COMPREHENSIVE COVID-19 RESOURCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Updates

General Guidelines

 

 

A STATEMENT FROM THE DANCE COMPLEX ON COVID-19 

MARCH 14, 2022

Throughout the last two years of the pandemic, we wanted to make sure that dance and movement remained a part of everyone’s lives in as safe a way possible.

The City of Cambridge removed its mask mandate for public places beginning March 14, 2022. We still want to hold our space such that each individual continues to dance or come back to dancing and movement feeling safe and comfortable.

Throughout the past two years we have made the studios, both at Mass Ave and at our Complex @ Canal space, as safe as possible. As we proceed, we will continue to encourage all who dance here to be of generous spirit about anyone’s personal choice, especially around masking and personal space.

Regarding daily studio usage at The Dance Complex:

As of March 14, 2022, The Dance Complex is following the City of Cambridge’s guidelines for not requiring masks in the common areas of the building.

Teaching artists, the majority of whom rent their spaces from The Dance Complex for their classes, may require continued mask wearing within their class’ designated studios. Everyone in a class will need to comply with the teaching artist’s rules.

*For the most up to date policies, please consult with the individual TA*

And, in the name of dance and safety:

  • We will continue to maximize airflow, by using our DIY air filter system and open windows (come layered to dance!);
  • Use the up and down staircases so as to improve people flow;
  • Arrive and depart within 10 minutes of your designated studio/class time and avoid congregating in common areas;
  • We support those in our community who will continue to mask up, and will encourage all to refrain from “mask shaming”;
  • Be generous and courteous by maintaining a comfortable distance – suggested 3 feet – don’t assume everyone you know wants to be as close to others as you;
  • Things are always subject to change and we will do our best to communicate when they do. Trust we are doing our best to keep you safe.

Regarding events and performances:

While still limited in number and with limited audience capacity, we are growing back our number of performances and gatherings. We will continue to approach each event on a case by case basis, working with the performance companies and those involved to establish and communicate protocols for that event. With each event we may adapt and shift protocols as needed, with clear and timely communication to announce any changes.

Regarding our continued service to our community and our efforts to keep you dancing:

From the beginning of COVID, we made the hard decision to shrink staff so that we could keep the studios open – with keeping health protocols our first priority. This was all in an effort to not allow dance to die on our watch.

As we continue to rebuild, we do our best with limited staffing, even as the occupancy of the studios increases almost back to pre-COVID levels and as we increase programming. There are times when we cannot offer you all that you need or expect. We will continue to do our best to communicate clearly. Please treat staff courteously.

Grace and humor go a long way in all of us finding a new balance in this journey out of COVID.

If you have thoughts or questions please feel free to reach out to Executive Artistic Director, Peter DiMuro at [email protected].

GENERAL GUIDELINES  

We are committed to helping keep your experience safe, and expect each individual in our community to be considerate of each other’s safety! 

BUILDING CHECK IN

  • We have upgraded our check in system with Dance Complex Community Cards (through MindBody). This paperless, cashless, contactless system allows a safer check in. To attend any class or rehearsal (even if you aren’t the renter of the space) at The Dance Complex you will need to set up an account through the MindBody system. This is a one time registration. Community Cards will be waiting for you at your first visit. Please remember to carry your card with you so as to be able to enter the studios. Click the Link Here to Register: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/su1.asp?studioid=304760&tg=&vt=&lv

    BEING IN THE BUILDING 

    • No use of shower facilities; 
    • Changing rooms will be limited based on 6’ social distancing protocols;
    • We ask that you come ready to dance, layering street apparel over dance clothes;
    • Dancers should bring their bags, shoes, and clothes into the studio. We will have a designated area for your belongings, asking you to courteously distance from others’ property;
    • Your arrival and departure to the building will be limited to within 10 minutes of your class’ start and finish time;
    • For your safety, common areas will be spatially distanced usage, and used as a means to enter and exit studios only (sorry, no stretching or congregating);

    Will the building look any different?  

    • We have a one way system once you arrive at the lobby, with an up staircase to enter studios, and a different down staircase to exit studios. All studios have separate entrances and exit points;
    • Studio 4 will no longer be in use as a studio; it is now an office and transition space for exiting upper floors;
    • Hand sanitizer stations will be set up throughout the building;
    • Seating in public areas will be minimal to accommodate spatial distancing
    • In an effort to keep the safest quality air, studio windows will be kept open as much as possible; please keep layers of clothing with you in case of varying temperatures

      *If there is any barrier to your participation with this new system please contact us at [email protected]*

       

      FAQ

      Why do I need to register twice – once for my Community Card and the other with my teacher and/or class I wish to take?

      Guidelines require a building maximum capacity, a building contact tracing system, and studio maximum capacities, and recommend that transactions are as cashless as possible.

      Our teachers are all independent and have their own systems already in place for registration and payment of a class. Teacher Registrations covers the studio capacity limits and cashless payments, while our MindBody system covers building capacity and contact tracing.

      Are credit cards required to create a MindBody account?

      No, only if you want to rent space. Dancers taking class do not need to complete the credit card information section. Dancers  booking a studio for rehearsal must have a card on file for payment before the studio request is accepted.

      Do we need to come in to set up an account or can you do it online?

      You can do either. However if you are coming into the building for a class then we recommend you set up your account online in advance to save time when you arrive.   To get your Mind Body Community Card for building access you will need that account for your card to be assigned that first visit.

      Why are we introducing community cards and why do students have to pre-register for class?

      There are two practical reasons for introducing the community cards. 

      1) Capacity Limits – We need to keep to both studio and overall building capacity limits at all times. By having students pre-register for class, both teachers and the Dance Complex can monitor numbers in the building.

      2) Contact Tracing- The City of Cambridge Department of Public Health requires us, as part of our reopening, to track and provide when asked, who and when dancers are in the building for the purposes of contact tracing. We therefore need contact information and record of time spent in our spaces for everyone who enters our building.

      The community card system is the simplest and most effective way to follow all these requirements.