Kansas City Ballet

Summer 2023

Health and Safety Protocols

Kansas City Ballet School is committed to creating a safe and healthy training environment for our students, staff and families. The protocols below are created by Kansas City Ballet’s Health & Safety Task Force in accordance with the advice of medical professionals, national, state and local officials as well as other ballet schools across our nation.

*Please note that guidelines and safety protocol may change based on changes to national, state, and/or local recommendations. Updates will be marked with the date they have been added.

*Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is NOT required at the time of enrollment for participation in the 2023 Kansas City Ballet Summer Intensive. (1/30/2023)

*Masks are now optional for all students at Kansas City Ballet School regardless of age or vaccination status. Please note some classes may have additional protocols in place and these have been communicated to those families by the instructors. (6/1/2022)

 

When to stay home

If your student is exhibiting any one of the following symptoms they should stay home:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of Breath

New Loss of Taste or Smell

Fatigue

Body Aches

Headache

Sore Throat

Congestion

Runny Nose (exception-seasonal allergies)

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Your student should stay home if they have been in ‘close contact’ with someone with COVID-19.

Your student should stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19.

 

 

If any of these apply to your student they should STAY HOME, contact the school at school@kcballet.org and cc Grace Holmes at gholmes@kcballet.org.

WHAT IS ‘CLOSE CONTACT’  

    • You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period without a mask.

Please refer to the KCB RETURN TO BUILDING PROTOCOL below for more details.

 

Entering the Building

  • Students should arrive for class no more than 15 minutes before class start time.
  • Parents are not allowed into the building at either campus except to take care of business at the front desk. Parents should wait in the car or drop-off area until their student has been admitted into the building. Students may text their parents once they are in. You may walk your child to the door, and wait on the sidewalk. Please do not leave until you know your child has been admitted into the building. Once you see your child enter wait a few minutes before driving away.
  • Students should arrive in their dance clothes under street clothes and with their own equipment (e.g. mat). Dressing Rooms will not be available to students. Do not wear ballet shoes outside.
  • Schedules will be posted near the entry. If they have any questions about the schedule, the security guard at Bolender Center or school staff at either campus can assist.

Bolender Center Campus

  • Students should use hand sanitizer located at the station at the base of the main staircase upon entering the building unless they have contacted KCBS about a skin sensitivity. Students with a skin sensitivity or condition should use their own hand sanitizer.
  • Bolender Center students will be directed in one of two ways. They will either be asked to line up on designated marks and wait to be escorted to their classroom or they will be asked to go directly to the designated area outside their assigned studio.
  • When using the stairwell maintain social distance keep to the right and only use the banister as needed. Follow all directional signs for proper path to your designated studio.
  • Once at designated area, students should put on their ballet shoes and gather all items they will need to take into the studio (pre-filled water bottles, hand sanitizer, pointe shoes etc.).
  • Do not enter the studio until a teacher or KCBS staff has instructed you to do so.

Johnson County Campus 

  • All students will enter the building from the main entrance.
  • Students should use hand sanitizer located at the station upon entering the building unless they have contacted KCBS about a skin sensitivity. Students with a skin sensitivity or condition should use their own hand sanitizer.
  • Johnson County students will be directed to go to the chairs associated with their assigned studio.
  • Once at designated chairs, students should put on their ballet shoes and gather all items they will need to take into the studio (pre-filled water bottles, hand sanitizer, pointe shoes etc.).
  • Do not enter the studio until a teacher or KCBS staff has instructed you to do so.

In the Studio

  • Upon arrival at their classroom, students will go to the first available chair or designated space outside their assigned studio, to place their dance bag, cover-ups, and street shoes.
  • During this time, large dance bags are not permitted, only small bags to hold their dance shoes and coverups. Any cell phones must be on silent or off during class and remain inside their small dance bag.
  • Students should wait for the teacher to open the studio door. As soon as the teacher is in the studio, and has opened the door, students may enter the studio one at a time and take their spots at the barre.
  • Students who are at the Bolender Center during lunch will eat at their assigned space in the hall.

 

  • Masks are optional for students at both campuses. If your student chooses to wear a mask, they should bring multiple masks to change throughout the day as moisture from breathing and perspiring affects the effectiveness of the mask. Extra masks should be kept in a separate bag within the Student’s dance bag to minimize contamination.
  • Students will only be allowed to use the bathroom one at a time.
  • Dressing rooms are not available to students.
  • Students should keep their own hand sanitizer with them to augment KCB supplies and to address any skin allergies to standard products.
  • Water bottle filling stations are available.

