Safe(r) Spaces

Code of Conduct

We Dance It All: our Safe(r) Spaces policy

We Dance It All is committed to a safe and fun experience for every dancer. This Safe(r) Spaces policy names the behaviors we welcome, and the ones that will not be tolerated. We welcome all dancers: all ages and abilities, all identities and orientations.

Consent comes first

Listen for an affirmative yes rather than waiting to hear a no. If you do not get a clear yes, check in and ask. Anyone can say no without explanation, and no one should take a no personally.

No harassment

We do not tolerate harassment of any kind: oppressive comments about gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, body image, race, or religion, as well as unwanted photos or recordings, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Know and respect boundaries

Any unwanted touch crosses a boundary, and no means no, on and off the dance floor. If someone tells you they are not interested in a social relationship, hear it and drop the subject. Boundaries are fluid and can shift from day to day, so when in doubt, ask.

If a boundary is crossed

If your boundaries are violated, or something simply felt off, speak to an organizer or Joe. We take every concern seriously and will work with you to resolve it.

When we step in

We reserve the right to refuse service, and repeat offenders will be asked to stop attending. Anyone who has been banned from other dance events for violating boundaries, has a record of harassment, or has been reported to the police for inappropriate behavior at a social event is not welcome here. Consent work can be hard, and we appreciate your engagement with it.

Come fragrance-free

We are an artificial-scent and chemical-free space. Please skip perfume, cologne, and other strong scents, and come with good hygiene. We dance in a close embrace, and many dancers are sensitive.

Your feedback shapes our culture

Culture keeps changing. Any organizer, teacher, or DJ will listen, and with your permission will share your feedback with our leadership so we can keep learning and growing.


Have fun, connect, laugh, express yourself, ask for what you want, and listen to others. Together we create the culture of the dance. May we respect each other's differences while connecting with our shared, ordinary humanity. Let's dance.

With gratitude, we adapted much of the language in this policy from the Safe(r) Spaces work of ABCD Jam, Earthdance, Mandala Dance, The Boston Jam, and The Toronto Jam. A good portion of this document was originally written by Nancy Shanteau. Please give credit when you reuse this language, so others can find the original authors. Nancy can be reached at nancy.shanteau@gmail.com.
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