Author: mainstfunk

Dear Dance Family,

We know you are all looking forward to getting back on the dance floor and our team has been working extremely hard to prepare a safe and exciting return to dance.

Whilst we are confident in the new procedures we have in place to keep you all safe, we have made the decision to cancel this week’s school holiday program and our planned early start to term 3. We will now start term 3 aligned with schools on Monday, July 13th.

The premier announced today that a number of postcodes will be placed on stage 3 restrictions again, starting midnight tomorrow. While Epping has not been placed in lockdown and we are not being forced to remain closed, we are aware of recent cases in the area and we are very aware of the anxiety and worry within our community.

We believe the responsible, safe and fair thing to do is to remain closed until the official start of term 3, Monday, July 13th. We hope this extended time off will allow for some peace of mind for our community and will relieve them of the pressure of deciding if they should come back now or not.

We know there are some families in the MSF community who will be directly affected by the newly imposed restrictions and we wish you love and positive vibes during this time. If this is you, please contact us about your delayed start to term 3.

We thank you for your understanding and continued support during this time. It has been a tough 3 months and we know there will be many disappointed dancers and their parents. Please know your teachers are just as disappointed as you and we are just itching to get you all on the dance floor again.

Stay safe and well!!

The MSF Team xx

MSF CovidSafe Practises July 2020

We are excited to get back to class and the fun, energy and friendly faces you remember from MSF haven’t changed. However, there are some things that you will need to commit to doing differently in and around the studio, so it’s important that you understand what these mean for you and talk to your child about it before returning to class.

This document outlines the practises Main St Funk will implement as we return to in-studio classes for Term 3 2020. 

These practices ensure we comply with the current Victorian Government Restricted Activity Directions. We have also implemented additional measures to ensure we are doing everything we practically can to protect the health and peace of mind of our community.  These align with recommendations from industry bodies relevant to our business.

Context

A key distinction has been made in the requirements for adult vs children’s activities:

• For people aged 18 years and under, full-contact training and competition may resume.
• There are no limits on the number of people per group activity or class if all participants are 18 years old or younger.
• We do need to facilitate social distancing for any adults in our studio (parents, teachers and senior students)

Around the studio before and after class (the purpose of this is to facilitate as much distance as practical in our foyer space)

• Our foyer/waiting area must adhere to the 4sqm rule (15 people) and facilitate social distancing for adults. To comply with this:
  • Parents are asked to “drop and go” – not wait in the premises during class
  • Parents of “Petites” and “Minis” are permitted to stay only if their presence at the studio is essential. (For example, their child needs assistance with going to the toilet). 
  • Please don’t bring anyone other than students to the studio unless you really need to, especially if you need to stay to assist your child.
  • Students are asked to arrive on time (rather than early), dressed for class 
    • Students who are 5 min early can wait in the rear lounge or lower studio 
    • The front foyer will be kept clear for drop-offs and pick-ups
    • Students who need to change shoes before or between class can do so in the classroom 
  • Each class will finish 5 minutes early for cleaning and changeover. For example, if your class usually finishes at 5.00 pm, we ask that you arrive to pick up your child at 4.55 pm
  • Our teaching team will facilitate hand over of young students to parents waiting in the foyer or outside etc

During Class:

• • Our senior classes are treated as adult activities. This means:
    • Senior classes are capped at 10 participants
    • We are required to practise social distancing in class by remaining 1.5 m apart
    • Use the markings on the floor to guide you.
    • We can still move around the room! If you’re roughly on a marker then you’re distanced.

For all other classes

• • • We are encouraging social distancing as much as practical 
      • We will adapt our classes to encourage the children to stay spread out
        • We will use floor markings as a guide
        • This includes changing how we start class, line up for activities etc
      • We will use touch for spotting and tactile corrections where required (with hand hygiene between classes) 
      • We will use the barre and acromat (with disinfecting between classes)
      • We will avoid hand props for now
      • We will avoid partner work for now

Specifically for younger classes (petite, mini, tiny):

