Nanaimo West Coast Swing Code of Conduct

We are excited to welcome you to our dance!

In order to make sure our space is fun, safe, and inclusive for you and others, we have a code of conduct that we expect everyone to follow. This code sets out what we expect from attendees, staff, volunteers, instructors, and visitors. It also describes our process if you report an issue.

What to Know Before Your First Dance

  • Our unofficial mandate is to improve the level of dance among existing west coast swing dancers. Most of our dances have an all-levels workshop.
  • Dancers generally dress casually. Sports clothes, t-shirts and tank tops are common. As long as you wear clothes, you’ll fit in!
  • Please dance in clean, non-marking shoes (not worn outside); socks; or dance shoes.
  • You can invite anyone to dance by asking in words and letting them know which role(s) you are comfortable dancing. People may say yes or no to any invitation to dance, and you’re welcome to say yes or no for any reason!
  • It’s encouraged to ask a partner to stop an unwanted behaviour or avoid any particular movement or set of movements. For example, you can ask to avoid head ducks, use a softer grip, or limit spins and turns.
  • You have a right to stop a dance for any reason and at any time. We encourage you to end a dance if your partner is not able or willing to honour your boundaries.
  • Plan for your body needs – maybe bring a shirt change, water, deodorant, or a snack. Please use unscented products (no perfume, cologne, or scented body care products).

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Policies

Consent

We expect every attendee to make sure they have consent from their partner throughout a dance.

Substances and Alcohol

Substances and Alcohol We do not sell or permit alcohol or drugs at our events or in our venue parking lots.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault

We strive to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and assault for any reason, including but not limited to age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, race, or ethnicity.

Health

We expect that you refrain from attending our events if you have or suspect that you have an airborne contagious illness.

Photography

We expect that you will not film or photograph specific dancers without their explicit agreement.

Nanaimo West Coast Swing Collective may use event photographs or videos for marketing purposes.

If anything happens that you are uncomfortable with or do not know how to handle, you can approach an organizer for help by speaking with them at an event or by emailing nwcswingdance@gmail.com.

Any follow-up we do with a report is based on your consent – we will ask before taking concrete action unless there is a substantial threat to someone’s safety or life.

 

Policies

Detail on the policies that make up our Code of Conduct is shared below.  The examples given are not exhaustive and are meant to illustrate the spirit of each policy.

We expect attendees to follow the spirit of the policy and do not appreciate “rules lawyering” related to the specific examples included or excluded below.

Consent

Policy: We expect every attendee to make sure they have consent from their partner throughout a dance.

Detail:

  • Invite others to dance in a way that invites their yes or their no.
  • Respect others’ personal boundaries, whether you understand the rationale for the boundary or not.
  • Accept non-verbal boundaries including refusal to complete a pattern or movement.
  • Ask verbally before initiating weight supported patterns in a new-to-you partnership.
  • Ask verbally before initiating movements you are uncertain of.
  • Apologize if you learn that you crossed a boundary.

Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault

Policy: We strive to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and assault for any reason, including but not limited to age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, race, or ethnicity.

Detail: Any comment or behaviour which makes another person feel unsafe or uncomfortable to the point of being unable to enjoy the event can be considered harassment. Please:

  • Dance your preferred role regardless of your identities. West Coast Swing is a degendered dance.
  • Apologize if you make accidental body contact (whether with your dance partner or anyone else).
  • Keep an eye out for other dancers on and around the dance floor and avoid bumping into one another.
  • Ask our team for help if you need first aid.
  • Refrain from giving any unsolicited feedback, particularly feedback related to appearance or identity.
  • Refrain from teaching at our social dance. Requests for adjustment within a partnership are welcome and are not an invitation for teaching.

If you are aware that a previous issue has resulted in you being banned or limited from a dance event, let us know in advance of attending our event. If we are surprised by a pre-existing issue we may limit your involvement in our event to a greater degree.

Substances and Alcohol

Policy: We do not sell or permit alcohol or drugs at our events or in our venue parking lots.

Detail:

  • Don’t bring alcohol or drugs to our events.
  • Don’t attend a dance intoxicated.

Anyone who puts themselves or others at risk due to substance use, or who is unable to uphold the consent policy due to substance use, will be removed from the event without refund.

Health

Policy: We expect that you refrain from attending our events if you have or suspect that you have an airborne contagious illness.

Detail:

  • Do not attend our events if you are ill.
  • If you have been exposed to higher risk of illness, (e.g. through recent travel) please wear a mask as a precaution.
  • In borderline cases, where you were recently ill, please wear a mask as a precaution.

Photography

Policy: We expect that you will not film or photograph specific dancers without their explicit agreement.

Nanaimo West Coast Swing Collective may use event photographs or videos for marketing purposes.

Detail: Dancers have a right to be free from unwanted scrutiny, documentation of their dances, or publication of their dances.

  • Ask before taking a photo or video of any specific person. Respect their yes and their no equally.
  • Do not post photos or videos of specific dancers online.

Addressing Harm

This is a learning space and no space is perfect. As a group, we commit to working towards an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and assault of any type.

If you witness or directly experience something that you are uncomfortable with or do not know how to handle, our first priority is to look after you. Consider what you might need – a break, some distance, a good friend, some water, or something else?

Once you are able, we appreciate your help in addressing the issue in whatever way feels manageable and helpful to you. Some options could be:

  • Letting an organizer or instructor know what happened.
  • Asking for help to address what happened from a trusted friend or community member.
  • Directly addressing the behaviour with the person who did it.

After You Report

Unless there is an imminent risk of harm (for example, a threat to someone’s safety or life), we ask for your consent at each stage of our follow-up on a report. With your consent, we may:

  • Speak to other people involved in the incident.
  • Speak to the person alleged to have violated the code of conduct.
  • Speak with third parties (for example, other dance organizers).
  • Mediate an interpersonal issue between you and the person you allege violated the Code of Conduct.
  • Call the police or another organization.

 

Some follow-up actions may allow you to remain anonymous, while other follow-up actions may identify you or risk identifying you. It is your choice whether to give your consent, and you may choose to give or not give your consent for any reason. If you ask us not to use your name or do not give your consent for follow-up, we may not be as able to manage the issue effectively. In some situations, this may lead to us taking no action.

After looking into an incident, we may decide to do one of the following:

  • Take no action
  • Advise the person about their behaviour
  • Take steps to mediate the conflict between you and them (if applicable and consented to)
  • Require them to enter into a written behavioural agreement to continue to attend the event
  • Suspend them from participating in certain activities
  • Ban them (temporarily or permanently) from the event
  • Reinforce community and/or policy norms in a broader group setting

The Nanaimo WCS Collective reserves the right to refuse service or have any individual removed from the premises if we feel that there is reason or need to do so.

Acknowledgements

This Code of Conduct was inspired by other documents including Roundhouse Experiment’s Code of Conduct and Canada Zouk Congress’s policy documents.

Feedback

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions for improvement to our Code of Conduct, please contact us.