Corona bulletin for students

26.2.2021

Over 12-year-olds dance classes switch to remote teaching starting Monday 1.3.

The government has announced on Thursday 25.2. harder restrictions between March 8.-28. The Metropolitan Area coronovirus coordination group announced yesterday evening new restrictions concerning the Helsinki Area, which will take place immediately next week starting from Monday 1.3.2021.

Because of these new restrictions, between 1.3.-28.3.2021 only 12-year-olds and younger will participate in their classes in the usual studio at the normal time. All students over 12 years old will join their classes remotely.

Starting from Monday 1.3. classes are arranged as contact and remote teaching in the following way:

Children and youth classes are arranged as usual in their studios according to the normal schedule. Over 12-year-olds cannot participate in their classes in the studios, but they can join their class remotely. If the student is 12 years old or younger, they can join the class in the studio. Youth classes with students both under and over 12 years old will be arranged as a so-called hybrid class, at the same time in the studio and as a remote class.

Dance with toddler where the adult participates, counts as an adult class and is arranged remotely.

Teen classes are arranged as remote classes or hybrid classes, depending on the age of the participants. If the student is 12 years old or younger, they can join the class in the studio. Over 12-year-olds can join the class remotely.

Adult classes are arranged as remote classes. Some adult classes might be arranged as hybrid classes, if several 12-year-old teens have registered for the class. The students of these classes will be contacted separately.

Teachers will send links to the remote class latest the day of the class.

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REMOTE CLASSES

If a student does not wish to participate in the remote classes, they must send an email to the student office hto@helsingintanssiopisto.fi latest Friday 5.3.2021. After this we will apply normal cancellation policy and cancellations sent after 5.3. can cancel classes from period 9, April 9th onward.

MAKING UP CLASSES

During March it is not possible to make up absences in the studio classes. Students can only participate in those classes they have signed up for. However, a student can make up an absence in class, if they have been registered for the class in question in October-January in periods 2-7, or if they have registered for the class later this spring.

Tanssiopisto also offers a selection of remote classes, where students can make up classes in March. More information here.

Due to the continuing restrictions the right to make up classes has now automatically been continued until the end of year 2021 for all students. This means both classes of 2020-2021 semester and the cancelled classes last spring between 13.3.-5.4.2020.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCE CLASSES IN STUDIOS

Previously given instructions still apply about coming to classes and how to behave in our studios. We entreat that all students and families follow the given instructions and requirements. These can be found on our website: https://www.helsingintanssiopisto.fi/en/current-info/

Summary of the instructions:
– Only join the class if you are completely healthy.
– Take care of good hand hygiene.
– Wear a face mask.
– Come to class outfit and hair ready.
– Come to the studio just before the class starts and leave quickly after class.
– Showers are not in use
– Parents cannot come into the studios.
– One parent can take the child to the class room if needed, but cannot wait inside for the class to end.

STUDENT OFFICE OPEN ONLY FOR EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS

For now, student office can only be visited by booking a time by sending an email hto@helsingintanssiopisto.fi or calling 09 681 2120. We can be reached by email and phone Mon-Fri at 9.00–19.00.

Student office receives many contacts at the moment and there might be some delay in answering emails. We will answer all emails as soon as possible.

29.1.2021

Children’s, youths’ and teens’ dance classes in venues listed below will return to the studios starting from Monday 1.2.2021. Welcome to classes!

Adults’ classes in venues listed below will continue as remote teaching or in substitute venues. Teachers will inform the students of these classes.

Munkkiniemi Coeducational School (MUN1)
Nordsjö lågstadieskola (VUO)
Kontula Primary School (KONT)
Day Care/School Kanava (AUR)
Merilahti Primary School (RAS)
Hertsikka Primary School (HERT)

Kannelmäki Youth Club (KAN)
Pitäjänmäki Youth Club (PIT1)
Roihuvuori Youth Club (ROI)
Munkkivuori Youth Club (MUN2)

Alexander Theatre (LAU, MAAL, PYLK, PTH)
Malmitalo Cultural Centre (MAL)
Oulunkylä venue: Pieni puukoulu (OUL)
Viikki Community House Kunto: Asukastalo Kunto (VIIK)
Pikku Huopalahti venue: Terassitalo (HUO)
Tikkurila venue: Sahrami (TIKK)
Korso venue: Lumo (LUMO)
Day Care Sansinpelto (SANS)