• • Incidental touch is inevitable and often necessary to run an effective class for young children.
    • We will try to keep physical contact to a minimum 
    • We will make a special effort to avoid hand and face contact 
    • We will encourage foot taps or elbow bumps instead of high fives
    • If a child needs a hug or comfort, we will give one
    • We will replace our sticker rewards with a cute MSF stamp card for now

Personal Hygiene:

• Students are asked to clean their hands
  • Before and after class
  • After using the toilet, sneezing or using a tissue
  • Teachers may request your child clean their hands during class where appropriate, for example before or after matt work in acro 
• We will ensure hand sanitiser and hand soap is readily available

Please do not attend the studio if:

• You are unwell in any way
• You’ve been identified as a close contact of COVID-19
• You’ve been advised to self-isolate
• You or anyone in your household is waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test
• This applies to ANYONE attending the studio for any reason: Students, parents, siblings, and staff.
• If your child becomes visibly unwell during class we will ask them to separate from the rest of the group and call you to collect them.

Cleaning

We have increased our regular cleaning schedule to include:

• Teachers will sanitize between each class: Disinfecting the Barre, acro matt, door handle and stair bannister (if used)
• MSF team will thoroughly clean the whole facility daily before classes commence each day and additionally as needed.
• The studio will be professionally cleaned twice weekly, including professional disinfectant cleaning.

Contact Tracing

• MSF teachers will be vigilant about role marking to ensure we always know exactly who has attended the studio
• Please call ahead if you wish to visit the studio outside your enrolled class times
• In the event that a case of COVID-19 is identified at Main St Funk we will comply with any and all directions given to us by the Department of Health and Human Services. This may include providing your contact details for contact tracing purposes. 

KEY POINTS TO TAKE AWAY

Minimise contact around the studio:
Drop off ON TIME, dressed  for class
Don’t stay on-premise, unless your child needs you for toileting
Don’t bring anyone extra to the studio, if you can avoid it
Pick up 5 MIN EARLY, being mindful of social distancing and patient with our team

Clean hands:
Before and After class
After the toilet, sneezing or using a tissue
Whenever asked by your teacher

Stay home if:
Unwell at all
Tested for, or in contact with, COVID-19
Advised to self-isolate

During class:
Spread out
Keep your distance
Hands to yourself

We thank you for taking the time to read and cooperate with our new safety and hygiene standards. We understand that for some parents and children, these will be a big adjustment. We will, as always, do our best to ensure you and your children feel safe and comfortable whilst in our facility.

By proceeding with your enrollment with Main St Funk and/or participating in any MSF events, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the Main St Funk CovidSafe plan and you agree to comply with all relevant requirements for the safety of you, your family and our community.

Thanks and now let’s get dancing! To finalise your enrollment or book in for our FREE school holiday program, click here: https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/mainstfunk

We interrupt your Sunday with an amazing Covid – 19 update (yes, who knew that they existed).

Further easing of restrictions have been announced today and excitedly “Indoor sport and recreation activities can resume, and play centres can open, maximum 20 people per space or zone, with up to 10 people per group class. There are no limits on the number of people per group or class if all participants are 18 years old or younger.” 

What this means for Main St Funk.

• Term 3 classes will run, as per the term 1 timetable!
• Classes in the ground floor studio will be capped at 20 students
• Classes in the mezzanine studio will be capped at 15 students
• The following classes will be capped at 10 students because some of our students are over the age of 18.
  • Tuesday Inter/Teen/Senior Acro
  • Tuesday Senior Hip Hop
  • Tuesday Senior Ballet/Contemporary
  • Thursday Senior Jazz
  • Thursday Senior Hip Hop

WHAT NOW!?

Enrollments for Term 3 are officially open!

• Those of you who filled out the survey to let us know you are returning, have automatically been enrolled in your class of choice.
• Those of you who were undecided or yet to fill out the survey, are urged to enrol asap so that you don’t lose your place!
• If you are a new student or parent and have been waiting to hear back from Main St Funk, we will be in touch with you personally to discuss your options.
• If your circumstances have changed and you will no longer be dancing with Main St Funk, please let us know.

TO ENROLL IN YOUR CLASSES OF CHOICE, CLICK HERE:

https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/index.php?account_id=2834

Social distancing, sanitization stations and extra cautionary procedures will still be in place throughout term 3. 

