Broadway Training Intensive
Dance Program
Health and Safety Plan: COVID-19
Updated: January 10, 2023
Transmission rates become significantly greater when exercising indoors. For this reason, and that some members of our BTI Dance community are immunocompromised, BTI is continuing to take precautions and enrollment is limited to keep studio capacity below 50%.
Students are currently permitted to attend dance classes without wearing a mask, if they are fully vaccinated and boosted. (Students need to have received the new booster within the past 6 months, and at least 2 weeks need to have passed since they received the new booster.)
Masks will be required for all students if the state of Colorado, or any of the counties our students or faculty live in, return to a medium or high risk level, OR the number of positive cases per 100,000 people exceeds 200. (Those counties include Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Larimer, and Weld.) As of January 10, Colorado had 64 positive cases per 100,000 people. (Less than 200 cases is considered low risk, more than 200 is medium risk, and that moves to high risk when a number of other factors point toward high community transition rates.)
Proof of vaccination is accepted in the following forms:
• photo of vaccine card
• screenshot from a pharmacy, doctor’s office, or hospital website or app
• QR code or screenshot from the myColorado app
Students still need to stay home if…
• They are not feeling completely well or have ANY symptoms of illness — this is not limited to COVID-19 symptoms, as we are in the midst of winter flu/cold season. Students may attend class virtually, or take class later from the recording that is automatically emailed to anyone who doesn’t attend classes in person.
• They have been exposed to COVID-19 within the past 10 days. (Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected individual, with or without a mask, for 15 consecutive minutes or more.)
Students still need to mask up for dance class if…
• They have attended a large indoor event or function that could be a super spreader event, within the last 10 days. (Examples would include a concert, ThesCon, a large wedding, an all-school dance.)
• They have traveled within the past 10 days…
• on public transportation (including airplanes, buses, light rail, etc.)
• outside the state of Colorado
• to a county in Colorado that is at a medium or high risk level. (For example, as of 1/10/23, Boulder and a number of southern counties were at medium or high risk levels.) We are monitoring the counties listed below. It is your responsibility to monitor counties outside of these: Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Larimer, and Weld. (In addition to the CDC website, this is a great resource: covidactnow.org.)
If you have an important audition coming up, a show, or a visit with someone who is high risk, consider masking up. It is important to remember that with the current Omicron sub variants, anyone who has the virus is likely contagious 48 hours prior to symptom onset, and over 25% of cases are asymptomatic.
For students who are required to wear a mask, the following will apply.
Masks must be worn tightly over the face, covering both mouth and nose. N95, KN95 or surgical masks are preferred. Fabric masks that have no less than two layers of tightly woven cotton are also permitted. Masks with vents, bandannas, scarfs, and neck gaiters are prohibited. Face shields or other eye protection may be worn in addition to a mask, but they cannot be worn instead of a mask.
Sanitizing
Everyone must sanitize their hands prior to entering the studio.
Ventilation
Broadway Training Intensive (BTI) will continue working with all venues to ensure the safety and effectiveness of HVAC systems, including frequent circulation of fresh air. The studio location for Sunday dance classes has a new HVAC system that utilizes directed airflow optimized for an exercise facility.
Attendance
As enrollment is limited to ensure the best possible training for each student, and to help protect the health and safety of the BTI community, students must enroll for the entire season. Cancellations or refunds will not be possible. If a student is ill, quarantined, out of town, visiting or auditioning for college, or away for a theatre-related conflict, they are welcome to attend class virtually, or later at their convenience via the online recording.
Exposure to COVID-19
If a student or member of their household is exposed to someone with COVID-19, (exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected individual, with or without a mask, for 15 consecutive minutes or more), they are required to advise BTI immediately.
It is important to remember that one can be the most contagious for 48 hours before exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, and over 25% of Omicron cases are asymptomatic.
Returning to Dance Class After Exposure to COVID-19
Student may return to dance class after 10-days. (Day zero is defined as the day of exposure.)
OR
Student may choose to return to dance class sooner, by obtaining a negative PCR test on day 5-10. (Antigen or “home” tests are not accepted.)
Returning After Testing Positive for COVID-19
Student may return to the class after these three things have all happened:
1. At least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared, or since they tested positive if they were asymptomatic. (Day zero is defined as the day symptoms first appeared, or the day the test was administered.)
AND
2. They have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is, three full days of no fever without the use of medications that reduce fevers).
AND
3. All other symptoms have significantly improved (for example, when cough or shortness of breath is no longer occurring).
NOTE: If the student feels well enough, they may continue to take class virtually.
Communication & Notification
Should BTI be notified that a student, faculty, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, and the timing and/or circumstances could have exposed others, both students and parents/guardians, will be notified via email, and the identity of the individual will be kept confidential.
Faculty & Staff Safety
All BTI faculty and staff are fully vaccinated and boosted.
BTI will update this plan and adopt additional protocols based on CDC, DOH, and the state of Colorado guidelines as needed.
Dance students must also agree to the following:
If I am not feeling completely well or have any symptoms of illness, I will not attend class in person. I understand that this is not limited to COVID-19 symptoms — if I am feeling at all unwell, I will not enter the building. Instead I will attend class virtually, or take class later from the online recording.
If I or any member of my household am exposed to COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19, I will immediately notify BTI by contacting the producing artistic director and head of the dance program.
