The Dance Flurry Organization upholds the values of inclusivity, thoughtfulness, and mutual respect, and strives to make its events feel safe and welcoming for all participants.
Culture of Consent: All actions, on and off the dance floor, should be consensual. Dance moves should be led/offered verbally or non-verbally, never forced. Anyone may decline a request to dance, or ask that a partner hold or engage with them differently. Unwanted advances are never acceptable.
Culture of Respect: Everyone is welcome and encouraged to choose the role they want to dance, and we expect that all participants will respect the role choices of others. Understand that some individuals may choose to wear masks for health reasons. Treat everyone with kindness and respect – this applies to all genders, ages, races, abilities, neurotypes, or any of the other variables that make us unique.
Culture of Communication: Ask your partner about their comfort with flourishes, close embraces, twirls, or dips, and adjust your dance style to their needs and abilities. Tell your partner what you need, and if someone asks you to refrain from something, be courteous and cooperative. If someone is doing something that makes you uncomfortable, let them know, and if needed remove yourself from the situation and contact a volunteer.
Culture of Safety: Traditional dancing is a social event, and not inherently romantic or sexual. Things like eye contact and close embrace may feel normal and appropriate for some people or in some contexts, and uncomfortable and inappropriate for others. If your partner communicates discomfort, respond and adjust respectfully. Event organizers value your safety more than your politeness, and you should feel empowered to leave any interaction at any time. For the safety of all, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use are not permitted at DFO events.
Culture of Responsiveness: If you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel you are being treated appropriately and feel you need help managing the situation, please seek out a volunteer or event organizer and ask for their help.
We aim to have two volunteers at each event who are trained to handle complaints and concerns. They will listen to you in a private space and discuss what steps to take. They may discuss your concerns anonymously with the other person(s) and take action if indicated. We will report incidents back to the DFO Board of Directors so we can do our best to maintain a safe environment. We will attempt to get both people’s contact information for future reference.
See below on what to do if you have a concern or complaint.
General Dance Etiquette
Here are some tips/suggestions for being a courteous and thoughtful dancer
- Do your part to avoid the spread of germs by washing/sanitizing hands as needed, and refrain from attending events when you are ill.
- Avoid perfume or other scented products as some people are sensitive or allergic.
- If you perspire heavily, bring clean shirts/tops to change into as needed during the dance.
- Smooth, soft-soled shoes work best for dancing and help protect the floor. If you do not have shoes that are worn indoors only, wipe them thoroughly before dancing.
- When the caller or instructor is teaching, please be quiet and pay attention. You may not need the instruction, but others around you will.
- Handhold should be a connection, not a grip. The person who wants to let go should be able to drop a handhold.
- Adjust your dance style to your partner’s needs and abilities. Aim to accommodate your partner, whatever their gender, size, age, or level of experience. This could include moving slower, softer connection, avoiding an injured body part, and keeping your hands in the appropriate places.
- Mistakes are OK! When helping other dancers, keep the atmosphere light. New dancers will relax when they sense your enjoyment and that you are more interested in being part of the flow than in perfection. While dancing, do not give tips unless asked; limit your response to the question that was asked. You can ask for or offer to provide more general guidance at the beginning or end of a dance, but avoid unsolicited feedback.
- Finding partners. When looking for another partner after a dance ends, thoughtful dancers will look to the sidelines to see if there is someone who sat out the last dance who would like to dance the next. If you are an experienced dancer and notice new dancers, please ask them to dance. Your gesture will help a newcomer feel welcome in our dance community. Generally, dancers wait until a dance is over before asking someone for the next dance. Everyone has the right to decline to dance.
- If you see someone who seems uncomfortable or who is not being treated appropriately, ask if they would like support and remind them they can leave the situation if needed. If there is a clear problem, alert a volunteer and let them know if you would like them to intervene.
What to do if you have a concern or complaint
If you find yourself in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation during a DFO event and would like organizers to be made aware or to intervene, please seek out one of the designated Safer Spaces Ambassadors for that event, recognizable by name tag buttons and identifiable by door staff.
These volunteers, and/or the event organizer, will:
- Speak privately with you outside of the main event area
- Ask for your description of what has occurred and ask clarifying questions to understand the details and nuance
- Take notes on your report, which will be kept confidential, unless disclosure is required by law.
- Request your name and contact information for an incident report, also to be kept confidential, unless disclosure is required by law.
- Ask what your current needs are, and what you would like in terms of resolution
- Offer you the support of other volunteers while the issue is being addressed
- Inform you of their intended next steps, and the range of possible outcomes
- Follow up with you after any intervention that may take place
- In event of an emergency or direct threat to safety, contact police
If you wish to make a report after an event, please send an email to president@danceflurry.org, and you will be contacted for follow-up.
Partial credit to: https://bigdamnbluesjam.weebly.com/safety-policy.html