• This includes the waiting area being closed to all parents of students in the “Tiny” age group and up.
•  Parents of “Petites” and “Minis” are able to stay, only if their presence at the studio is essential. For example, their child needs assistance with going to the toilet. However, strictly 1 parent per student and it is asked siblings do not accompany you to the studio where possible.

We are just so thrilled and relieved by this news and we hope you are just as excited as us to get back into the studio. TERM 3 WILL START MONDAY JULY 6TH, one week earlier than school. We will still be running our free school holiday program and the last week of term 2 online, will run in the studio. Lots of emails coming your way, stay tuned.

As always, if you have any questions please get in touch.

Please note, phone calls will be answered Monday – Friday between 9 am and 3 pm. If we miss your call, please ensure you leave a voice message.
Thank you!

Kristie, Carla and Chloe.

mainstfunk@gmail.com

0433220973

Hi Dance Fam,

Well, it has been just over 8 weeks since we announced the temporary closure of MSF,  but it has felt so much longer. This week Dan Andrews announced further lifting of the restrictions for Indoor sports centers and physical recreation venues (that’s us!). Finally, the road back to dance is getting a little clearer and we are pleased to tell you we will be BACK IN THE STUDIO FOR TERM 3!

Hang in there kids!  Before we know it we will be dancing in our beautiful studios again! 

Please see our anticipated timeline and details below and remember, these are based on the latest announcements. We will keep updated and make further changes to our arrangements as per government advice.

MAY 25 – JUNE 19: Main St Funk Live Online classes will continue to run as normal via zoom. Behind the scenes the MSF team will be knuckling down, preparing for a safe return to the studio.

JUNE 22 – JUNE 26: FINAL ONLINE CLASSES TO RUN IN THE STUDIO! As a celebration of your continued commitment to dance and a thank you for your support and patience, all students who are participating in online classes will be invited to the studio to take class with your teacher in person. The timetable will run as it has been for Term 2 online and the classes will still be live-streamed via zoom for those who cannot make it to the studio or who still don’t feel comfortable doing so. *Online students only.

JUNE 29 – JULY 4: Week 1 of the school holidays! Main St Funk students will be invited to a series of “Welcome Back Workshops”. These dance classes will be FREE for all current MSF students and will be a great way to get back into the swing of coming to class, ease your body back into routine and exercise, catch up with friends and teachers and just let loose! Bookings will be essential  – stay tuned for the timetable and how to book

JULY 6 – JULY 11: We can’t wait any longer! Let’s start term 3, one week early! There are likely to be some slight adjustments to the timetable and new social distancing measures in place to ensure we are operating under the guidelines and keeping you safe. We will communicate these new arrangements with you in time and we thank you for your continued patience. We hope the changes will have minimal impact to your weekly routine.

JULY 13 – JULY 18: The official start of term 3! The kids will be back to school now and hopefully getting used to being back in a normal routine. Term 3 will finish Saturday the 19th of September and throughout this term, we will continue to adjust and adapt to be in line with the government directives and ease our restrictions as deemed appropriate.

ARE YOU COMING BACK?
The current restrictions include a limit of 10 students per class. We are very optimistic that this rule may change before term starts, but for now, we will need to be prepared to make a few adjustments to our timetable so that we can accommodate all of our students with minimal impact on you and your family. To help us with this task, we would really appreciate you letting us know if you intend to return to dance by filling out this quick 2 min survey.

As always, everyone at MSF is special to us and you will ALL be welcomed back with open arms. We do understand that some families’ circumstances may have changed and we hope you know that you will be welcomed back, whenever it is a possibility for you to return. Even if you will not be returning at this stage or perhaps you are undecided, please fill out the survey to let us know.

SURVEY: https://forms.gle/vFSKi4Tw9pJkGLrY7 

HOW WILL MAIN ST FUNK STAY COVID SAFE?

These are the policies we expect to have in place for the beginning of Term 3. Please note; these requirements are based on the latest advice and government directives announced on May 24th. We are optimistic that the guidelines will relax as we approach term 3 and we will continue to make changes and adjustments and relax the rules, as it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so. We will always keep you in the loop and make sure you are up to date.

