Dancer Standards
ACCOMODATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS
Umpqua Movement Arts Collaboration (UMAC), including its officers, directors, instructors, volunteers, participants, agents, and/or employees, is not responsible for any injury to any person or loss/damage to any property while participant is observing, practicing, taking class, competing, and/or participating in any UMAC event, and while participant is observing, practicing, competing, and/or participating in any outside event in conjunction with UMAC, for any reason whatsoever.
The UMAC facility at this time has stairwell only access and does not meet American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. UMAC operational decision-making process strives to adhere to ADA requirements and value the importance of inclusivity. All participants are encouraged to communicate needs for accommodation in the activity environments to share in the accessibility of UMAC resources. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations are directed to communicate with the UMAC board of directors’ president.
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ATTENDANCE FOR DIVA SHOW PERFORMANCE TEAMS
UMAC respects and understands the various commitments and situations which may occur in dancers’ lives. Diva Dancers are expected to be strong team members towards their performance team needs and have a strong practice of attendance. Dancers are expected to communicate with their instructor about their absences and how they may plan to maintain their role in the performance. Extra practices may be scheduled by the instructor as a means of assistance for their performance team as they determine necessary. Dancers who are unfortunately absent in a manner which harms the performance may be excused from performing by the creative director. There are no refunds of any class fees for missing classes or being excluded from the performance.
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COMMUNICATION
Performers are strongly encouraged to download the BAND app to communicate with the UMAC community and/or their Diva performance team. The team can be accessed by joining a group in the app called ‘Diva Dancers w UMAC.’ The app is similar to Facebook with an overall feed for posting routine videos, social connections to other dancers, and a calendar of events. Typically, a group chat is formed for each performance class. Please be mindful of staying connected to the UMAC community for alerts and/or notices posted and/or discussions for the entire team.
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COSTUMES FOR DIVA SHOWS
All Diva Dancers are responsible for curating and purchasing their own costumes. Each instructor can assist in guiding their performance team’s style and aesthetics that best aligns with the vision for the performance piece. The overall aim is to create a cohesive look.The team organizes ideas for sharing examples of costume ideas using the Pinterest app. All instructors will create a post for their dance in BAND with a hashtag for their dance (i.e. #scorpio or #pinkponyclub) and with the hashtag “#pinterest” to share the link to their ‘board’ on the Pinterest app.
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COSTUMES APPROVAL PROCESS FOR DIVA SHOWS
Dancers must gain approval from their instructor for their costume to ensure it works as part of the routine. Dancers are required to curate their costume in a timely manner and failure may result in excusal from performance. Be aware, it is widely acknowledged among Diva Dancers that curating the costumes can be time-consuming. Dancers are encouraged to start early in exploring and sharing their ideas with their instructor and fellow performance team members. Wearing portions of the costume to practice can be beneficial to learn if the outfit may work well with the movements of the dance. Note, less expensive options are typically found on websites with longer shipping times, only trying out a costume near performance date may severely limit options for a fix or new outfit. The creative director can be an excellent source of coaching on costumes and how a selection may work with a certain performance piece. TWO FINAL KEY NOTES: 1) Remember the instructor has ‘the final word’ on costume choices, be cautious (e.g. consider sharing photos in advance) of items which may be non-returnable. 2) Most importantly, start practicing in chosen footwear as soon as possible.
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DANCE SHOES IN CLASSROOM
Walking on the classroom floor with shoes worn outside the studio is prohibited. Dancers put their hands, feet, and bodies on the floor of the studio during practice. Maintaining a clean studio floor helps keep all dancers safe and enjoying their classes. To prevent dancers interacting with unwanted elements such as dirt, dog doo, pebbles, etc.; all shoes worn outside the studio space are not allowed to be worn on the classroom floor. Dancers are encouraged to acquire shoes dedicated to their dance classes as necessary (i.e. heels, hip-hop sneakers, jazz shoes, etc.). Please keep ‘street shoes’ stored in your bag, or the shelves provided near the entrance to the classroom area. Do not enter the studio’s classroom area wearing your ‘street shoes’ at any time!
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FACILITIES FEEDBACK
If you see something, say something. UMAC aims to provide a welcoming and safe experience to all activities sponsored by the organization. All dancers are encouraged to provide feedback to their instructor about any items they observe needing attention to maintain the safety and convenience of the facilities.
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FIRST AID & BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS
While the risk to participants of exposure to body fluids due to casual contact with individuals in the program activity environment is very low, UMAC regards any such risk as serious. It is required for all UMAC participants to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure. Consequently, the UMAC Board directs adherence to standard precautions. Standard precautions require that volunteers, instructors, and students approach infection control as if all direct contact with human blood and body fluids is known to be infectious for serious bloodborne pathogens.
There is an OSHA conforming first aid kit in the lobby of the UMAC studio. Please utilize it in incidents of need for first aid care such as a small wound like a scrape or cut. A box of non-latex, nitrile gloves to serve as personal protective equipment to be utilized when universal precautions are needed is provided in the UMAC lobby as well. General cleaning and disinfection supplies for the needs of securing the facilities are also available in the UMAC studio lobby. Best practices during the event of an incident where exposure of individuals to others’ bodily fluids may occur are as follows: 1) Contain the affected area and to discontinue area from activities if the spill occurred in general UMAC service areas. 2) Wear personal protective equipment when cleaning and disinfecting body fluid spills. 3) Block off the area of the spill from others until cleaned.
