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Greater Niagara Feis

Feis Date:	Saturday November 14th, 2020
Location:	First Ontario Performing Arts Centre
Confirmed Competitors:	0
Unconfirmed Competitors:	0

Feis Contact:	Registrar
Contact Email:	Niagarairish@gmail.com
Website:	Greater Niagara Feis Official Website
Held On:	Saturday November 14th, 2020
Entry Closing Date:	11/7/2020
Late Closing Date:	11/7/2020

Location:	First Ontario Performing Arts Centre

Notes:	COVID-19 Rules and Protocols--- The following COVID-19 rules and protocols take precedence over any of the NAFC or ECR rules listed below and are in place for 2020 due to mandates from Ontario health officials and local bylaws. Greater Niagara Feis has carefully planned this event with strict health and safety policies in place in order to keep dancers, spectators, judges, musicians, volunteers, and staff as safe as possible. Our expectation is that anyone in attendance will join us in following the rules we have set forth for this extraordinary year. Together we can get our dancers back on stage and enjoy the day while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all. If you feel that you cannot adhere to these rules and protocols, we kindly ask that you forgo attending our feis this year and consider joining us next year instead. 1. As per the current Ontario guidelines, there will be a MAXIMUM of 50 people permitted in each of the theatres at any given time (with the exception of the RBC room which will house one of our grades-stages in the AM—the MAXIMUM in this room will be 9 people therefore dancers will rotate in and out of the room in order to maintain this limit). Spectators/teachers will be permitted to watch competitions ONLY if these numbers can be maintained. In the spirit of FAIRNESS, if the room cannot accommodate ALL of the parents, NONE of them will be permitted in the audience. Dance teachers will have priority when we are admitting spectators. We will do everything we can to accommodate parents but please be aware of this rule. It will be strictly enforced regardless of age/level of the dancers on stage. 2. The wearing of masks is MANDATORY for ANYONE entering the building and must be worn AT ALL TIMES. The only exception to this rule is dancers while performing. Masks will be removed and placed in individual paper bags while dancers are dancing, and put back on before exiting the stage area. Volunteers will be on hand to ensure that dancers sanitize their hands before and after handling their masks. Paper bags will be provided upon arrival (and will be labelled), or you may bring your own bag labelled with your dancer’s name and competitor number. If you have a specific medical reason for not wearing a mask, we kindly ask that you forgo attending our feis this year. This rule will be strictly enforced for all. 3. Contact tracing will be done via registration information gathered upon registration with eFeis. 4. Hand sanitizer will be provided upon entering the building and throughout the venue. Everyone is expected to sanitize/wash their hands regularly. 5. There will be specific guidelines and expectations regarding the flow of traffic throughout the venue. Volunteers/staff will be directing dancers and spectators to designated places and should be obeyed at all times. Social distancing will be maintained between dancers while warming up, while dancing, and during awards ceremonies. Directional signage on the floor and walls will be clearly posted throughout the venue. Please respect the volunteers and help them make the day a success for everyone. 6. Dancers (and ONE adult each) will enter the venue through the BOX OFFICE ENTRANCE on St. Paul Street. At the registration table, parents/dancers will sign the venue’s log book and sign a health form. You will receive your competitor number and a labelled paper bag (for the dancer’s mask while on stage) at this point. Volunteers will guide groups to the warm-up area, then to the appropriate stage, then to the exit. Volunteers will remain with the groups at all times, directing the flow of traffic. 7. Washrooms will be available all day but NOT for doing hair or make-up/changing into costumes. Dancers are expected to arrive in costume, ready to dance. There will be time and space for dancers to put their shoes on and to warm up before going on stage. There will be a maximum number of people allowed in the washroom at one time. Please be respectful of the posted capacity. We will be monitoring this rule throughout the day to ensure everyone’s safety. 8. Dancers will remain OUTSIDE the building in their cars, or socially distanced elsewhere until called in to warm up and compete. Please keep the “November-weather” in mind and plan accordingly. Groups will be announced via social media throughout the day and signs will be continuously updated outside the venue. Please monitor the schedule closely. Due to the tight schedule of the day, dances will NOT be delayed for latecomers. 9. Greater Niagara Feis volunteers will conduct a health screening for anyone entering the building. Please do not attend the feis is you have a fever, cough, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, or if you have been in contact with anyone displaying these symptoms. Please do not attend if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 10. Please do not attend the feis if you have travelled outside of Canada within the last 2 weeks. At this time, we are limiting our feis to CANADIAN dancers only. With the uncertainly of the timing for when the CAN/US border can reopen, we cannot accept American entries this year. We hope to see our American friends at our feis next year! 11. There is NO CAMPING in any of the rooms (NO coolers). Dancers may bring their dance shoes (and tape/ scissors) and a water bottle with them but nothing else. (no zuca bags, make-up kits, hair/wig boxes, chairs, blankets, etc). A small bag to carry shoes and essentials is permitted but please avoid bringing your entire dance bag into the venue. Come in costume, ready to dance! There will NOT be a change room. 12. Each dancer is permitted to bring ONE adult with them to the feis. For families with younger siblings, we suggest finding alternate arrangements for the day. Strollers will not be permitted and non-dancing siblings will not be permitted. Please refer back to rule #1 which states that parents will only be allowed to watch their dancers compete if there is enough space for ALL of them in the audience while maintaining the 50 person per room capacity. Dance teachers have priority. 13. Dancers will complete all of their dances consecutively during their specified time block. Once all of their dances are complete, they are expected to exit the building and wait for the results to be posted (on social media, and posted on outdoor-facing windows). Awards for grade level dances may be collected until the end of the lunch break only. Dancers will be allowed in to collect grade-level awards ONCE. Please be sure ALL of your results are posted and collect ALL of your awards in one trip. The entrance for the awards area is via the CARLISLE Street entrance and you will be directed upstairs to the awards table. PC/OC awards will be presented at the podium (with social distancing) throughout the afternoon. Presentation times will be announced via social media and on signage outside the venue. 14. Printed results sheets for grades-level dancers will be made available…but the system is TBA. (perhaps emailed, perhaps printed at the venue…please bear with us as we sort out what will work best). PC/OC dancers will receive results sheets during awards ceremonies as per usual. 15. There will be NO day-of entries or changes of any kind permitted. 16. Waivers will be signed via eFeis upon registration. 17. Feis volunteers will disinfect rooms in between groups of dancers. 18. Dancers will line up for their dances while maintaining social distancing. They will dance one at a time. 19. There will be NO food available at the venue but there are many places nearby where families can purchase food and drinks. **Note—The Region of Niagara has a mandatory mask bylaw in place for all indoor public spaces. Please be aware of this when entering restaurants, shops, etc. during your time in our area.

Directions:	First Ontario Performing Arts Centre 250 St. Paul Street St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2