Leipätehdas 2. floor studio Friday teens’ class. (LEI5)
Suvilahti venue Thursday classes (SUVI)
Olympiastadion dance studio Wednesday classes (STA)

Dance classes which returned to classrooms already on 18.1. will continue to be held as past weeks. (Kamppi, Kasarmitori, Leipätehdas (1-4), Vilhonvuorenkatu and Käpylä studios and SkillzGym, Tero Saarinen Company, Tanssin talo studio and TanssiBuumi. ( KAMP1-3, KAS1-5, LEI1-4, VIL1-2, KÄP, RUO, TSC, KAAP and PIT2 )

As we return to the studios, we will continue paying special attention to hygiene, cleaning, keeping safety distances as well as using our premises as loosely as possible. Previously given instructions still apply about coming to classes and how to behave in our studios. We entreat that all students and families follow the given instructions and requirements:

You may attend class only if you are entirely healthy. Please, do not come to class if you have symptoms pointing to coronavirus infection (respiratory symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, congested nose, shortness of breath, the loss of smell/taste or diarrhea). Also, do not come to class if there is a strong suspicion that your family member has a coronavirus infection or you have been exposed to coronavirus.
We recommend that students over the age of 13 and parents accompanying children to the classes use face masks at least in common areas (lounge, stairs, hallways, etc.) as well as changing rooms.
When you arrive at the Dance Institute’s premises as well as after the lesson, wash your hands with soap. We recommend that the students have their own hand sanitizers with them, although hand sanitizer dispensers are available for students’ use in the dance halls.
We hope that as many students as possible will come to class already in their training outfit and hair tied to avoid forming crowds in the dressing rooms. Overgarments can be brought in the class. The use of showers is not recommended for the time being.
The students should arrive to class just before it starts and leave promptly after class and avoid spending time at our premises. Please, keep a safety distance to others and avoid crowds at the doors. Also prefer stairs instead of elevators when coming to class. Behave politely and considerately towards others at the Institute’s premises.
The guardians can escort the children and the youth to the venues but they may not come inside or wait in the premises for the time of the lesson. They have to leave and are allowed to return only after the lesson is over.
One guardian can take a young child to class if needed, but they cannot wait inside during the class. The child may only have one escort.
The students place their water bottles next to the wall or the ballet pole leaving space between the bottles so that safety distances can be kept also during the drinking break. In the case of children’s classes, drinking bottles are not brough to class. The guardians of children should have with them something to drink for the children after class.
The Institute’s gym mats have been removed from use. The students will bring their own mats to those classes where they are needed.

During January and February, it is not possible to make up classes. Students can only participate in the classes they have signed up for. Students are allowed to participate in class with make-up slips, if they have been signed up for the class in periods 2-5 in October-January or if they are registered for the class later in the spring semester. Making up absences from last November as well as make-up classes from last spring 13.3.–5.4.2020 is still possible until the end of spring semester 2021.

Student office is currently overworked and there might be some delay in answering emails. We will, however, reply to all emails as soon as possible.

8.1.2021

The classes of Helsingin tanssiopisto will in parts return to the studios starting from Monday January 18^th, 2021.

On Monday 18.1. the dance classes which return to classrooms are those which are within our own studios: Kamppi studios, Kasarmitori studios, Leipätehdas studios, Vilhonvuorenkatu studios and Käpylä studio as well as classes in SkillzGym in Ruoholahti, Tero Saarinen Company and Tanssin talo studios in Kaapelitehdas and TanssiBuumi in Pitäjänmäki. For next week 11.1.–17.1. these classes in KAMP1-3, KAS1-5, LEI1-4, VIL1-2, KÄP, RUO, TSC, KAAP and PIT2 -studios are still arranged as remote classes.

Classes in other locations might still continue as remote classes until 31.1., depending on the decision of Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group next week. The group will reconsider the restrictions related to the hobbies of youth and children. This means that other locations might also be available for dance classes earlier than 1.2. It is possible that also other studios can begin classes as normal already in January and we will inform the students of that studio if this happens.

Teachers will continue to send information on the remote classes and links latest on the day of the class. If the student does not wish to participate in remote teaching, send an email to the student office hto@helsingintanssiopisto.fi latest 15.1.2021.

