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Code of Conduct

SBDC does not permit any type of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or abuse of any kind. And we take all allegations and reports very seriously.

 

Respect people’s boundaries. That means do not engage in activities or behaviours that could be deemed as unsafe, inappropriate, or unwanted. This included physical contact, emotional contact, or even how you conduct yourself on the floor (i.e. You may feel safe doing a dip or a fancy move, but your partner may not.. So play it safe and just don’t do it).Bumping into someone on the floor is common, or maybe there was some accidental unwanted contact.  Make sure you apologise. 

 

Use appropriate language, we do not tolerate any language that may be offensive or may marginalise others. We also do not approve of any language that is homophobic, misogynist, transphobic, ableist and racist.

 

We ask that you do not give unsolicited dance advice or criticism unless someone has explicitly asked for it. First of all, it is dangerous (and rude) to stop a dance and remain in the middle of the dance floor to have a conversation. Secondly, you may cause someone emotional or physical discomfort in giving advice that is unsolicited. If your partner does ask for advice, please leave the dance floor to talk, and we also suggest using the sandwich principle of constructive feedback; start with something positive, give your feedback, and then end with something positive.

 

Welcome all participants. Do your best to dance with everyone and make all participants feel at home. It is fine to hang out with your core group of friends, but don’t forget that every single member is crucial to building a community, so we ask that you make an effort to keep everyone involved.

 

You will most likely meet some wonderful people that you really hit it off with.  We understand that people meet, become friends, maybe more! Dating in the dance scene is bound to happen. But the club’s primary purpose is not to find dates or hook-ups, we ask you act responsibly, treat people with respect, and have fun. We will not tolerate any predatory behaviour.

 

Be prepared for rejection, and act graciously. If someone does say no, please do not continue to pursue the individual, if you do it will be considered harassing behaviour which is not tolerated at SBDC. This is especially important when a dancer takes on a volunteer or teaching role - these situations can create power differentials. It can catch an unsuspecting person by surprise and make them feel pressured. Any similar abuse of authority is counter to what we are trying to build and is unacceptable.Assault of any type is 100% not tolerated, and if anyone feels unsafe, or notices that someone else is being treated unfairly we ask that you report it immediately to the SBDC executives.

 

Respect human rights. Be accepting of the diversity of people, values and lifestyles that come with a vibrant dance community.

 

Be welcoming! You might have a core group of dance friends, and it’s absolutely fine to enjoy them! But do your best to dance with and be kind and welcoming to everyone. Snobbery, cliques, and intentional social exclusion are toxic to the community.

 

No soliciting without approvals. We need to set boundaries for our community and create a sense of fairness among our dancers. This applies to soliciting political or religious agendas; social movements; your house party; other dance groups and events; petitions; lobbying; and advocacies.

 

Do not bring or consume outside alcohol on the premises.

 

Be considerate and respectful to the volunteers and staff. We all rely on them to do good, efficient work. When they are on duty and in authority of a job, a group of people, or a space, they must be respected and cooperated with.Mind our stuff and spaces. We rent our spaces from other organizations so please treat them with respect.  Misuse of anything SBDC owns/rents/leases cannot be tolerated. This includes the building, equipment, fixtures, and furniture. This also includes observing private vs. public spaces within the building.

 

Look out for, and report any manipulative or predatory behaviour. It is important for us as a community to watch out for one another and ensure safety from those who have abusive or manipulative tendencies. We take note of, and precautions, against all such individuals, and will take action to firewall such individuals from continuing to enter our events. 

 

Report any misconduct, including verbal or physical misconduct or harassment, SBDC leaders. 

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