August 29, 2020
Dear BDA Families,
We want to welcome all of you back for our 2020 ~ 2021 school year! I want to personally thank all of you for your support during the past 6 months. As a small business owner, the financial toll of the lockdown and mandates on how we can re-open has been devastating to our beloved BDA. Your thoughtful notes and kind words have meant the world to me. I promise that I will do everything in my power to keep our school open. This means there will be some changes in how we proceed until we can safely go back to our classrooms full time.
There will be a learning curve and we must be open and be flexible to our new learning environment. Please know the lines of communication are open; we hope you will give us feedback once we get started.
After months of pondering, researching, understanding the state's mandates and taking all steps to make our school a safe, clean and healthy environment, we have come up with a schedule. We will have 10 students in our hybrid classes (hybrid classes will be divided into 2 groups: 5 students in studio and 5 working from home, the groups will stay the same every week).
• Ballet classes Pre-primary – Adv 1/2, all Modern and Jazz will operate on a hybrid model, meaning 1 week in studio and 1 week working from home.
• At this time, all of Miss Sarah’s Tap classes and Senior Jazz will ALL be virtual and working from home.
• Pre-School and Kindergarten will also be virtual and dancing at home.
There may be a few exceptions to this, we will assess things as we go, and we will add more dancers into classes as soon as we are allowed to do so safely.
As stated above, the lockdown has been financially devastating to our business and having to make further purchases to conduct business (laptops, monitors, microphones, Zoom accounts, professional cleaning services for the floors and studios, UV wands, numerous disinfecting products, etc.) has been a hardship. We are simply treading water until we see the other side of this pandemic.
We have invested in 40” monitors for each studio so that each teacher can interactively watch and correct ALL students in the class. By limiting class size in studio and virtually we can ensure that each student is getting full attention. Things may change as we go, but this is where we will start.
• Tuition will remain the same amount as last year, starting at a 1-hour class a week per month = $66. We have applied discounts to the ballet classes that require 2 or 3 days per week.
• Miss Sarah’s Virtual Tap will be offered at 1-hour class a week per month = $50
• Miss Sarah’s Virtual Senior Adv Jazz 1 ½ hour class a week per month = $75
• Pre School Virtual ½ hour class a week per month = $30
• Kindergarten Virtual ½ hour class a week per month = $30
The office at this time will remain closed. Miss Patti will be working from home. She will answer all calls and emails as she has always done.
A separate email will be sent with your class placement during the first week of September. Registration will be available online. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis. If the class you request is full, you will automatically be placed on a waiting list. If needed, more classes will be added. Please remember if you are signing up for a Modern class you must also be registered in a Ballet class. Freestyle Tap and Senior Advanced Jazz are by invitation only.
The first month's tuition must be paid online when you register. Thereafter, tuition is set up for autopay. For your safety, will no longer accept cash or checks. If you wish to cancel you must contact Miss Patti before the 1st of the month. Due to limited space, students will not be allowed in class if tuition is not paid on time to allow for someone who might be on the waiting list. Please let us know immediately if your child will be dropping a class. There will be no refunds for missed classes this year.
When working from home we will expect students to be in dance clothes with the proper shoes and hair up, just as students would for class when in the studio.
**I will not be enforcing uniforms at this time. However, I do have some uniforms and tights on hand if need be. Just send me an email with student(s) size and I will get it to you.**
In order to make progress, all classes must be attended regularly. For virtual classes, you may need to invest in a tap board (a couple of places to order one or ideas on how to make an easy one can be found in Miss Sarah's email HERE), ballet barre or something sturdy (Grade 1 Ballet and up) and a screen that will allow us to see you. Bright lighting will help us to see you better as well. And remember, we will need to see all of you, not just your feet or arms, but your whole body.
I know this was a lot of information. Please feel free to email me at (MissVeronica@thebritishdancingacademy.com) or 425-738-8586.
While this year is starting in a new way, we all will work to our very best ability for you and your children. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and doing what we love to do, DANCE!
I will have additional information as we get started, please keep an eye out. Until then let’s just get back to class!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Miss Veronica
