COVID POLICY

The entire world has faced this pandemic on many levels and everyone’s experiences greatly differ from the hopeful to the heartbroken. Vancouver Dance Theatre's goal is to keep our dancers, their families, our volunteers, patrons, and our community as a whole, safe and healthy any way we can. The rules, regulations and mandates are seemingly in constant flux with multiple sources being used to decide on the best course of action. We here at VDT are taking into consideration information from the CDC, Washington State leadership, community hospitals, and local public schools in forming our covid policy. We will not necessarily follow individual dance studio rules. We understand and respect all aspects and views knowing they vary greatly even within our own community. 

Ultimately VDT has decided that anyone wanting to be involved in the 2021 Nutcracker season MUST be willing to wear a mask at all times when indoors up to and including in the studio, while dancing, and during the performance.  As of August 23rd, 2021 Washington state mandates masks be worn indoors, at all times, in both individuals who are vaccinated or not. VDT will absolutely enforce this mandate. If state or school regulations change during the season, VDT may re-evaluate at that time however we currently expect to wear masks during the entire season and performances. 

Please refer to the state of Washington Department of Health Order of the Secretary of Health mandate here: Secretary_of_Health_Order_20-03_Statewide_Face_Coverings.pdf (wa.gov). 

Please refer to Vancouver Public Schools return to school safely plan here: COVID-19 Mitigation & Prevention Plan -- District Specific Protocols & Guidance (google.com)

In addition, only currently scheduled dancers, volunteers, and Board members may be in the lobby of the studio. Parents, siblings, or dancers who are not scheduled for a rehearsal or costume fitting will not be permitted in the studio. A volunteer will be in the studio to help the littles and families are invited to watch through the large outdoor window. During auditions, a single family member will be allowed into a designated part of the studio to make payments under the direction of a Board member. No eating will be allowed inside the studio at this time as we are unable to provide appropriate distancing between dancers. Dancers may remove their masks to drink water but must promptly place them back on their faces. Straws in water bottles help eliminate full mask removal.

Families are responsible for providing appropriate masks during all rehearsals and any dancer who arrives without one will be sent home. Mesh masks are not allowed. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth. Costuming will provide individual masks for each dancer that may be worn during show week and returned along with the costume. 

As we have all been dealing with Covid for well over a year, we are also all well aware of the signs and symptoms of Covid-19. If a dancer, family volunteer, or someone within the same household is diagnosed positive with Covid, regardless of their vaccination status, VDT asks for all household members to stay home and not come to the rehearsal studio. VDT will be providing recorded rehearsals or something similar to dancers who are unable to attend rehearsals related to Covid-19 so they don’t fall behind. Please follow Vancouver Public Schools and Washington state guidelines for exposures, quarantine periods, testing, and returning to normal activities. Please contact VDT immediately upon exposure or suspected infection with Covid-19 so accommodations and a plan can be made. A positive Covid test absence will not count against a dancer if proper communication is made with VDT. We want to encourage those who are exposed, suspected to have, or do have Covid to stay home and not expose those at the rehearsal studio. 

If a dancer has one (1) Class A symptom or (2) Class B symptoms for any duration, please keep them home. If a dancer has one (1) Class B symptom for less than 24 hours they may come to class.
Class A: Fever (defined as subjective or 100.4℉ or higher), Chills, Cough, Loss of sense of taste/smell, shortness of breath
Class B: Fatigue, Headache, Muscle/body aches, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea

Covid-19 Student Symptom Flow Chart
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VDT is providing a sample chart detailing Class symptoms and when to keep your dancer home. If you have any further questions please contact VDT right away.

VDT does not have control over public school mandates including Vancouver Public Schools or any other public school district (including Fort Vancouver High School). Patrons of our performance as well as the entire VDT community MUST comply with the VPS or venue regulations during show week. VDT will provide dancers' families updated information in regards to the performance regulations as we get closer to show week. If your family is unable to comply with this policy, please consider returning to VDT another year. VDT will NOT tolerate threats, debates, or volatile comments in regards to our covid policy. VDT is trying to do all we can to ensure we are able to have a 2021 Nutcracker season and ask our members to join us in our effort!