Next Stage Families,

As you know, we have been consistently updating and enhancing our safety procedures to continue to provide the highest quality dance instruction while also ensuring the health and safety of our dance instructors, staff and of course our students. We continue to fine tune these policies and procedures as our government dictates through directives from our local community government officials, the NJ Governor and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Please be sure to take the time to read through our most recent guidance updates (attached and part of your parent portal contract) which addresses guidance and policies for quarantine requirements as well as when you would be expected to attend virtual dance instruction.

WHEN ARE VIRTUAL CLASSES NECESSARY?
We are very proud to be one of the few dance studios in the area with the ability to offer virtual instruction for all of our classes on our schedule. We encourage our families who are uncomfortable with in person instruction or those who are required to quarantine due to COVID illness, travel or contact tracing notifications to feel welcome to take part in virtual classes in the comfort of your home until such time as you feel safe or your own quarantine requirements have been lifted. As part of this offering we must also remind our dancers that the virtual classes are offered for circumstances where in person instruction is not permitted. We have developed a process flowchart to help you decide and determine when virtual classes are required.

We kindly ask that if you have registered and are regularly attending in person instruction, you continue to do so unless your circumstances as defined in our flowchart dictate virtual classes. We ask that you not use our virtual instruction for last minute work or home life schedule changes or other circumstances which are not related to COVID-19 requirements. We also ask that if you have registered as a virtual student, you stay virtual and not move back and forth between virtual and in person.

Having our dancer's go back and forth between virtual and in person instruction makes it impossible for our studio to control our allowable class counts (due to social distancing and NJ gathering limits).
If an family emergency arises which requires virtual instruction, we kindly ask that you provide us a minimum of 24 hours, but we would prefer at least 48 hours' notice and we will certainly do our best to accommodate your request.

We ask that you receive this email in the spirit that it was intended. We are working very hard to ensure the safety and well-being of our Next Stage Family. We thank you for being part of our family and working with us to get through this very difficult time together.

Next Stage Dance and Drama Academy

SAFETY AND COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS
Safety Guidelines
The health & safety of our dancers is top priority. The following outlines new guidelines we will be implementing:

Temperature Checks/Questions: Each dancer will have their temperature checked via no-contact thermometer and dancer or parent/guardian will be asked the following questions:
1) Have you or anyone in your household experienced any symptoms within the past 14 days? (Fever (100.4° F/37.8° C) Cough, Shortness of breath or Difficulty Breathing, Sore Throat, New Loss of Taste or Smell, Chills, Head or Muscle Aches, Nausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting?)

2) In the past 14 days, have YOU or anyone in your household been on a commercial flight or traveled outside of the United States AND/OR any of the 39 states now listed in New Jersey's travel ban restricted states.

Masks: It will be mandatory for our staff and students to wear masks in the building at all times. The only exception is children under 5 years old that are unable to wear a mask. Make sure masks cover the entire lower two-thirds of your face, from the bridge of your nose to below your chin. For guidance on proper mask fitting and guidelines please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

Hand Sanitizer: Students will be required to use hand sanitizer upon entry provided by Next Stage Dance. Hand sanitizer will be available, including dispensers located in key locations throughout the building.

We encourage all dancers to keep their own hand sanitizer and hand cleansing wipes in their dance bags.

Cleanliness: We will be taking extra precautions to keep the studio clean. Sufficient disinfectant and other equipment are on hand to complete the studio disinfection on a schedule. The cleaning schedule has been modified to include "enhanced" cleaning procedures, which includes frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high touchpoints including doorknobs/handles, railings, barres, chairs, light switches, restrooms and other common area surfaces.

Social distancing: We will be practicing social distancing in all classes. Dancers will be required to stand at least 6 feet apart on floor markers. Class size limits were set by maximum capacity determined fire marshal to ensure proper safety of students and staff and adherence to government regulations and guidelines.

A reminder that the state of New Jersey has issued quarantine orders on 39 states in the United States at this time. Our families are encouraged to check this list for weekly updates on a regular basis and become familiar with the requirements which can be found at: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/travel-and-transportation/which-states-are-on-the-travel-advisory-list-are-there-travel-restrictions-to-or-from-new-jersey

As a result, if any of our families are traveling during the dance season, we will be enforcing this requirement and require that the dancer's attend virtual classes for two full weeks after return from any New Jersey travel restricted location (state).

Some important points to remember for COVID-19 and when you may need to quarantine?

What counts as close contact?
• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to take
Stay home and monitor your health
• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
• Watch for fever (100.4?F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

When to start and end quarantine

• You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
• Even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy, you should stay home (quarantine) since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

CLASS COMMITMENT
(1) Please note that when registering for our 2020-2021 session, it is expected that our students will attend the 35-class session to completion; September 14, 2020-June 4, 2021.
In order for us to provide safe training that will truly benefit our students; we must insist that students regularly attend class for the entire 2020-2021 session. We are happy to instruct all types of students and invite students of all levels and motivations to sign up for our classes; however, we can only offer placement to students who intend on completing the 35-week term in its entirety. We understand that there may be some unpredictable and unavoidable situations that may prevent a student from continuing their training during the session; however, we ask that only in extreme cases should a student ask to disrupt or discontinue their training. It is expected that students will take full advantage of our flexible "make-up" policy in order to continue their training while working on other productions/activities.
(2) With the approval of Ms. Daniels, students can transfer to another class up to one week after their first class. Once a student transfers to another class, they will not be permitted to switch back.

