Arts Council: Dance Class and Training

Dance in Level 3

The Arts Council, Ireland, has issued a briefing on individual dance classes and training. Full guidance on dance practice is being developed by the Arts Council and will be shared when completed.
The statement is as follows:

Arts Council Briefing Material on Dance Classes and Dance Training at modified Level 3

17 December 2020

General Position

From 1st December, the country has moved to a modified Level 3 of the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19.  Under these restrictions, all conventional * dance and exercise classes remain suspended. However, Individual ** training, including one-to-one instruction is allowed at Level 3 and this applies to sport, dance and exercise.

The Arts Council is in the process of preparing guidance on dance practice and training which will include Individual Training, One-to-one instruction and classes when restrictions permit.  In the meantime, the below guidance for individual training may be used.

NOTE: Dance Studios and Organisations should have already prepared their COVID-19 response plans in line with Work Safely Protocols, current Government guidance, Public Health Advice and relevant Return to Training documents. These should be updated to include individual and one-to-one training.  For further information on COVID-19 response plan see https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/  .

The measures which should be considered to reduce the risk of spread of infection include:

Preparation and Management of the Studio:

  • Numbers permitted to partake in individual training at any one time in a particular premise will be dependent on social distancing capacity and will be determined on available space and other contributing factors such as ventilation, access/egress.  As always, each teacher needs to assess their own venues and make informed decisions as to how to apply the advice to their own space.
  • Participants should be advised of the changes to training and studio layout.
  • Additional signage, hand sanitization stations and deep cleaning implemented. No equipment sharing in any circumstances.
  • Activity should take place in a predefined area which is visually marked out and directionally signed.
  • The space required in this area should reflect the nature and intensity of the activity.
  • There should be in excess of 2m social distancing between each of the predefined areas.
  • The cleaning of facilities should be conducted in accordance with the Governments most recent Work Safely Protocol. See Work Safely Protocol Section D10, Page 20
  • Cleaning of the space should be carried out after each training session. Additional time should be allocated to facilitate this.
  • The ventilation of facilities should be conducted in accordance with the Governments most recent Work Safely Protocol. See Work Safely Protocol Section 5D, Page 28.
  • It will be important to ventilate the space before during and after each training session. Additional time should be allocated to facilitate this.

Before and During Training/ Instruction:

  • Health Screening for instructors and participants (declarations, self-assessments and temperature checks etc.).
  • Staggered start and finish times combined with appropriate entry, exit and traffic management protocols to limit the interaction of participants at any one time.
  • Prebooking of activity is essential and contact logs kept for contact tracing purposes.
  • Reduction in the overall duration of the activity.
  • Participants arrive ready to train and leave immediately (no changing room or shower use).
  • Instructors should refer to the HSE guidance on wearing of face coverings. It is recommended that all instructors wear face coverings at all times when the studio is in use and while giving instruction.
  • Encourage more frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitiser

Additional measures to reduce the risk of spread of infection for one-to-one instruction include:

  • Any demonstration of equipment or technique should ensure that a minimum of 2m social distancing is maintained.
  • Individual equipment should not be shared.
  • In the case of fixed equipment, cleaning of such equipment must be completed immediately after demonstration and before the individual participant uses.
  • There should be no hands-on adjustments or physical contact during training sessions.
  • Instructors should refer to the HSE guidance on wearing of face coverings. It is recommended that all instructors wear face coverings at all times when the studio is in use and while giving instruction.

Additional Consideration:

  • Safeguarding Policies and Procedures should be considered by holding one-to-one instruction with minors. Parents or Guardians should be permitted to attend in line with public health advice (face covering, Social Distancing etc.).
  • Travelling to and from training should be in line with current restrictions ie. Within your 5km, within your county boundary, nationally.
     

While these measures mean that individual activities can take place, Individual training and one-to-one instruction should not be viewed as a way of reintroducing conventional organised dance classes which are specifically precluded under the current public health measures. 

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* ‘Conventional Classes’ - Conventional dance classes include free movement, mingling of groups, partner work, hand holding and sequencing where social distancing can not be maintained.

** Individual training can be defined as individual, physically distanced, non-contact activity, completed in a pre-defined area, within a controlled environment and without the sharing of equipment.