health & safety protocols during the covid-19 pandemic

Many Health & Safety Protocols will be followed during our classes, including, but not limited to:

If a dance student has a known exposure to a person who has tested positive for Covid-19, the student may not participate in dance class for 14 days.  Per the CDC, "exposure" is currently defined as close contact (less than 6 feet) for 15 minutes or more.  

If a dance student is sick and experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 including, but not limited to, fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat and/or muscle aches, STAY HOME.  Do not come to class.

No one with a fever or symptoms of Covid-19 in the prior 14 days is permitted to participate in dance class.

During the SPRING 2021 session, masks must be worn by dance students at all times.  Kids are welcome to take socially-distanced mask and water breaks as needed. 

For SUMMER 2021 classes that will take place outside in July and August, the plan is to require dance students to wear masks when entering and exiting the outdoor dance area, but once they are 10 feet apart from each other, they may remove their masks during class.  

Before every Arlington Parks & Recreation dance class, County policy requires that each student's parent or adult guardian review and sign off on a set of standard health questions on behalf of his/her student before the student can participate in class each week.

All participants in our Alexandria classes will be required to get temperature checks at the Durant Center's front desk before every class.

Each student's parent or adult guardian MUST stay on the premises during class and must remain within view and vocal range of the instructor.  Do not plan to take younger siblings to the playground during class.  During classes for kids ages 3-5, parents and adult guardians must keep their eyes on their dancers during the entire class.

Arrive at class 5 minutes before it begins, wearing a mask, and stay 6 feet apart from other participants.  The instructor will invite participants to enter the dance area one at a time.

During class, all participants and instructors are to maintain 10 feet of physical distance between each other.

Please leave immediately after the class to allow plenty of space for students in the next class.

Hand sanitizer will be provided at the entrance of class.  Participants must use hand sanitizer before they enter the dance area, and they should use hand sanitizer when they exit the dance area.  Please wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds when you get home.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, students only can attend the class in which they are registered, they may not attend a different class as a makeup class for an absence.

If class gets cancelled due to inclement weather, we will try to schedule a makeup class.  Otherwise, the County will issue a household credit for the cancelled class. 

Go Bananas Dancing is following the Governor's Forward Virginia Plan which indicates that 10 feet of physical distance should be maintained between participants in exercise activities.  Before class begins, the instructor will clearly mark individual dance spots 10 feet apart.  

During class, instructors will remind participants to maintain this social distance.  Please be understanding and patient as we continue to navigate this new normal with the children.

Among participants, there will be no hand-holding, high fives, fist bumps.  Just curtseys, bows and waving of hands!  

WAVE TO YOUR DANCE INSTRUCTORS!!!  WE LOVE DANCING WITH YOU!!!

DURING THIS TRICKY TIME, WE STILL CAN GO BANANAS!!!