Leverage Dance Theater ArtsSafe Plan
3636 Texas Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118
Reviewed: 3/28/21
A. Introduction
Leverage Dance Theater is committed to keeping its artists, staff and patrons safe during the
COVID-19 pandemic and while we slowly transition back to live theater and classes.
Since January 1, 2021, Leverage has been holding open classes in limited capacity at Intersect
Arts Center and Sports Medicine & Training Center. Masks are worn at all times, there are daily
temperature checks by staff, and equipment is sanitized after use.
Both Sports Medicine & Training Center and Intersect Arts Center are following CDC guidelines
based on their respective industries, and Leverage follows all business guidelines when using
the space, along with Leverage’s personal guidelines including masks, limited class size, and
sanitization procedures.
Leverage Dance Theater is slowly working towards its first public performance beginning April
29, 2021 at 2700 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, 63118. This interdisciplinary experience will
include screendance, visual art and very limited live dance performances. Audience capacity is
limited to 20% of the 14000’ space. This space is currently for rent on Cherokee and not
occupied by any others besides Leverage artists and staff. Reservations, masks and
temperature checks are required for the performance. Upon check-in, audiences will also
receive a health check. Instead of a traditional concert, the performance is in a gallery setting
where seating and entry will be limited and staggered to properly maintain social distancing
requirements during extended hours.
Leverage takes our commitment to safety seriously and is gradually opening and providing arts
experiences in a limited way. Leverage will continue to closely monitor all CDC guidelines and
updates.
B. Core Safety Practices
To provide a safe environment for our artists, staff, volunteers, and guests, Leverage Dance Theater pledges to adopt and adhere to the following safety practices:
1. Facial Coverings
To ensure that staff, artists and patrons comply with recommended mask wearing guidance, we will:
Require all artists, staff, and patrons to wear face coverings that fit properly for all classes and performances. No face shields allowed.
Require visitors/audiences to comply with local mask-wearing mandates. Those over 2 years old will be asked to wear face coverings, unless a health condition prohibits them from doing so.
Make free non-medical disposable masks available to visitors who arrive without safe face coverings.
Stay up to date on all CDC guidelines and adjust policies as necessary.
Post signage at entry points.
Anyone who does not comply with these guidelines will be allowed to participate in or view any Leverage Dance Theater activities, classes or performances.
2. Social Distancing
To ensure artists, staff, and patrons comply with physical distancing requirements, we will:
Use tape or signage to indicate proper distancing.
Limit and assign seating for performances.
Display signs to remind visitors to maintain distance.
Ensure a minimum of 6 feet distance between artists in class or rehearsal unless safety or core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance.
Members of the same household or living unit do not have to remain 6 feet apart from each other.
No choreography or class activities featuring partnering by those not in the same household.
Ensure that, wherever possible, tightly confined spaces will be occupied by only one individual at a time.
Limit in-person gatherings as much as possible.
Hold essential in-person gatherings in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants.
Discourage staff, artists and visitors congregating in high traffic areas such as bathrooms and hallways.
Markers for distant seating and viewing of screendances and live dances.
Establish one-way traffic patterns for entry and exit.
3. Health Checks
As part of a larger COVID-19 prevention strategy, health screenings are one way to curtail the virus and keep communities healthy.
To contain and protect our artists, staff and guests against COVID-19, we will:
Actively encourage sick artists, staff or patrons to stay home and send sick staff home immediately.
Implement mandatory health screening assessment including questionnaire and temperature check before class or rehearsal begins for all artists and staff.
Upon check-in for any performances, implement mandatory health screening assessment including questionnaire and temperature check before allowing entry
Adjust any performance programming to virtual or screendance only if necessary
Stay up to date on all CDC guidelines and adjust policies as necessary.
4. Contact Tracing
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we will:
Maintain a log of every person who attends classes or performances, including full contact information of artists, staff and patrons.
Notify state and local health departments if a Leverage affiliate tests positive for COVID-19.
Cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining required confidentiality.
5. Contactless Experience
To embrace growing preference for touch less environments and transactions, we will:
Require/encourage online ticketing using a secure third party vendor to process credit card payments.
Open doors for guests at entrances and exits.
Limit patrons at entry of any performances.
Keep interior doors open.
Allow for payment on-site but provide gloves and hand sanitizer as needed for any volunteers or guests that request it.
6. Reduced Capacity
Operating at reduced capacity is considered an effective way to slow the spread of the virus. To mitigate the effects of COVID-19, we will:
Reduce seating/visitor capacity in compliance with public health recommendations/mandates and accepted industry standards.
Use timed tickets.
Reserve time slots for high-risk clientele.
7. Enhanced Sanitation & Hygiene
A clean environment makes our staff and the public feel safer whether in a pandemic or a flu season.
To ensure that recommended hygiene and cleaning procedures are always in place, we will:
Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations especially in high touch or high volume areas like elevators, stairs and check-in areas.
Post signage to remind personnel and guests to adhere to proper hygiene.
Conduct regular cleaning and disinfection.
Sanitize public restrooms using EPA-approved disinfectants.
Provide antibacterial soap and paper towels in bathrooms.
Use air disinfectants between timed entries of patrons.
Alert rented or used spaces of positive cases so that areas can be cleaned and disinfected.
Refer to rented spaces for cleaning logs documenting the date, time and scope of cleaning.
Adhere to other sanitation measures recommended by the CDC and other experts.
8. Training
The Missouri ArtsSafe training has been completed and reviewed by leadership at Leverage
Dance Theater. The protocols stated have been relayed to all staff, artists and volunteers and
will be adhered to and adjusted based on the CDC guidelines and updates.
C. Communication
When certified, the plans and protocols will be listed on our website and additionally made
public on our Facebook page. Any questions or concerns can be directed to assistant director
Keli Hermes by email.
Contact Info
Name: Keli Hermes, assistant director
Email: keli@lv-dt.org
Website: www.leveragedancetheater.org