As we return to the studios, we will continue paying special attention to hygiene, cleaning, keeping safety distances as well as using our premises as loosely as possible. We entreat that all students and families follow the given instructions and requirements:

You may attend class only if you are entirely healthy. Please, do not come to class if you have symptoms pointing to coronavirus infection (respiratory symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, congested nose, shortness of breath, the loss of smell/taste or diarrhea). Also, do not come to class if there is a strong suspicion that your family member has a coronavirus infection or you have been exposed to coronavirus.
We recommend that students over the age of 13 and parents accompanying children to the classes use face masks at least in common areas (lounge, stairs, hallways, etc.) as well as changing rooms.
When you arrive at the Dance Institute’s premises as well as after the lesson, wash your hands with soap. We recommend that the students have their own hand sanitizers with them, although hand sanitizer dispensers are available for students’ use in the dance halls.
We hope that as many students as possible will come to class already in their training outfit and hair tied to avoid forming crowds in the dressing rooms. Overgarments can be brought in the class. The use of showers is not recommended for the time being.
The students should arrive to class just before it starts and leave promptly after class and avoid spending time at our premises. Please, keep a safety distance to others and avoid crowds at the doors. Also prefer stairs instead of elevators when coming to class. Behave politely and considerately towards others at the Institute’s premises.
The guardians can escort the children and the youth to the venues but they may not stay and wait in the premises for the time of the lesson. They have to leave and are allowed to return only after the lesson is over. The child may only have one escort. The escort may not come into the hall to bring in the child or sit inside the hall.
The students place their water bottles next to the wall or the ballet pole leaving space between the bottles so that safety distances can be kept also during the drinking break. In the case of children’s classes, drinking bottles are not brough to class. The guardians of children should have with them something to drink for the children after class.
The Institute’s gym mats have been removed from use. The students will bring their own mats to those classes where they are needed.

During January 2021 it is not possible to make up classes. Students can only participate in the classes they have signed up for. Students are allowed to participate in class with make-up slips, if they have been signed up for the class in periods 2-5 in October-January or if they are registered for the class later in the spring semester. Making up absences from last November as well as make-up classes from last spring 13.3.–5.4.2020 is still possible until the end of spring semester 2021.

Student office is currently overworked and there might be some delay in answering emails. We will, however, reply to all emails as soon as possible.

15.12.2020

Remote teaching continues

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa gave on November 27th new restrictions and recommendations regarding the corona epidemic. The strong recommendation was that all indoor recreational activities are cancelled between 30.11.-20.12. Last week the cities said that the restrictions will continue until Sunday January 10^th, 2021.

Thus the contact classes of Helsingin tanssiopisto within our studios are still cancelled for the time being. Teachers will continue to send their students information about the remote classes.

For those students whose classes cannot be arranged remotely, the cancelled classes will be compensated in the next bill.

7.12.2020

Most classes are held remotely between Mon 30.11.–Sun 20.12.

– Most classes will be held remotely between Mon 30.11.-Sun 20.12. due to corona situation. If you are unable to come to your remote classes you can make up clasess 6.6.2021 at the latest.

– For those students whose class has not been arranged remotely between 30.11.-20.12., the class will be compensated in the bill. (Some classes have not been arranged remotely last week, but will be arranged 7.12.-20.12.)

– Making up classes, that were held before 30.11.: Right to make up these classes is lengthen by 3 weeks.

– If your teacher offers the change to join theacher’s other classes than your own for free, you don’t need to use your make up classes for this.

27.11.2020

Dance classes in the studios of Helsingin tanssiopisto are cancelled between Mon 30.11. – Sun 20.12.

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have today on November 27th given new restrictions and recommendations regarding the corona epidemic. The strong recommendation is that all indoor recreational activities are cancelled between 30.11.-20.12. This recommendation concerns the classes of children, youth and adults. The city will also close all indoor-sport spaces for three weeks.

From the start of the epidemic in spring 2020, Helsingin tanssiopisto has in all our activities tried to guarantee safe conditions for all our students and employees. It is still our goal to act responsibly and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in this worsened situation. Therefore, all dance classes within our studios are cancelled between Monday 30.11-Sunday 20.12.2020.

Since the last break in our dance classes we have tried to find a way to organize our dance classes remotely. Despite our efforts we have not found a way to organize all of our over 500 weekly classes remotely. However, our goal is that at least some of our classes would be held remotely. Those students, whose classes can be held remotely, will be contacted separately.

For those students whose classes cannot be arranged remotely between 30.11.-20.12., the cancelled classes will be compensated in the bill. We will contact you about the compensations in December. We ask you to be patient and not burden the student office with unnecessary inquiries. Please give us the time to manage this situation.