ATTENDANCE
NSDDA requires all students to be responsible in their training by instituting a strict attendance policy. Students should attend class regularly. When a conflict arises, students must inform the director as soon as possible by calling 609-678-7704. Students can inform their teacher and the receptionist of their absence but must also contact the director by calling the studio.

Students can make-up a missed class by attending another class on the schedule. Students can only do so if the front desk was notified prior to an absence. Make-up classes must be scheduled by the student with at least 48 hours notice and require approval by the director. Students are not permitted to drop-in without notification or approval.

Students who are chronically absent and who make little of no effort to notify us of their absence and do not make up their classes in a timely manner will be permanently dismissed from the studio and will not be issued a refund.

Students are expected to arrive promptly to their lessons. Students should arrive at least five minutes prior to the class start time. Students who are more than five minutes late to class will not be permitted to attend class and will not be issued a refund and/or a make-up lesson.

CANCELLATIONS:
In the event of an emergency/snow cancellation, an email will be sent to the email that is listed on your registration form. In addition, an outgoing message will be left on the studio voicemail at 609-678-7704. When a class is canceled due to an emergency and/or weather, a refund will NOT be issued and an additional class will not be scheduled. Students are encouraged to make up the class by taking another class on the schedule.

DRESS CODE
Please review our studio policies regarding attendance and dress code posted at the "dress code/policies" link at www.nextstagedance.com.
(1) If a student arrives to class not wearing the proper attire, included required hairstyle, i.e. ballet bun, they will be given a warning. After a warning is given, any subsequent occurrences of being out of dress code will warrant the student not being permitted to participate in class. A refund will not be issued.

PAYMENTS
(1) Late Payments:
(a) A $10.00 late fee will be added to any payments two or more weeks over-due.
(b) If a payment is more than two weeks late, the student will not be permitted to attend class until the payment and late fee is received. Refunds for missed classes due to late payments will not be issued; however, these missed classes can be made up after the payment and late fee are both received.
(c)In order to complete registration a credit card MUST be placed on file through the online Parent Portal.
(d)Please note that all tuition and fees must be paid in full prior to distribution of any showcase costumes.
(e)If a payment or balance due is greater than 30 days old, will be automatically billed directly to the credit card on file. BE SURE TO REVIEW AND ENSURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FOUND IN NUMBER (7) OF THE STUDENT CONTRACT BELOW.
(f)Any balances not paid in full on or before May 15th, will automatically be billed directly to the credit card on file. BE SURE TO REVIEW AND ENSURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FOUND IN NUMBER (8) BELOW.
(g)Upon registration, all families will receive an invoice documenting charges on their account. The invoice will advise of the amount of monies due on the account. Within 48 hours of your enrollment, your card or account on file will be charged for the total amount due, unless other payment options are requested in writing to nextstageinfo@verizon.net.
(h) Monthly tuition fees and charges will be posted to the family account on the 24th of each month. Monthly fees due will be posted and automatically charge to the credit card/bank account no later than the 1st of each month starting with October (Pay #3) through April (Pay #9)
(2) Refunds:
(a) Tuition refunds will only be issued up to one week after the first class. Exceptions will not be made.
(b) Registration fees are non-refundable. Exceptions will not be made.
(c) Tuition payments are non-transferable. Exceptions will not be made.
(d) Showcase and costume fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Exceptions will not be made.
(e) Company fees and competition fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Exceptions will not be made.
(f) Workshop fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Exceptions will not be made.
(g) All merchandise, dancewear and shoes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged. Exceptions will not be made.
(h) If virtual classes become the only option, due to a government shut down, for a period of 5 session weeks or more, refunds will be administered for any dancer who no longer wants to continue training.

PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE
I am the parent or legal guardian of the child(ren) registered here. I grant Next Stage Dance and Drama Academy my permission to use the photographs and or videos described as Dance Photographs/Videos for legal use, including but not limited to: publicity, copyright purposes, illustration, advertising, and web content. Furthermore, I understand that no royalty, fee or other compensation shall become payable to me by reason of such use.

CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION
By clicking "I agree" I hereby authorize Next Stage Dance and Drama Academy to charge my credit card and/or Bank Account above for agreed upon purchases or services rendered. I understand that my information will be saved to file for future transactions on my account. Charges will be applied to the credit card on file upon receipt of enrollment/registration.

MANDATORY SHOWCASE REHEARSALS
Mandatory Dress Rehearsals will be held: TBA

SPRING SHOWCASE PERFORMANCE
Our 2021 Showcase performances will be held on: TBA