UMAC recognizes that all participants, formal and informal, related to UMAC activities incur some risk of infection and illness each time they are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. It is the responsibility of all participating in UMAC activities and/or present in UMAC related facilities to report incidents of blood borne pathogens exposure. All UMAC community members shall assist in achieving universal precautions by ensuring these necessary reports of incidents occur to allow for further follow-up by UMAC contracted cleaning services. Please use the available UMAC incident/accident forms available in the UMAC studio lobby for this purpose.
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FLASHING LIGHTS
Be advised UMAC facilities for class instruction and performance may not be safe for some people with epilepsy. Some lighting is used during UMAC activities which may be disruptive to people who are sensitive to light. UMAC posts information in the studio to assist during severe light sensitivity accidents. Call 911 immediately in all cases of medical emergency. The seizure first aid information provided is resourced from the Lighting & Epilepsy Awareness Development DIY nonprofit organization. Learn more directly at www.leaddiy.org.
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GUESTS AND CHILDREN IN THE STUDIO
UMAC welcomes the entire community to visit the studio and learn more about our classes and micro-community of movement arts. Guests are welcome to observe classes as long as they do not disrupt the scheduled class time for all dancers. Children are welcome to the studio but must not disturb classes in session and remain outside of the classroom during instructional time. Dancers who invite guests and/or children to the studio are responsible for educating their visitors and maintaining the standards of the studio. The observational room is available for children to remain in while classes are in session. Unattended children, and their safety, is the sole responsibility of the dancer welcoming them into the studio.
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INCIDENT & ACCIDENT REPORTING
To better maintain a safe facility and operation, UMAC requires all incidents and accidents during UMAC sponsored activities to be reported in writing. Forms are available in the UMAC studio lobby.
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INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
The mission of UMAC is to cultivate an appreciation for wellness, creativity and diversity within a community. Diva Dancers are expected to use their words wisely and help maintain an inclusive classroom environment for everyone present in the learning community. The use of discriminatory and/or disparaging language is prohibited. The performance team can provide a nurturing space for creativity to flourish. Dancers are encouraged to help others to take positive risks, make mistakes, and embrace the process of discovery.
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PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS FOR DIVA DANCERS
To ensure a smooth and successful dance season, all outstanding payments from prior UMAC services/classes must be settled with the UMAC Treasurer before a Diva Dancer can participate in the show performance season. A dancer may negotiate a payment plan directly with the UMAC Treasurer for their performance class expenses prior to the payment deadline. Dancers who have not made payment, and/or who have not agreed-upon established payment plan, will not be allowed to continue participating with UMAC classes until their payment status reaches a positive standing. If a dancer falls delinquent on their payments related to their agreed-upon payment plan, they are subject to exclusion from classes and/or the performance. All dancers, and their agreed payment plans, will be expected to have all fees ‘paid in full’ 30 days prior to the performance.
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PERFUMES & FRAGRANCES
All dancers are expected to help maintain a fragrance-neutral classroom. UMAC desires this environment to remain inclusive of the various needs of different dancers. Allergies to perfumes and/or strong fragrances can present a challenge for some dancers to attend class. Thank you for avoiding any of the following during UMAC classroom, studio, and show related spaces: cologne, aftershave lotion, perfume, perfumed hand lotion, strongly fragranced hair products, and/or similar products. The fragrance sensitive dancers greatly appreciate the consideration of their needs.
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PHOTOSHOOT PARTICIPATION FOR DIVA SHOWS
Every Diva performance production features a photoshoot of the dancers for print and digital promotional materials. A professional photographer is contracted by UMAC to lead the photoshoot and promotional materials creation. All dancers are welcome and encouraged to join the photoshoot, but it is not a requirement. A dancer can select how little or how much they wish to participate in the photo session. This is an exciting and fun part of every performance season which makes memories for years to come. Attending to assist the production, make-up, and/or providing encouragement can be an option to any dancer currently experiencing ‘camera shyness.’ There are generally arrangements at photo shoot locations for areas changing costumes.
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VIDEOS OF PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE
Generally, dancers participate at the end of each class to capture a video recording of the dance routine in its current form to share out on the BAND app. Video posts feature a hashtag (#) referencing the performance team to help dancers find videos. These videos are intended to be available for assisting dancers with individual practice and reference. UMAC organization associated media sources’ use of images are intended for internal project coordination reference. Production performance related use of image is coordinated with an individual agreement form by the dancer and the UMAC organization.
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VOLUNTARY SERVICES & CONFIDENTIALITY
All individuals associated with UMAC activities must acknowledge they are not an employee of the UMAC nonprofit organization. All individuals associated with UMAC activities expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risks existing in these activities. It is acknowledged by all that participation in UMAC activities is purely voluntary and participants elect to participate in the activities in spite of the risks. Dancers must acknowledge as per terms of dancer registration there represents a voluntary service to the nonprofit and the dancer/volunteer agrees that any work performed while volunteering for the nonprofit becomes the property of the nonprofit. Dancers/volunteers acknowledge that they will be held personally liable for any damages they cause to third parties during their volunteer work if they were negligent. The dancer/volunteer also agrees to confidentiality and non-disclosure terms about sensitive and confidential UMAC organizational information. All formal parties (e.g. dancers, instructors, contracted service providers) participating in UMAC organization related activities recognize agreements between parties may represent unique terms and conditions. Requests for accommodations related to terms of agreements are available through written communication to the UMAC board of directors’ president.
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WATER IN STUDIO
UMAC does provide a water dispenser in the studio space available for dancers to utilize during classes. It is also encouraged that dancers acquire a reliable water bottle and bring their own source of water as well. Staying hydrated is an excellent practice to develop as a dancer to prevent injury and stay dazzling in practice.
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WEBSITE
Please visit www.umacroseburg.com frequently for updates about the schedule and class options. A payment portal for UMAC fees may also be found on the website.