Dear Parents & Students,

You will all be across the changes announced in the last 24hrs which are impacting all our lives. My heart goes out to all our families especially those who run service based businesses, or work in any industry that has now been deemed “non-essential” and required to close today at 12pm – indefinitely.

I understand the situation we are in as a community and as a country. I acknowledge the enormity of it and how the rest of the world has also been affected. However, nothing about Stratosphere Performing Arts is “non-essential” to me. It is in fact the most essential thing in my life (aside from my family and friendships).

I am writing to ask you all to stand by me over the next week, month, six months – who knows how long – until the day we can return and dance together again.

We were about to start Week 8 of our dance term, leaving 3 more weeks of lessons for Term One. I am determined to see out the Term to the best of my ability and honour everyone’s term fees. I also have a huge sense of responsibility towards my faculty, many who are contractors, to see them through the next few weeks until I can determine a solution for Term 2 or accept the indefinite closure of the business.

There will be no lessons this week starting Monday 23rd March to Saturday 28th March. In lieu of this week I will be hosting an extra week of lessons in Term 4 after the concert (held Monday 7th December to Saturday 12th December). Over the next 6 days our Stratosphere PA faculty will be working on producing online virtual classes which will be sent home to families in replacement of lessons for Weeks 9 and 10.

The success of our “online learning program” in Weeks 9 and 10 will influence my plan for the studio during the remaining period of compulsory closure.

I’m sure you appreciate that Stratosphere Performing Arts is an essential part of so many lives. We know that dancing is often the best part of our students’ week. More importantly, the studio is the main source of income for many of our staff. For this reason I will not be providing refunds or credit for the next three weeks but instead implementing the above mentioned plan for the remaining weeks of Term 1.

Beyond this – “only Ahtohallan knows” (if you know, you know).

Sending love and positivity to all my Superstars.
You are my everything.
This is not a goodbye, but a “see you soon”.

Yours in Dance,

Kate Gibbs
Stratosphere Performing Arts
PH: 0422564966
www.stratosphere.com.au
Creating Stars of Tomorrow !