COVID-19 Response

Dear Dance Place Community,

Dance Place strives to ensure a safe and healthy environment for its staff and patrons. In an effort to provide a gathering space that safeguards the health of our community, Dance Place has developed a set of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) policies and procedures for anyone who visits our campus. Those include:

• • • • Requiring all patrons to utilize face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth while indoors on the Dance Place campus regardless of their vaccination status.

      • Limiting capacity in all spaces on the Dance Place campus to limit risk of exposure.

      • Cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, studios, and other common areas such as restrooms and the lobby.

Specific measures will be taken for youth and adult classes at Dance Place:

• • • • All patrons over the age of 18 will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Booster shots are not required, but recommended.

      • Patrons aged under 18 will not be required to show proof of vaccination.

      • Either a physical card or digital image of the front and back of your vaccination card will suffice. 

Specific measures will be taken for attending an in-person, indoor performance at Dance Place:

• • • • All patrons will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 taking place prior to your ticketed performance.  If a patron has not received their vaccination against COVID-19, they can show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to the performance, or a negative antigen test taken the day of the performance.

      • Either a physical card or digital image of the front and back of your vaccination card will suffice. 

      • All patrons must agree to comply with Dance Place’s mask requirements, which require all patrons to utilize face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth throughout the duration of their time on the Dance Place campus. Dance Place recommends use of a surgical mask, KN95 or N95 versus a cloth mask for decreased transmissibility.

      • All patrons must comply with the instructions of Dance Place staff while on the premises, as relates to COVID-19 safety precautions.

Religious and medical exemptions are available upon request.

In addition to our organization’s policies we must comply with local and federal laws. Dance Place is adopting a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy including a booster shot for staff, teachers, volunteers, and independent contractors who perform in-person work in accordance with DC Mayor’s Order 2021-099*.

The extensive conversations around safety protocols for participants and staff are ongoing. We remain flexible and ready to pivot again should District or federal restrictions change. We have implemented systems to monitor symptoms and high-risk activities, and allow contact tracing if necessary, of all participants in our on-site programs, including our in-person youth and adult classes. 

Thank you again for your continued support of Dance Place.

– Dance Place

*By requirement of Mayor’s Order 2021-099 effective immediately, all District government contractors and grantees shall ensure, by no later than September 19, 2021, that each of their employees, agents, and subcontractors who provide goods or perform services in person in District of Columbia facilities or worksites, or who have in-person contact with other persons in order to complete their work under the contract or grant have been either: (i) fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or (ii) granted one of the exemptions identified in Section III of the Order by the contractor or grantee, are undergoing weekly COVID-19 testing and only reporting to the workplace when such test result is negative, and are wearing masks while working.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

• How are you making these decisions?

Dance Place’s Emergency Preparedness Committee collectively creates parameters and logistics for each phase. The Emergency Preparedness Committee is considering local and federal laws, evidence based research and industry-specific research, Dance Place programming needs, and the success or challenges of current and past phases when making their recommendations.

• Am I allowed to be outside on the Arts Park or around the building?

The Arts Park and sidewalk are public spaces. You are welcome to visit any public space you wish.

Please note, to limit the number of people in our facility, the Dance Place building is not open to the general public so bathrooms will not be available. The Arts Park water fountain will also be turned off, so bring your own hydration!

• When can I rent out studio space again?

Studio rentals are available now. Please message studiorentals@danceplace.org to inquire about renting space.

• Who should I contact for more information about COVID-19 policies or procedures? 

Specific questions regarding COVID-19 policies and procedures can be directed towards our COVID Compliance Monitor, Dr. Tiernan Damas at tiernand@danceplace.org.

• When will in-person adult classes start again?

We currently have several in-person classes and a few virtual offerings as well. Keep an eye on our Adult Class Schedule for more information. 

• When will in person youth classes start again?

Youth classes are currenting running. See our Youth Classes page for more information. 

• What do in-person classes look like?

The following precautions will be taken when attending an in-person class:

• • • • • • All patrons are required to utilize face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth while in-doors on the Dance Place campus regardless of their vaccination status.

          • Additional time has been allotted between classes to allow for cleaning of the space before new students arrive.

          • All patrons will be directed by Dance Place staff on proper ways to enter and exit studios to decrease interaction between students.

          • All classes will be held with a limited capacity to enable physical distancing when possible.

• When will you have performances again?

We have them! Check out our Performances and Events Calendar for information about our upcoming events.

• What is the protocol if my child is exposed to COVID-19 while attending a class at Dance Place?

Your child will be required to obtain proof of a negative test taken 5 days after exposure and will be allowed to return to classes at Dance Place after the 7th day since exposure. If you are unable to obtain a test for your child, they will be allowed to return to their classes at Dance Place after 10 days if they are not showing any signs or symptoms. 

Reference information can be found here.

Dance Place is working to expand ease of access to patron services. We hope to make our events as accessible as possible, but we need your help! Please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss how we can make this a great experience for you. We are open to feedback and excited to collaborate on creative solutions. Just email boxofficemanager@danceplace.org to get the conversation started!

Last Updated: May 3, 2022