20.11.2020

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have made new recommendations and ruquirements concerning corona virus.

These requirements affect tanssiopisto as follows:

Christmas performances in SYK 11.–13.12.2020 will be cancelled. Also the dress rehearsal in SYK will be cancelled. We will send a bulletin for students who were going to perform in SYK nex week. The bulletin will contain instruction for refund for already paid tickets.
From 23.11. we recommend also students over the age of 13 to wear face masks in all Helsingin tanssiopisto venue’s dressing rooms, lobbies, etc.
23.11.–13.12. going to make up classes or single classes is not allowed. You can go to a make up class if you were enrolled to that class in period 2/3 or will enroll to that class in period 5. (Normal making up classes rules apply.)
Milena Urmas’s open YIN-classes on Saturdays in Leipätehdas are cancelled.

28.10.2020

From 2.11.2020 it is required to wear face masks in all Helsingin tanssiopisto venue’s dressing rooms, lobbies, etc.

During class students can use face masks if it’s possible to do it safely.

These ruquirements applie to students over the age of 15 and parents accompanying children to the classes.

30.9.2020

The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa recommend that everyone over the age of 15 start using face masks in municipal service situations in which it is difficult to avoid close contact. The recommendation is intended also for indoor sports and fitness centers. Finnish institute for health and welfare has recommended using facemasks in public indoor spaces in which close contact cannot always be avoided.

Helsinki Dance Institute also recommends that students over the age of 15 and parents accompanying children to the classes start using face masks at least in common areas (lounge, stairs, hallways, etc.) as well as changing rooms. We also recommend to use face mask when visiting student office.

The safety instructions given on August 11^th (below) are still applied in our classes and studios. When attending our classes, we kindly ask you to stay informed and comply with the face mask and coronavirus guidelines of the Finnish institute of health and welfare.

14.8.2020
During season 2020-21, in the manner of the summer season, we will continue paying special attention to hygiene, cleaning, keeping safety distances as well as using our premises as loosely as possible. We have instructed also our personnel on practices in this exceptional situation caused by corona.

Please, read carefully the following instructions on how to act in class and at our venues. The teacher will guide you further about the lessons themselves on the spot. Pleace, comply with the general guidance by THL (Finnish Institute of Health and Wellfare) and the government on how to act during the coronavirus epidemic.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS:

You may attend class only if you are entirely healthy. Please, do not come to class if you have symptoms pointing to coronavirus infection (respiratory symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, congested nose, shortness of breath, the loss of smell/taste or diarrhea). Also, do not come to class if there is a strong suspicion that your family member has a coronavirus infection or you have been exposed to coronavirus.
When you arrive at the Dance Institute’s premises as well as after the lesson, wash your hands with soap (minimum of 20 seconds and foaming). We recommend that the students have their own hand sanitizers with them, although hand sanitizer dispensers are available for students’ use in the dance halls.
We hope that as many students as possible will come to class already in their training outfit and hair tied to avoid forming crowds in the dressing rooms. Overgarments can be brought in the class. The use of showers is not recommended for the time being.
The students should arrive to class just before it starts and leave promptly after class and avoid spending time at our premises. Please, keep a safety distance to others and avoid crowds at the doors. Also prefer stairs instead of elevators when coming to class. Behave politely and considerately towards others at the Institute’s premises.
The guardians can escort the children and the youth to the venues but they may not stay and wait in the premises for the time of the lesson. They have to leave and are allowed to return only after the lesson is over. The child may only have one escort. The escort may not come into the hall to bring in the child or sit inside the hall. (Some exceptions are allowed, e.g. if parental support is needed at the beginning of the season. Negotiate about these situations with the teacher.)
The students place their water bottles next to the wall or the ballet pole leaving space between the bottles so that safety distances can be kept also during the drinking break. In the case of children’s classes, drinking bottles are not brough to class. The guardians of children should have with them something to drink for the children after class.
The Institute’s gym mats have been removed from use. The students will bring their own mats to those classes where they are needed.

ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE DANCE INSTITUTE:

Air conditioning is set to the highest level possible at all of our studios.
The teachers prepare and design the teaching in a way that there is no unnecessary physical contact between the teacher and the student or between the students themselves. If needed, exercises are done in smaller groups while others wait for their turn aside in a spaced out queue.
We have made changes to the maximum student counts in classes, and they will not be exceeded. In the student quotas we have taken into account the size of the hall, the special features of the dance type and the students’ ages and levels. Notice that the teacher can not accept refund students if as a result the student quota exeeds. The full classes have been marked on our website.
The teachers will clean the contact surfaces in the halls between the lessons, so this might cause a delay of few minutes. Only after this cleaning will the teacher let the students of the following group to enter the hall.
An up-to-date guidance can always be found on the front page of our website.
We wish you all rewarding dance classes! Let’s take care of each other!

6.5.2020
Due to the government orders 4.5. concerning the coronavirus, all classes in Helsingin tanssiopisto are cancelled until end of spring semester 31.5.2020. Summer semester 2020 will start as planned on Monday 1.6.2020, enroll for summer classes, courses and camps here! We will send info about safe distances in classes etc. to enrolled students before courses start.

31.3.2020
Due to the government orders concerning the coronavirus, all classes in Helsingin tanssiopisto are cancelled at least until 13.5.2020. We follow closely any changes in the situation and make our decisions based on those changes. Students are advised to keep an eye on our website for any changes in the situation.

Helsinki Dance Institute offers Basic Education in the Arts authorized by city of Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has recommended that Basic Education in the Arts would be arranged in alternative ways during these exceptional circumstances. Helsinki Dance Institute has more than 500 weekly classes in the syllabus, which means that there no resources to provide encompassing remote education material for everyone. Dance is also a challenging art form to teach without any contact teaching.

Since remote teaching, due to abovementioned reasons, cannot be arranged in accordance to the syllabus, the cancelled classes in period 8 (13.3.–5.4.2020) will be compensated for our students as compensation classes. Compensation classes can be used until the end of the year 2020 even without registration. Students’ families can use these compensation classes, too. Classes are used by filling in Dance Institute’s make up slip. On the slip is written the date and “compensation” as additional information. For example, if, due to the cancellations, a student missed 60 min classes on Mon 16.3., Mon 23.3. and Mon 30.3., they can go to three compensation classes of the same length or two 90 min classes. The classes should be used before 31.12.2020.

If a student has absences from before 13.3., they can still make up those absences in autumn 2020. Absences can be made up for two months from the start of the autumn semester until 16.10.2020, even if the student has not registered to any classes in summer or autumn.

During the past few weeks Helsinki Dance Institute’s teachers have send bulletins and video material to cheer up students. If these exceptional circumstances continue, we will continue to send you your teachers’ greetings, if possible.

When considering the compensation of cancelled classes and the effect of missed classes to our students, we have taken into account that Basic Education in the Arts is part of Finland’s official educational system. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has recommended, that during this Force Majeure situation cancelled Basic Education in the Arts classes should be considered completed. Advanced studies diploma works will be evaluated during the spring semester.

Helsinki Dance Institute, a nonprofit institute, is now working determinedly in a challenging situation to guarantee the continuation of dance education as soon as the current situation allows. We like to say a warm thank you to our students who have sent us touching inspirational messages during this challenging time.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS:

Students who pay their classes by period:

There are no monetary refunds for the classes in period 8. Cancelled classes between Fri 13.3.–Sun 5.4. can be used as compensation classes before 31.12.2020. Compensation classes can be used even without registration to any classes in summer/autumn 2020 semester.
A bill will not be sent for periods 9 and 10 (6.4.-31.5.) unless the classes can be started again during the spring semester.
Those students, who have purchased an unlimited training right, will be sent an email later about the compensations for cancelled classes in period 8.
For those students who have paid beforehand the classed in period 9 and 10, the payments will be carried over automatically to be deducted from future payments.

Students who pay their classes by semester:

There are no monetary refunds for the classes in period 8. Cancelled classes between Fri 13.3 – Sun 5.4. can be used as free classes before 31.12.2020. Free classes can be used even without registration to any classes in autumn 2020 semester.
The payments for cancelled classes in period 9 and 10 will be refunded to our students. The processing of refunds can only be started at the end of the spring semester. We will send separate instructions on this when the time comes.
Those students, who have purchased an unlimited training right, will be sent an email later about the compensations.
Those students, who have paid the classes with employee benefits (e.g. Smartum, Edenred), their payments will be carried over automatically to be deducted from future payments.

We have also cancelled all of our student performances this spring. Those who have already purchased tickets for the Long curriculum performances 25.-26.4., can ask for a refund from this link: https://web.lippu.fi/palautus. There might be some delays due to the large number of refunds.