Dance Studios Can Re-Open in NSW
Maximum Class of 20 from June 13
DanceLife welcomes the news via AusDance that dance classes can resume tomorrow in NSW with a maximum of 20 people. Please be aware that the official government websites and industry safety plans may not have been updated yet with this information.
Email confirmation of this from the Ministry for Health below for you to share with your communities, students, staff, boards and others.
“The NSW Government is taking a staged approach to the relaxation of measures to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in line with the National Cabinet’s three-step approach. NSW Health is working with other Government agencies including Safework NSW, to ensure that businesses can be re-opened as early as safely possible, based on data and best available health advice.
Restrictions on Dance Studios are easing 13th June
Reflecting the community’s diligence in complying with Covid-19 measures and successfully suppressing transmission, the NSW Government has commenced relaxing restrictions. In light of recent announcements, including by the Premier this morning, a wider range of activities will be permitted from the 13th June 2020. Specifically gyms, health and dance studios will be permitted to re-open with up to 20 people per class in an indoor venue. Hygiene measures and the four square metre rule must still be applied at all times. As Julia noted, you can find the latest information on what you can and can’t do under current restrictions at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/changes
COVID Safety Plans
Business owners are expected to develop a Covid Safety Plan to provide a framework to identify possible health risks and outline the measures that will need to be taken to address those risks in their business. There is a checklist for items that should be considered in developing a Covid Safety Plan for gyms including dance studios, available at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/industry-guidelines/sports-recreation-and-gyms. There may also be other issues that need to be considered at individual dance premises.
The NSW Government will not be approving individual plans as each of these need to be tailored to the specifics of that premises. The onus is on organisations, as employers, to develop appropriate plans and ensure compliance with such plans.”
To attain your Covid Safe Badge for your business you can apply here: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe-businesses. Dance studios are classed under Gyms/Indoor Fitness.
Other important recommendations from AusDance NSW are as follows:
- Re-engage your dancers and dance families gently – it will be a different environment in the studio than prior to Covid-19 that everyone needs to get used to
- The main issue is transference of virus via sweat, touching surfaces, then touching faces, therefore recommendation is to keep the social distancing in place at all times including not engaging in partner work, avoid floor work wherever possible where hands are on floor unless for warm-ups where towels etc can be placed under dancers
- Clean the studio between each class – allow 10-15 mins between classes to achieve this. Clean barres, mirrors, surfaces kids touch – even mop floors if a lot of sweat or hand contact (we know this is a tough one but gauge based on your class type/s)
- Do not share materials such as props, fabric etc
- Ventilation is key to the studio so be aware and have plan in place
- Plan for any emergency situation where a child may be injured or require comforting
Please refer to the relevant state health department for guidelines for other states.
