Classes restart on Wednesday, 17 November

The Prime Minister made an unexpected but exciting announcement yesterday – Hamilton and some other parts of the Waikato will move down to Alert Level 2 at 11.59pm tonight. So, we’re excited to announce that our classes will resume at 6pm on Wednesday.

Our safety measures

Here’s a reminder of our safety measures at Alert Level 2.

Please make sure you have read the information below before heading into the studio.

Entry criteria

While we love seeing you, it’s important that you stay away from the studio if you:
- are unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms
- are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
- have been asked by a public health official to self-isolate or quarantine
- have been exposed in the last 14 days to a person who has, or is suspected to have, COVID-19
- have visited any location(s) of interest identified by the Ministry of Health.
If you have an underlying health condition (e.g. asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or liver disease) and/or are over 70 years of age, you are most at risk of COVID-19 becoming a severe illness, if contracted. If you choose to attend classes or have private lessons, please ensure you follow all Ministry of Health guidelines and advice from your doctor.

What you need to bring to the studio

A face covering.
A sweat towel.
A filled water bottle.

Entry process

Instead of coming into the studio as soon as you arrive, please follow this process:
- If you are attending the first class of the evening, please wait (at a safe 2 metre distance apart) until the door has been opened by Michael or Kim.
- For all other classes, please wait (at a safe 2 metre distance apart) until all people from the previous class have exited the studio and Michael or Kim signal for you to enter.
- The departing class needs to be able to exit without running into you. So if you are queuing outside, please make sure you wait on the terrace either side of the main door – leaving the ramp clear for the departing class.
Please sanitise your hands when you enter. You’ll find hand sanitiser on the reception counter. We also have hand sanitiser beside the drinking fountain, and there's plenty of soap in the bathrooms for you to use.
Please pay by EFTPOS. Our terminal can take contactless payment.

Contact tracing

Please scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer app.
It’s also imperative you check in at reception before every class you attend. The first time you check in during Alert Level 2, we will ask you to confirm that the contact details we have on file for you are correct.
Please note that we will be using our existing records to assist in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that your details (name, contact number and time and date of your visit) will be given to public health officials in the event that it is required for contact tracing.

Physical distancing

We will maintain a 2 metre distance from you.
You must keep a 2 metre distance from us and people who are not in your COVID-19 family/friend group.
When actively dancing, it is recommended that each dancer/couple has a space of 4m2.
To meet the 4m2 physical distancing requirement, the number of dancers on the floor at any time will be limited. This will vary depending on the level of your class, as well as the dance style. Please be patient and kind.
Unless you dance with someone who is in your COVID-19 family/friend group, you'll be dancing as an individual. No senior partners will be provided by us and we will not be swapping partners during the lesson. We realise this will feel odd for some of you, but it’s actually very good for your dancing and will hold you in good stead for when you’re back dancing with someone. That’s because you will learn how to dance your own steps (you can’t fudge them on your own), and you'll be developing and improving your balance. Let’s not forget you’ll also still be getting some exercise and having a laugh with your dance mates.
Chairs are mostly 2 metres apart. However, we have also set out pairs of chairs – only sit in these chairs if you are with someone from your COVID-19 family/friend group.

Face coverings

We will wear face coverings all the time.
You must wear a face covering when entering and exiting the studio, waiting to dance and walking to the toilets.
The Government’s guidelines are quite clear that you do not have to wear a face covering when exercising, including outside, at a gym, group exercise and dance classes. DANZ, however, strongly recommends they be worn by dancers. The Exercise Association suggests that they be optional, but does not recommend face coverings for clients that are sweating moderately or more (causing a damp mask). So, we will leave it up to you to decide what you feel comfortable doing.
We know that some people who have a disability or health condition may not be able to wear a face covering safely or comfortably. If you have an exemption card, please show it to us. Click here for more information about exemption cards and how to get one.

Class duration

During Alert Level 2, classes will run for 45 minutes. This will give:
- you 5 minutes to leave at the conclusion of your class
- us 5 minutes to spot clean touchpoints
- the next class 5 minutes to enter and get their dance shoes on.

The water cooler/drinking fountain and fans

Sorry, but the water cooler/drinking fountain will not be available. Please make sure you bring plenty of water with you.
Fans blowing across individuals increase the risk of virus spread, so will not be used. As an alternative, doors will be opened – if it isn’t too cold.

Non-dancing friends and family

It’s preferable that you don’t bring any guests into the studio while we’re at Alert Level 2. If you do need to, they must:
- meet the entry criteria above
- check in at reception and provide their details for our contact tracing register
- follow our safety measures.

Touchpoints and cleaning

Tables have been removed from the social area to reduce the number of surfaces you come into contact with.
Please do not lean against or touch the mirrors.
Touchpoints will be spot cleaned between private lessons and/or classes.
The dance floor and toilets will be sanitised each night.

About vaccination

We know many of you will be wondering what our policy will be around vaccination.

At this stage, our thinking is that we will require dancers and their visiting supporters to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As such, we would put in place a vaccination certificate entry requirement, once the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework comes into effect. That’s because it will enable us to keep operating at all levels of the Government’s new COVID-19 Protection Framework. It’s also the best way to protect you and us.

We appreciate that vaccination is a very challenging issue, so we’re taking many things into consideration as we decide what our policy will be, including guidance provided by the Exercise Association of New Zealand and Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ). We’ll confirm our vaccination policy, as well as our safety measures for each level of the new framework – green, orange, red – as soon as we can.

We understand if you don’t want to return to the studio until the new framework is in place and our vaccination policy clear.

If you are viewing the COVID-19 Protection Framework, please note that any reference to ‘gyms’ covers all indoor exercise, including dance classes.