Health & Safety

1. Health & Safety in the Performance Space

2. Health (1) • Always warm up • Wear several Layers • Wear trousers that don’t drape on the floor • Are you wearing appropriate clothing for the choreography? • Don’t eat or chew gum (choking hazard) • Cover foot sores – wear soft slip on jazz shoes • Breath appropriately • Be aware of others around you & adapt

3. Health (2) • Adapt your choreography to suit less skilful dancers • Cool down, calm down, stretch out, walk out • Warm up & cool down your dancers before & after teaching your choreography • Return to exercise gradually after injury • Do not repeat a particular action too frequently (RSI) • Take a plastic screw top/sports top bottle of water to class to keep hydrated

4. Safety – Conditions (1) • Is the floor clean & clear from clutter • Is it slippy • Is it concrete, or is it a sprung floor? • Is the temperature right (20ºC min) • Does it have air conditioning, fans, windows?

5. Safety – Conditions (2) • Are the mirrors made of safety glass? Are they clean? • Do the mirrors have curtains? Can they be closed/opened safely? • Are there suitable changing & washing facilities • Are there any objects that might injure a dancer travelling at speed?

6. Safety - Equipment • Is the sound system accessible, secure & in a safe area? • Are the leads out of site & tucked away • Can it be used safely by people of different heights? • Are portable CD players in good working order? • Where is the visual equipment? Is it sited safely?

7. Safety Rules • Only use barefeet or clean dance shoes for studios • Do not switch on sockets until everything is plugged in • Bags to be at the front of the studio • Trailing leads to be taped in place and around the edges of the room • Only use plastic bottles for water NOT GLASS

8. Safe Practice – Physical Skills • Position yourself sensibly – be aware of your space • Be aware of your core strength. Use your muscles correctly