January 1, 2021 Update: Dance Place has now entered Phase C of our reopening plan.
Dear Dance Place Community,
In response to COVID-19, Dance Place ceased all on-site programming on March 14, 2020, and shifted to virtual platforms to continue supporting artists and stay connected to our community through dance presentations, conversations, classes, and events. Since our building’s closure on March 14, 2020 the Dance Place staff, adult and youth dance class teachers, and artists have been working, teaching, and presenting from home. Throughout this time, we have also been evaluating and preparing plans to best ease into returning to our space and onsite programs.
Informed by local government guidelines, health recommendations, industry-specific research, and Dance Place’s unique programming needs, Dance Place has created a 5-phase reopening plan. The phases are labeled Phases A-E to avoid confusion with the numbered phases of local governments.
For the past nine months we’ve been operating safely with less than 50% of staff members on site, spread throughout our spaces. In the fall we worked with a small group of teaching artists to safely schedule studio use for the filming and broadcasting of several virtual adult and youth classes.
After the success of these programs, we have now planned several artistic residencies for the upcoming semester, inviting choreographers and a few of their collaborators to rehearse in our theater for week-long intensives with significant safety measures in place. We are in continued conversation with six choreographers/companies, all of whom had prior commitments with us for the 20-21 season. While so many partnerships and presentations have been put on hold, we are thrilled to be able to pivot to this new way of supporting our artists.
The extensive conversations around safety protocols for participants and staff are ongoing, and we remain flexible and ready to pivot again should District or federal restrictions change. All artists participating in residencies will develop a Safety Plan, including covenants constructed and agreed to by all participants, that will guide their processes before and during their time on site. This includes proper mask use, testing, quarantines, and methods for contact tracing, among other measures tailored to the specifics of each residency.
Our process of reopening is designed to keep the safety of Dance Place staff, patrons, artists, students, youth, and all other visitors to our space paramount. The plan is designed by a group of staff members who have long been part of our Emergency Preparedness Committee. This committee of interdepartmental staff members meets regularly to inform the policies that create a safe working environment for all at Dance Place. Their collective, deep knowledge of our space and programs are central to our planning.
We encourage you to continue reading below, as we provide a visual overview of our entire reopening plan and a list of anticipated questions that you may have. If you have any further questions, please send us an email at ideas@danceplace.org.
Thank you again for your continued support of Dance Place – we look forward to being able to share space again soon.
– Dance Place
The graphic below shows an overview of our phased reopening plan. Transitions between phases are not determined by calendar dates or passage of time, rather connected to health recommendations and the staff’s knowledge of our spaces. Moving “up” or “forward” in phases will be chronological but is not a one-way process. There is always the possibility of going “back” or “down” a phase as health concerns necessitate. Safety for all of our staff is of utmost importance as Dance Place’s phases progress, no one will be required to be physically present at our spaces for any reason if they do not feel comfortable.
Phase A includes our staff returning to the building for limited onsite work with a reduced capacity of staff members in the office, with heightened cleaning regimens, wearing of masks, and other safety precautions in place.
Phase B includes Dance Place teaching artists who can use studio space for virtual classes and presentations, with heightened cleaning regimens, wearing of masks, and other safety precautions in place.
Phase C will allow artists to be back in the studio for rehearsals, with certain health and safety guidelines in place.
In Phase D, we will see limited capacity audiences come back to the Dance Place Campus for presentations and classes, again, with strict and thorough guidelines in place.
In Phase E, Dance Place programming returns to full capacity. This Phase will feel the most familiar to Dance Place pre-pandemic.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the timeline of each phase?
Dance Place will decide when to move between phases based on local laws and guidelines, scientific research and industry-specific research, and Dance Place programming needs. These decisions are not time-based (e.g. each phase lasts one month) but rather fluid and depend on virus concerns. Moving “up” or “forward” in phases will be chronological but is not a one-way process; there is always the possibility of going “back” or “down” a phase as needed.
2. How are you making these decisions?
Dance Place’s Emergency Preparedness Committee is working to recommend the parameters and logistics for each phase to Dance Place leadership. The Emergency Preparedness Committee is considering local laws and guidelines, scientific research and industry-specific research, Dance Place programming needs, and the success or challenges of current and past phases when making their recommendations.
3. 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, but we recommend that you wear a mask and practice physical distancing!
Please note that the Dance Place building is not open to the public, so bathrooms will not be available. The Arts Park water fountain will also be turned off, so bring your own hydration!
4. When can I rent out studio space again? What about the Edgewood Arts Center (EAC)?
Limited studio rentals will likely be available in Phase D, but full studio rental capacity will not be up and running until we are in Phase E. When Dance Place announces moving to Phase D, feel free to message rentals@danceplace.org to inquire about renting space.
We are working with Edgewood Arts Center management to include the EAC in our reopening plan safely and effectively.
5. Who should I contact for more information? Is there a phone number?
Dance Place phones are not operational until further notice. Please email ideas@danceplace.org if you have any questions!
6. When will in-person adult classes start again?
We don’t know the exact date, but this will likely be included in Phase D. We are working on making sure our building is as safe and clean as possible before inviting visitors to come into the building. We are also creating recording studio spaces for adult dance class instructors, so they can teach online more comfortably.
7. When will in-person youth classes start again?
We don’t know the exact date, but this will likely be included in Phase D. We are working to make sure that our building is as safe and clean as possible before inviting visitors to come into the building. Additionally, we are following DCPS very closely to assist us in this decision. We have created recording studio spaces for youth classes instructors, so they can teach either in a studio or their home as suits their comfort.
8. What will in-person classes look like when they return?
We don’t know yet! This will depend on local laws and guidelines, scientific research and industry-specific research, and the best practices for keeping our community safe that Dance Place has developed by that time. We expect that masks, physical distancing, limited class size and longer intervals between classes for increased cleaning will all be likely possibilities; we’ll let you know more as soon as we do.
9. When will you have performances again?
We don’t know yet! This will depend on local laws and guidelines, scientific research and industry-specific research, and the best practices for keeping our community safe that Dance Place has developed by that time. We expect to return to some form of live streamed performance sooner than in-person performances; stay tuned for more information about the artists selected in our Physically Distant Commissioning Project! As for in-person performance, we’ll be sure to let you know more as soon as we do.
10. Is Dance Place offering virtual programs?
Yes! Check out our virtual performances and events and our Virtual Adult Classes and Virtual Kids Classes. We’re also running our summer camp virtually–just about everything we do, we’re doing virtually!