1. The studio floors will be marked out to ensure the 1.5m social distancing rule is adhered to.
2. We will adhere to the required class limits. Currently, this is set at 10, but as mentioned we are hopeful it will be lifted before term 3 starts.
3. Parents will be asked to drop off and pick up only. Waiting areas will not be available. 
4. Parents of younger students are asked to take their child to the toilet, when they arrive at the studio, as MSF staff members will not be able to assist them.
5. Parents of younger students who need help changing dance shoes between classes are permitted to pop back into the foyer to help them change between classes OR feel free not to change shoes. We can deal with ballet shoes in hip hop class for a few weeks if that makes things simpler for you. 
6. All staff and students will be asked to wash or sanitize hands before entering the classroom.
7. Anyone who is feeling unwell should not attend the studio. This includes students, parents, and staff.
8. We will continue to minimize the use of shared items, with the exception of the barres and acro-mat which will be sanitized between classes.
9. Teachers will limit tactile corrections where feasible. 
10. Students will not participate in partner work or any activity that involves touching
11. Students will be required to bring their own drink bottles to class as communal cups and glasses will not be available.
12. Class start times will be staggered to avoid busy change over periods.
13. MSF will maintain a high level of cleanliness and hygiene.

We would like to thank you all, for your continued love and loyalty throughout this time, whether that be words of encouragement and support, staying engaged on social media, keeping in touch or giving our online classes a go, your presence has been felt and is the drive that keeps us keeping on!

We are so looking forward to getting back on the dance floor with all of our beautiful students. We are nearly there! As always, if you have any questions, please get in touch.

Kristie, Carla and Chloe x

mainstfunk@gmail.com

0433220973

Hi Dance Fam,

Thanks for your patience as we work to get term 2 up and running in our “new normal”

We have put a lot of thought into what arrangement would work best so that MSF kids can keep learning and progressing from home.

We would now like to introduce our “MSF Live Online” class timetable for term 2! 

How it will work

• Classes will be delivered online via a program called Zoom
• The MSF teachers will lead the class and students can watch, participate and interact.
• Classes are shorter to suit the at-home format
• The movements and steps will be tailored to a smaller space.
• The teaching style will need to be a bit different in the new format- but we will work through it together!
• We will work on some choreography over the course of the term, but we won’t be planning for concert routines- just practising and enjoying the skill of learning choreography
• We know these can’t replicate the in-person classes you’re used to, but they’re designed to keep you dancing, progressing, thinking and MOVING as much as we can in these imperfect circumstances.

To participate, you will need:

• Some clear, safe floor space to spread out, such as a lounge room. You might need to move furniture out of the way. Choose a “public” area of the house for supervision eg: not their bedroom.
• A computer, tablet or phone, suitable for video calls. 
• An HDMI cord is helpful to connect smaller screens to a larger tv screen or monitor.
• A “Zoom” account in the student’s name so the teacher knows who they are admitting into the class
• Ballet students would benefit from access to a wall, chair or kitchen bench to use as a barre
• Your MSF uniform and a drink bottle – to get you in the right mindset for class.

Timetable and Pricing

• The timetable and pricing is different to our usual in-studio timetable- see attached
• We’ve designed it to enable students to take multiple classes, even if they don’t normally, as we know lots of other activities have been cancelled or scaled back.
• Feel free to enrol in any or all classes for your age group.
• We have made a decision not to offer acrobatics in this format, but we encourage acro students to take a ballet or jazz class to keep progressing their foundation technique
• We have been as generous as we possibly can in discounting fees for Term 2, as we’d love to see as many MSF kids as possible enjoying dance over this time, particularly for families with multiple children.
• We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different, and there is a lot of pressure on families at the moment.
• As a small business, we are experiencing the uncertainty first hand- there is a very real pressure to remain afloat during this time. For this reason, we respectfully ask that you ensure your fees are paid by the due date to confirm your ongoing enrolment.
• If you’re unable to participate during this time we understand! We encourage you to keep utilizing the free practice videos and activities we’ve provided and just dance if and when and however you can.

What Next?

• Classes will commence in Week 3 of Term, Monday, April 27.

