Everyone attending a Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community event must read this document and abide by its principles. People who do not follow these policies may be asked to leave the event without refund. Verbal or written complaints brought to us will be taken seriously and handled with confidentiality and care among the Safer Spaces Staff members.

 

Code of Conduct

 

Our goal at Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community is to create an inclusive and welcoming event where all people can enjoy social dancing and swing music in a safe and comfortable environment. We welcome dancers of all experience levels, and all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, physical ability, mental ability, gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance, or age. We expect all attendees to treat everyone with respect regardless of the factors mentioned above.

 

Swing is a social dance and our mission is to dance with different people. That said:

• Right to Refusal - Nobody owes anybody else a dance. Everyone has the right to decline a dance or to leave a dance, with or without explanation. Keep in mind that there are many possible reasons why someone may not want to dance with you in that moment. Please do not take it personally if someone says no to a dance with you, if they dance with someone else during that song, or if they leave a dance mid-song.

• Romantic Advances - Do not interpret dance connection as attraction. It is not appropriate to ask your partner out while dancing. Dancing can be physically close; this does not mean it is sexual or romantic in nature. 

• Forced Connections - Yes, swing dancing can involve close chest-to-chest connections; this does not mean you force your body against your partner. Please be considerate of the needs of your partner in terms of closeness, energy level, and connection type. If you notice non-verbal signals like body stiffening, hesitation, etc., and/or are unsure about what connection is appropriate for your partner, ask. Dances are a conversation — listen to each other!

• Unsolicited Feedback - DO speak up if you are uncomfortable, in pain, or at risk of being hurt. DO NOT critique, criticize, or teach on the dance floor unless specifically asked.

• Public Displays of Affection - Please refrain from overtly sexualized activities on the dance floor (e.g., grinding, making out, roaming hands).

• Aerials and Dips - Aerials are not allowed on our social dance floors, but with Committee permission may be permissible for performances. Please do NOT do weight-bearing moves, such as deep dips, without verbal consent.  

 

Safer Spaces Violations

 

Everyone attending a Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community event is expected to respect the boundaries of others on and off the dance floor. 

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If you are hurt, or made to feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any way by a fellow attendee or staff member, please immediately bring this to the attention of someone from the Safer Spaces Team (listed at bottom of page) or a Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community Committee member who will get in touch with the Safer Spaces Team. 

 

If you are told that something you are doing is hurting anyone, or making anyone feel unsafe or uncomfortable, immediately stop the behavior. Hearing that we have harmed someone or made them feel unsafe can be challenging. We encourage you to try not to take the feedback personally and instead view this as a learning opportunity to learn how to be a safer member of the community.

 

Even if you are not directly involved — if you notice someone is hurting a fellow attendee or causing them to feel unsafe or uncomfortable, we still ask that you bring this to the attention of a Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community Committee member.

 

Anyone who does or says something inappropriate, disrespectful, overtly sexual, illegal, dangerous, or otherwise violates any of the policies set forth here may face consequences up to and including immediate removal from the event, banning from future events, and legal action.

 

We reserve the right to ban individuals from attending any Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community event. 

 

For example, if anyone is: 

• A convicted sexual offender

• Currently being tried for a sexual offense

• Has a Protection from Abuse (PFA) against them

• Has a restraining order against them

This person may be refused entrance and/or removed from all Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community events. Please notify the Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community Committee if you know of any such individual who may plan to attend any Pittsburgh Swing Dance Community event.

 

Any person who has previously been reported for inappropriate and/or criminal behavior by a member of the broader social dance community may be banned and/or removed from our event. Please make concerns known to a Committee member before, during, or after the event.

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Safer Spaces Procedure

 

When you bring an issue to a member of the Safer Spaces Staff, you can expect:

• An initial conversation away from other attendees

• Confidentiality within the Safer Spaces Staff (unless we feel someone is in immediate danger)

• You will be asked how you would like the situation to be handled

• The staff member will share the situation with additional Safer Spaces Staff members

• The Safer Spaces Staff will then determine next steps in consultation with you

 

Some next steps may include the reported person being: 

• Monitored, but not approached, to keep an eye on them for further issues.

• Spoken to directly about their behavior and asked to stop.

• Removed from the event, and/or banned from future events.

• Reported to venue security and/or police.

 

If the resolution of any of these issues is not satisfactory, then you may be entitled to a refund (if applicable) at the discretion of the Safer Spaces Staff.​