We are all about fun and sharing our love of swing dancing in a friendly, supportive environment. Please take a little time to read the following Code of Conduct including its guidance on swing dance etiquette which is aimed at creating the most comfortable and enjoyable dancing experience for each and every person (dancers and teachers alike).
By signing our Attendance Register you are agreeing to the terms of the Code (hard copy typically found alongside the Register). If you are unable to respect our Code of Conduct, you may be asked to leave our classes or events, or be permanently banned at the Committee’s discretion, without a refund.
If you feel uncomfortable, or if you see someone else being made to feel uncomfortable, whether intentional or otherwise, please speak up, let a Committee Member know, contact us here, or use the Safety Representative Contact details set out below.
1. We will be nice to everyone and treat all people with respect. We will not harass anyone. We will not discriminate according to sex, gender expression or sexual orientation, nor race, religion, or nationality. We will treat everyone equally, regardless of age, ability, physical appearance, lifestyle, dance experience or dance role.
2. We will be inclusive and invite others to dance, and we will be gracious if turned down. We may say no without giving a reason, but we will be polite when doing so and if we promise to dance later on, we will honour that promise.
3. We will be responsible for our own physical safety and that of others nearby. We will practice safe floor-craft and say sorry if we accidentally bump another person. We will not offer unsolicited advice or instruction, nor perform aerials on the social floor. If we consume alcohol we will do so responsibly, and if we are drunk enough to pose a risk to ourselves or others, we will leave the dance floor and retire to the bar.
4. We will take care of our own personal hygiene, and bring towels, spare clothing and extra deodorant if necessary. We will be considerate when choosing our clothing, footwear, and accessories and we will not wear anything that is potentially hazardous to ourselves or to others.
5. We will be respectful and acknowledge that the personal boundaries of others may not be the same as our own. We will be mindful of the appropriateness of language that some may find offensive. We will not touch anyone without consent and we will apologise immediately if we unintentionally touch a person’s private areas.
6. We understand that following the above guidelines ensures a better experience for everyone and that participating in any kind of verbal, physical or sexual abuse will have consequences. This may include, but is not limited to, being asked to leave without refund and exclusion from future events.
7. We, the organisers, promise to treat any reports made, from dancers in our home scenes or elsewhere, with sensitivity and to keep all details as confidential as is possible (however, in the event of a police investigation, all information will become disclosable).
*We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed intimidating or inappropriate behaviour to tell an organiser.
At Cheshire Swing Cats your suggested points of contact are Michelle Smith (michelle.cheshireswingcats@gmail.com) or Matthew Rigby (matthew.cheshireswingcats@gmail.com). If you prefer to talk in person, or would prefer to speak to another member of staff, you are welcome to do so at any event throughout the year.
If you’d rather speak to someone outside of our immediate group, all of the people listed here are ready to listen.
Safety People are available for discussion and reassurance, not just formal reports – please do tell us about your concerns, even small ones – we’re here for you!
Safety in Swing Dance organisers and teachers will happily provide support to anyone experiencing problematic behaviours in the Swing dance scene, not just our own dancers and students, see the entire Safety in Swing Dance website for more details.