• Enrolment will work the same as it does for our studio classes
  • Log on to the parent portal here: https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/mainstfunk
  • Enrol in any or all classes for your age group by clicking “Register for Classes”
  • We will send you an invoice which is payable via electronic transfer. MSF’s bank details will be listed on the invoice.
  • You’ll receive a unique link and password via text and email for each class
  • Log on at the right time ready to dance!
• Fees will be due in Week 4 (May 4th – 8th), so you can use the first lesson as a trial if you’re unsure if it will work for you

• We will run three parent/student information sessions This Thursday, April 22nd via Zoom so you can test your own tech set up at home and get to know how it will work.
  • Petites, Minis and Tinies: 4 pm
  • Littlies, Juniors, Inters: 4.45 pm
  • Teens and Seniors: 5.30 pm

We were heartbroken 4 weeks ago when we were forced to close our doors for the safety of our community. The effects this closure could have on our school could be devastating. We are thrilled to be able to provide an alternative way to teach dance classes and to continue bringing happiness into the lives of our students. With your continued support and participation, you can help your child to continue to grow through dance and to help us ensure they will have a studio to return to at the end of all this.

Dancing is our happy place and that doesn’t have to change. Just because we are in isolation doesn’t mean we have to dance alone. We are separated by distance but never by heart! 

We can’t wait to keep dancing with you and to see all of your smiling faces soon!

SEE YOU ONLINE! 

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch.

The MSF Team (Kristie, Carla and Chloe)
mainstfunk@gmail.com

Chloe: 0433220973

Hello Dance Fam,

Well, our school holiday break has felt like the longest ever and unfortunately, with social distancing restrictions still in place, our studio will remain closed for the time being.

Rest assured this closure is only temporary and we will re-open as soon as it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so. 

We know the MSF kids are itching to get back into dancing, and we believe staying active and continuing your child’s development through dance is essential for their health and wellbeing. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this tricky time. We are working on some plans to continue classes from a distance in term 2 and will be back with more updates on that very soon.

For now, we are pleased to provide you with a series of FREE practice videos.

These videos were filmed in class and are intended for you to follow along by copying the movements on the screen. Whilst it is no replacement for your usual, interactive classes  (when a teacher verbally explains and corrects), they are a great way to keep your child moving and grooving whilst in isolation.

A big shout-out and thank you to our students, assistant teachers, and teachers who helped us film these videos. We put you on the spot and as always you stepped up and shone bright, making us proud every dance step along the way.

Here a few tips before you get dancing…

• Start with your own age group and style and then branch out to a new genre of dance or the next age group up to give you a challenge
• The suitable age groups are listed in the description of each “showcase”
• Book mark each link, so they are easier to find each time your child wants to dance.
• Make sure there is lots of space around you and the floor is clear from tripping hazards. Push furniture back if need be.
• Have a water bottle close by
• Set the video up on a tv or large PC screen so you can see the movements clearly
• Watch each exercise once or twice before you give it a go
• HINT: Wear your dance class uniform and shoes to help you feel like a dancer and to switch your brain and body into “dance class mode”
• Take photos and videos. Upload and tag @mainstfunk #msfathome because we miss seeing you all dance so much and we would love to see your progress
• Feel free to get family members involved for extra fun!

And lastly, remember this is about enjoyment and keeping active. Work hard but allow yourself to make mistakes and remember that you are still learning!

Click the links below and enter the password – check your emails for the password.

BALLET 1 (Petites, Minis, Tinies): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6975816
BALLET 2 (Tinies, Littlies, Junior): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6980170
BALLET 3 (Junior-Senior): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6975738

JAZZ 1 (Tinies, Littlies, Junior): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6975777
JAZZ 2 (Junior-Senior): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6970323

HIP HOP 1 (Petites, Minis, Tinies): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6974990
HIP HOP 2 (Littlies, Juniors, Inters): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6980751

ACRO (Suitable for Tinies and older): https://vimeo.com/showcase/6970241

We hope you enjoy these practice videos and our Active April challenges.

We have always said “Dancing is our happy place” and with the studio temporarily closed, that doesn’t have to change. 

Stay in touch and remember to keep smiling!

Chat soon,
The MSF Team x