From the beginning of this pandemic, MBA has worked to keep our students dancing safely while following guidance from the CDC, local health departments, and aligning with recommendations of the Kent County ISD. Recent data has shown plummeting Covid numbers and lessening community spread. Following the lead of the local school districts, who are amending their mask policies from “mandated” to “recommended but not required,” Michigan Ballet Academy is also amending our policy, effective Monday February 21, to “masks recommended but not required”. Michigan Ballet Academy will continue to monitor the data, and should the situation change, we will examine our policy in light of that change to reflect what is best for the health and safety of our students, faculty and families.

We continue to require self-monitoring prior to arrival at MBA, and compliance with not coming to class or entering the building, under any circumstance, if you are feeling unwell. Social Distancing should be adhered to as much as possible.

We thank the MBA community for your patience as we have navigated very difficult decisions during this time. Our priority has always been and will continue to be your health and safety.

In the event of a positive Covid case, we require that the school administrator (administrator@michiganballet.org for the Pre-Pro Division and recdivision@michiganballet.org for the Rec Division) be notified by email and informed so that proper contact tracing and any subsequent relevant quarantine can be done. Please see below for an explanation of terms and guidance as currently defined by the CDC:

• Close Contact with an infected person:

  • Close Contact with an infected person is defined as a cumulative 15 minutes of being within 6 feet of an infected person.

  • Close contact with a person who may have been exposed is not defined as close contact by the CDC

  • Quarantine Requirements:
    If a person has been in close contact with a person infected with Covid-19, the following quarantine requirements apply, and the person is not permitted to participate in MBA activities:

    • Unvaccinated: 10 days from the last occurrence of close contact with the person

    • Vaccinated: People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after
      contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

  • At the end of the quarantine period, if no symptoms appear, the person may return to normal activities at MBA

  • If a person develops symptoms or becomes ill, please see “What to do if you become sick:

• What to do if you become sick:

  • “I think or know I had Covid-19” – You can return to MBA after:

    • 10 days since symptoms first appeared AND

    • 24 hours with no fever or fever reducing medications AND

    • Other symptoms of Covid-19 are improving

  • “I tested positive for Covid-19 but showed no symptoms” – You can return to MBA after:

    • 10 days after a positive viral test.

    • If you develop symptoms within those 10 days, follow guidance under “I think or know I had Covid-19”.