AYA FORT WAYNE

Hello AYA Fort Wayne Studios, Dancers and Parents!   

We are a few short weeks from Activate Your Artistry Fort Wayne. The entire AYA team is so excited about having a safe, inspirational event with all of our attending dancers. To make sure everyone is prepared for the convention weekend, we have assembled all the need to know information for Activate Your Artistry Fort Wayne.  

If you have any questions about the convention weekend that are not answered below, please send an email for a response in 24 hours or less.  

CONVENTION LOCATION:  

Grand Wayne Convention Center 

Calhoun Ballrooms

120 W Jefferson Blvd

Fort Wayne, IN 

CONVENTION DATES:  

January 22-23, 2022

REGISTRATION CHECK IN TIME: 

Each group or individual has been assigned a specific check in time sent via email to prevent crowding in public areas and to allow sanitizing of the registration area between groups.  

REGISTRATION SAFETY INFO:  

When you arrive at the venue, each dancer will have a distance temperature check, verbal wellness check, required hand sanitizing and if the dancer has a dance bag, the bottom of the bag will be spritzed with a quick-drying, sterile alcohol-based solution.  The venue has guaranteed deep cleaning of the premises prior to and during the convention weekend and requires masks to be worn inside the building. 

In addition to that Activate Your Artistry requires all dancers and attending observers to follow our safety guidelines on the COVID safety plan as listed on our website.

Each dancer must have a signed liability waiver on file or they will not be permitted to participate in convention classes.  

If your dancer requires any special medical accommodations, please let the registration table associate know and we will do our best to accommodate.  

CONVENTION SCHEDULE:  

 AYA Fort Wayne will run on a staggered dismissal schedule before the lunch and dinner  break to prevent crowding in the hallways and common areas for the safety of all attending dancers.  We kindly request that dancers stay in their assigned ballrooms for the convention weekend.  

CONCERT GALA:  

We are so excited to bring back the Concert Gala this year! Seats are available on a first come basis. Doors for this event will open at 6:15 pm with the show to start at 6:30 pm. The first two rows of chairs are reserved for teachers and studio owners only. All other chairs will be in groups of 4-6 chairs with space in between to allow for social distancing.  

In addition to performances, scholarships will be awarded during the Gala. If your dancer can not attend the Gala, any scholarships or awards they may have earned will be held for them until the following day.

OBSERVER BANDS: 

To allow the attending dancers space to safely distance and to limit overcrowding, Observer bands will be available on a first come, first served basis.  

You are encouraged to purchase your band online in advance. Observer bands can be purchased at the door if seats are still available at that time.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: 

Convention attendees can stay near the venue at the Hampton Inn SW Fort Wayne with our group rate of $139/night by calling (260) 459 - 1999 . 

Thank you for choosing to make Activate Your Artistry a part of your dance season. 

In light of the Delta variant, immuno compromised staff and due to some convention participants being under age for vaccination, the following Covid policies have been established for all Activate Your Artistry events.

Please be advised that these rules are in place for the safety of all attending dancers. Activate Your Artistry is not liable for any exposure to the COVID-19 virus or any other illness while attending our events. We kindly request each attendee use their best judgment before participating in any group activities and that anyone over 65 or with serious pre-existing conditions not attend. The following rules will be updated as needed as the situation requires.

Each independent dancer and studio company will be given a specific check in time no later than 2 weeks before the convention. This is to control crowding in common areas and allow an easy check in at registration.
If necessary, two registration areas will be made available and assigned to each studio company.

Temperature checks will be done on each person entering an Activate Your Artistry event. We will be using a no-contact digital thermometer to quickly assess if an attending dancer may have a fever of over 100.4 degrees. If an attendee is showing signs of fever or visibly clear symptoms, they will not be allowed into the convention. Additionally, any immediate family members present with them will also not be allowed to enter the convention.
Faculty and staff will be temperature and wellness checked each day of the event. 

We kindly request that each dancer and observer wear a mask while in the ballrooms and while walking through common areas. Please email activateyourartistry@gmail.com if a dancer accommodation is needed due to a medical condition.
Preventative supplies such as hand sanitizer, masks, hepa air filter units and cleaning wipes will be made available both at registration and by the audio table in each convention ballroom. Regular first aid is available at the registration table.
Sanitizing fogger machine will be used in each ballroom during break periods. We kindly ask that all attendees exit the ballroom during breaks to allow for sanitization.

The convention schedule may  be staggered by 15 minutes to allow each level to exit their ballroom for lunch and other breaks. We kindly request that everyone adhere to the posted schedule to keep hallway crowding to a minimum.
Convention ballrooms will be kept at 50% percent capacity if needed to allow dancers more personal space during classes. Observer seats will also be limited so early registration is suggested to reserve a seat. 

Typically, Activate Your Artistry allows dancers to try classes in rooms above or below their level if space allows. In the event that COVID regulations are still in place by the start of the tour, room switching will not be allowed. Each dancer will only be allowed into the ballroom assigned to their level. 

In the event that overly large crowds are deemed unsafe by the convention weekend, the Concert Gala Performance may be separated by level or cancelled at the discretion of Activate Your Artistry ownership.