CODE OF CONDUCT

Kizomba 808 is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone, regardless of dance skill or background, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or any other characteristic or trait. We are expecting cooperation from all participants to help ensure an inclusive, safe dance experience for everybody.

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Kizomba 808 supports the idea that dance roles (lead and follow) do not need to be tied to gender. We encourage all dancers to avoid assumptions regarding dance roles and to check in with their partners about their preferred roles. Feel free to ask anyone to dance.

With Kizomba 808, no forms of harassment will be tolerated. Harassment includes, but not limited to, inappropriate verbal comments or verbal abuse, deliberate intimidation, bullying, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Online harassment between students will also not be tolerated and unjust defamation, verbal intimidation, and bullying that is brought to our attention will result in punitive actions against the aggressor. 

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Harassment is not always done intentionally. If anyone engages in harassing or unsafe behavior, we hold the right to take any action we deem appropriate. Anyone asked to stop any harassing or unsafe behavior is expected to comply immediately. Anyone who does not comply immediately may be sanctioned or expelled from Kizomba 808 events at our discretion.

 

While at a our events, we are happy to help with immediately addressing concerns and otherwise assisting anyone experiencing harassment, to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety. Please contact a front desk volunteer, instructor, or DJ if you need assistance locating a Kizomba 808 staff member.

 

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact Kizomba 808 immediately. We will respect the reporter’s and/or victim’s anonymity wishes when dealing with harassment claims.

You are not obligated to dance with anyone, and you can turn down any dance or end it early for any reason. You are the ultimate authority on your own boundaries, which may be different with different people and which may change over time. You can always tell a partner that they’ve crossed a boundary.

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You are not entitled to dance with anyone and should not take being turned down as a personal insult. You should treat every dance you receive with respect and recognize that your partner is the ultimate authority of their own boundaries and physical safety.  Belittling or denying your partner’s experience is not appropriate. Ask consent for anything you think may cross a boundary. We recommend apologizing if you think you crossed a boundary or if your partner expressed that you did.

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Kizomba 808 asks that all students be mindful and respectful of their partner’s comfort level as it pertains to physical proximity, body contact, hand placement, or any movements that cross a partner’s specific personal boundaries. Be respectful that a familiar dance partner’s boundaries are flexible and they reserve the right to change their mind about their comfort levels at any point.

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Any movements that are typically done in close proximity to one’s partner can be modified and still led/followed enjoyably and comfortably. If you are confused about issues on connection and intimacy in dance and want to adapt the dance form to fit your personal comfort level, our instructors will be happy to help you - just ask!

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Complaints about forced/unwanted physical intimacy, boundary crossing, or excessive verbal persuasion to try intimate holds or connection will not be tolerated and may result in your removal from Kizomba events.

Please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers. Each person’s learning style is different. Unsolicited advice can often be distracting from or disheartening for a student’s learning. Classes and practicas are an ideal time to work out issues with a movement by relying on the instructing staff present. We ask that you rely on the wealth of resources that your instructors possess and never assume that you have the answer or that your partner is at fault. Our instructors are trained to give kind, constructive feedback. While you may have the best intentions when giving feedback to your partner, it can often be misinterpreted as unkind or condescending, or may simply not actually address the issue at hand. If we see behavior or receive complaints about unsolicited advice or unkind comments on the dance floor, you will be warned by our staff and given better tools for working with your partner. Kizomba 808 reserves the right to take more severe punitive measures (as seen fit by our staff) if the behavior persists.

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If you are having difficulty executing a move during a social or practica, we suggest the following verbiage to ensure you remain kind and respectful to your partner:

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“I am having trouble with the move, how does it feel to you?”

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“Is there anything I can do to make the move more comfortable?”

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“I am not quite feeling what you are leading. Can we please try it again?”

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“I would love to have an instructor watch us to see if we are doing it correctly, do you mind?”

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Feedback on the social floor is not appropriate unless specifically requested by your partner. A social is a space where students are meant to enjoy and experience the dance at whatever technical level they are at. Giving feedback on the social dance floor can provide a bad experience for the receiver of said feedback. If you have concerns about someone’s safety when dancing socially, please get in touch with Kizomba 808.

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Additionally, teaching on the social dance floor is not encouraged. Dance at whatever your partner’s level is and do not try to teach them more advanced movements. This can often lead to injury if the movement is not taught correctly or fully understood by both parties.

While there is always some risk associated with any physical activity, we are committed to preventing injuries before they happen. Injuries frequently occur as a result of unsafe dancing, which we deem as any movement that puts anyone at an unnecessarily high risk of physical injury. If you are unsure what constitutes unsafe dancing or have concerns about the safety of a dance partner’s movements, please consult with Kizomba 808.

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Use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries. Leads are responsible to stay attentive and prevent, to the best of their ability, their follow being led into a collision.

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Kizomba 808 is not responsible and will not be held liable for any injuries that occur during our events. By attending our events, the attendee understands that they take responsibility for their own personal safety in regard to injuries.

Kizomba 808 does not strictly police the use of alcohol or other intoxicants at our classes or events, however, if any participant is noted to be visibly intoxicated to the point where dancing and socializing becomes dangerous, Kizomba 808 reserves the right to ask said participant to safely leave our event. Additional restrictions may be put in place on individuals found to be dangerously using alcohol or other drugs at our discretion after such an incident occurs.

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If we become aware of any behavior in which alcohol or other drugs are used to intoxicate and take advantage of other participants at our events, the provider of said substances will be severely restricted from Kizomba 808 spaces or banned entirely.