one-way directional arrows down the hallway to your designated studio space.
- Students will place outer wear on the designated coat/boot racks outside their studio space.
- Parents/guardians may assist young dancers and then continue down the hallway, exiting through the north doors of the building.
- Dancers with breaks in between classes may wait in the dancer waiting area (also known as our SaskExpress Walk of Fame and theatre space!).
- When class is over, one parent/guardian per young dancer may again enter the studio through the south doors for pick-up. Everyone will exit through the north doors.
Inspiring New Beginnings
We look forward to working with our staff and students to find new opportunities, create new milestones, and ultimately inspire new beginnings with the following health and safety protocols in place:
- Point your toes, but don't touch your nose (or anyone else's!)
- We ask that all families educate their dancers about the new policies and physical distancing measures in place at the studio. While in class, students will be expected to stay within their designated area, keeping their hands to themselves. Instructors will wear face masks or shields. Students enrolled in musical theatre and vocal technique classes will be provided with a face shield. An associated one-time $10 fee will be applied to your studio account, and face shields will be distributed on the first day of classes.
- Dancing apart, yet closer in heart
- Class sizes and placements will be designed to adhere to relevant physical distancing and gathering restrictions. We will be utilizing the 2 entrances of our building to create a one-way flow of traffic and prevent hallway congestion. Extra buffer times have been built into the schedule for Saturday classes as an additional precaution. For stacked classes without buffer times, 5 minutes at the end of class will be used for sanitization and cleaning.
- Be wise, sanitize
- Students and staff will be temperature screened upon entering the building and will sanitize or wash their hands in between classes. All frequently touched surfaces (ie. door knobs, ballet barres, mats) will be sanitized between every class.
- The kitchen (and hallway) is closed for business
- Our hallway and parent waiting area will be closed until further notice Parents of young dancers (under 6 years) may move through the hallway to drop off and pick-up their dancer. Dancers with breaks in their schedule may remain in the designated dancer waiting area. Please note that remaining at the studio will only be permitted in between classes - dancers who are done class are asked to be picked up promptly.
- Young dancers with a 15 minute break between Saturday classes will be able to remain in their designated studio until their next class starts.
- Our hallway and parent waiting area will be closed until further notice Parents of young dancers (under 6 years) may move through the hallway to drop off and pick-up their dancer. Dancers with breaks in their schedule may remain in the designated dancer waiting area. Please note that remaining at the studio will only be permitted in between classes - dancers who are done class are asked to be picked up promptly.
- It may be tough, but don't share your stuff
- Sharing of food, hair accessories, dance attire, or other personal belongings will not be permitted at the studio. All dancers should bring a water bottle to class, but please avoid bringing any other unnecessary personal items from home.
- Be on time, every time
- Dancers are to arrive dressed for class to limit traffic in and out of our washroom facilities and enter the studio no more than 5 minutes before their class starts. The studio has a parking lot and many street parking spaces available for the convenience of parents who would like to wait in their vehicles. It is appreciated that all efforts are made to spend as little time in the studio hallways as possible.
- If you're sick, stay home
- If you are exhibiting any symptoms of illness, do not come to dance class.
- Families will be responsible for monitoring dancers for COVID-19 symptoms identified by public health authorities, disclosing any symptoms to the studio, and not attending studio functions in the event of suspected illness.
- Instructors and staff will also be expected to self-monitor and not come to the studio if they are feeling sick, or if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
- If you are exhibiting any symptoms of illness, do not come to dance class.
For more information, please see our full COVID-19 Response & Policy.
By registering for the 2020-2021 season, you are acknowledging that you understand the policies and procedures in place to ensure everyone's safety, voluntarily accept the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19, and understand that all studio schedules and policies are subject to change. Families are also accepting responsibility to monitor registered dancers for symptoms identified by public health authorities, disclose any symptoms to studio management, stay home from all studio events in the event of suspected or confirmed illness or exposure, and adhere to any travel-related isolation protocols identified by health authorities. By completing registration, you are releasing SaskExpress and all associated representatives and employees of liability for potential exposure to COVID-19 and agreeing to comply with the policies implemented, while understanding the many precautions in place to mitigate such risk.
Please Note: Tuition fees will not be refunded or pro-rated for any classes missed due to symptoms of illness. In the event of any studio closures due to COVID-19, previously collected tuition fees are non-refundable. Should a studio closure be required, all classes will be automatically moved to an online delivery platform following the regular class schedule.
Updated on March 31st, 2020
SaskExpress is continuing to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and the recommendations of the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Based on the restrictions put in place by the Government of Saskatchewan of no more than 10 people being allowed to gather in one place and the inability to deliver classes while maintaining a two-metre separation, SaskExpress will continue with its temporary studio closures for April 2020.
SaskExpress understands the desire to keep connected during these troubling times and we are, therefore, continuing to explore the options of online classes and at-home programming.
The Stars of Tomorrow Dance Competition will be postponed from its original April dates. We are looking to secure dates at the end of June and will keep you updated as we know more.
We are also in communications with organizers of other dance competitions and events we are entered in and will update you if and when there are any changes.
All updates and communications will be posted to the SaskExpress website and sent via email to the family contacts we have on file.
Sincerely,
Danny Balkwill
C.E.O / Artistic Director
