Starting March 1, 2023, the Joan Weill Center for Dance will be a mask-optional environment. While masks will still be encouraged, they will not be mandatory for students, faculty, musicians, and staff of Ailey Extension.

Note: A masking policy will remain in effect for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II dancers and crew, and anyone working in direct contact with these individuals.

As of January 3, 2023, Ailey no longer requires proof of vaccination but we encourage patrons to receive all available vaccines.

Yes. Studios are designed for 6-foot social distancing measures for students, instructors, and musicians.

Dressing rooms and showers are now reopened at a limited capacity, please ask the front desk for more information.

Lockers are available for daily usage and must be cleared out by the end of the day.

Due to social distancing requirements and safety precautions, all common areas are unavailable and students are asked to not loiter outside of the studios or in the lobby. 

When Ailey is informed that an individual who has been at The Center has tested positive for COVID-19, Ailey will identify anyone who might have been exposed to the infected individual while at The Center for long enough to have put them at risk of infection. In coordination with the NYC and NYS contact tracing programs, Ailey will implement a contact tracing tool via its app deployment and/or through its above-mentioned partnerships to assist personnel in the notification of members of the Ailey community who have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive while at The Center.

Should an individual feel ill while at The Center, that individual will be isolated until they can be safely exited The Center with compliant instructions for testing; should that individual test positive for COVID-19, the above contact tracing protocol will be deployed. 

Regardless of your vaccination status, anyone who tests positive must do the following:  

• Send an email immediately to aileyforward@alvinailey.org to inform us of your positive test result. 

• Isolate yourself at home for 5 days. 

• If you have been fever-free for 24 hours and have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house. If you still have a fever or your symptoms are not resolving, you are required to remain in isolation until your fever resolves. 

• All those who test positive, as well as those who have been in direct contact with a someone who tested positive, will receive communication from The Ailey School further instructions.  

• If you have been cleared by The Ailey School to exit isolation and return to the Ailey building after 5 days of isolation, you will be required to double mask (2 layers of mask protection) for 5 additional days.   

Ailey is following all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Dance USA guidelines on cleaning and air flow. Details can be found in Ailey Forward. In brief, Ailey will clean all studios with electrostatic sprayers, use CDC approved cleaning supplies, and maximize airflow and air filters (Merv 13 and higher) in the HVAC system. Bathrooms are fully hands-free including toilet seat activated flushing devices.