Updated 7/20/2024 for Dance with Lane and Valley West Coast Swing events.
The dance community should be welcoming so everyone can learn and enjoy social dancing. We are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone, and We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure it. By attending our classes and events, you agree to abide by these rules and be held accountable if you engage in unsafe or harassing behavior. This applies to all individuals: students and teachers, beginners and experienced. We reserve the right to handle any violations of this Code of Conduct as we deem necessary. Violators may be ejected from the class or event without a refund and/or banned from attending future events.
Thank you for helping to support and protect our community!
DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE.
We want to dance with everyone! This community will welcome and respect all dancers regardless of race, age, level of dance, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, physical appearance, body size, religion, familial status, or anything else.
ROTATING PARTNERS
In this dance community, it is common to dance with different partners, even if you come with a particular partner. While this is entirely optional, it is an opportunity to connect with other dancers. Partner dances have a leader and a follower, or (if your partner agrees) you may switch roles during the dance. These roles are not tied to gender identity. There aren't any rules or norms about who should ask whom to dance. All participants are encouraged to ask one another to dance. As a rule of thumb, asking a partner to dance with you for more than two songs in a row is considered excessive.
DECLINING A DANCE
You may decline to dance with anyone at any time, with or without giving a reason. If you feel uncomfortable at any point in a dance, you may ask for adjustments or excuse yourself from a dance without explanation. If someone declines your invitation to dance, asks for adjustments, or excuses themselves during a dance, respect that.
RESPECT THE LEARNING PROCESS
Do not offer unsolicited advice, teaching, or criticism when interacting with other dancers. If this happens during class, it is considered impolite to the person you are correcting and the instructor. If there is a designated practice time and the instructor guides you to share feedback as part of the class, or your partner explicitly asks for help (wait to be asked, do not offer), then you may do so. Ensure you aren’t talking while the instructor is teaching if you are helping someone. Respect the learning process by allowing beginners to be beginners and the instructor to decide what information is helpful to participants in the class. Sometimes, excessive tips and feedback chip away at someone’s confidence, which can do more harm than good.
PHYSICAL SAFETY
Avoid drops, dips, and other weight-supported moves if you have yet to clear them with your partner, whether or not you have done these moves before with said partner. Lifts and aerials are not allowed on the social dance floor.
WELL-BEING AND HYGIENE
When attending an event, refrain from excessive alcohol or substance use beforehand. Alcohol is prohibited at events unless specified otherwise.
Dancing brings you into your partner's personal space, so please be cognizant of your hygiene. Wear freshly laundered clothing, and consider brushing your teeth before dancing and/or bringing mints (we often supply some). You can bring extra shirts, a towel, and deodorant if you sweat a lot. Refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, and products, as these can cause allergic reactions in many people.
Please err on the side of caution and stay home if you feel anything less than wonderful. It's a NO sniffle, cough, sore throat, or upset tummy Zone. Please respect anyone choosing to wear a mask. This includes, but is not limited to, not asking them to justify why they are wearing a mask and not asking them to remove it.
PICTURES AND VIDEO
You must ask for consent before filming or taking pictures during class or social dancing. If consent is given, you must also ask for permission to share them with others or post them on social media.
HARASSMENT
Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Making another person feel unsafe or uncomfortable is considered harassment; it includes but is not limited to making offensive comments, verbal abuse, inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact, physical intimidation, and disruption of workshops or social dancing. If you experience harassment during an event or notice someone else is being harassed, please alert me immediately so I can intervene. Anyone asked to stop any form of harassing or unsafe behavior is expected to comply immediately.