Exiting the Building

  • At the end of class, the teacher will open the studio door and excuse students to their designated chairs or space where their belongings are being kept.
  • After putting on cover-ups and gathering their belongings, students at the Bolender Center will exit the building by using the main staircase and staying to the right-hand side.
  • Students at the Johnson County Campus will exit the building via the main lobby.

 

  • Students will be escorted by a teacher or KCBS staff to the designated exit.
  • Students must be picked up at the designated pick-up location within the 15 minutes following their class.

General Guidelines & Safety Protocols

  • FACE COVERINGS: Masks are optional for students at both campuses. If your student chooses to wear a mask, they should bring multiple masks to change throughout the day as moisture from breathing and perspiring affects the effectiveness of the mask. Extra masks should be kept in a separate bag within the student’s dance bag to minimize contamination.
  • SOCIAL DISTANCING: As we lift some of our safety protocols, please continue to maintain as much social distancing as possible while in the building.
  • LIMITED CLASS SIZES: Enrollment will continue to be limited based on the number of students that can safely occupy the assigned studio.
  • DESIGNATED STUDENT SPACES: Dressing rooms and lockers will not be accessible. Bathrooms can be used one at a time.
  • PERSONAL PROTECTION: Students are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer and water bottles.
  • BUILDING PATHWAYS: Students should only use the main staircase for traveling throughout the building, staying to the right hand side for entrance and exit. Please follow signs for correct pathways to studios.
  • ADDITIONAL CLEANING: Studios will be cleaned professionally every evening after classes are finished. Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available throughout the building.
  • Failure to comply with safety protocol may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
  • If the state mandates a total shut-down, we will move to 100% virtual through Zoom.

In case of a COVID-19 Case

If a STUDENT Becomes symptomatic while at Kansas City Ballet:

  • The student will be promptly isolated in a pre-assigned isolation room by security or a member of KCBS staff.
  • Student’s parent/guardians will be notified to pick up the student.
  • Student will seek medical help on their own.

 

 

 If a Student tests positive: 

  • The studio will be deep-cleaned before students are allowed back into the affected studio. Assigned studios may be modified to accommodate cleaning.
  • All students in the class will de notified of an exposure.
  • Please see the KCB RETURN TO BUILDING PROTOCOL below for more details.

 

If a Teacher or Accompanist tests positive: 

  • The studio will be deep-cleaned before students and faculty are allowed back into the affected studio(s). Assigned studios may be modified to accommodate cleaning.
  • All Students in the class will be notified of an exposure.
  • Affected classes will continue with a substitute teacher or accompanist.
  • Please see the KCB RETURN TO BUILDING PROTOCOL below for more details.

 

KCB RETURN TO BUILDING PROTOCOL

EXHIBITING ONE OR MORE SYMPTOMS

  • Consult healthcare provider for recommendations
  • Can return after 72 hours with NO fever, NO meds, NO symptoms, and a negative test
  • ​If test is positive refer to TESTED POSITIVE WITH SYMPTOMS

CLOSE CONTACT TO A POSITIVE CASE NO SYMPTOMS

  • Consult healthcare provider for recommendations
  • All students should mask during class and test on the fifth day after exposure
  • ​If positive refer to TESTED POSITIVE NO SYMPTOMS

 

CLOSE CONTACT TO A POSITIVE CASE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP

  • Consult healthcare provider for recommendations
  • Stay home from class and test on the fifth day after exposure
  • ​If positive refer to TESTED POSITIVE WITH SYMPTOMS
  • ​If negative continue to treat symptoms. Student may return after 72 hours with NO fever (no meds) and symptom-free

 

WHAT IS ‘CLOSE CONTACT’  

    • You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period without a mask.

TESTED POSITIVE NO SYMPTOMS

  • Consult healthcare provider for recommendations
  • Isolate for 5 days following the positive test with day 1 being the day the results were gathered
  • After day 5, the student can return to the studio but must remain masked for days 6-10 from the date the positive test was gathered

 

TESTED POSITIVE WITH SYMPTOMS

  • Consult healthcare provider for recommendations
  • Isolate for 5 days following the positive test with day 1 being the day the results were gathered
  • After day 5, if symptoms have resolved, the student can return to the studio but must remain masked for days 6-10 from the date the positive test was gathered
  • Students should stay home if symptoms persist and should not return to the studio until they have resolved

 

Note that procedures may be adjusted as needed on a case by case basis