Be respectful of others.
Our society is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender/gender identity, race, nationality, sexual orientation, dance experience, preferred role, size, and so on. This is not just about ‘tolerating’, but about welcoming anyone and everyone. Any form of bullying/harassment/discrimination/… will not be tolerated, nor will we tolerate sexist, racist, transphobic, homophobic, ableist or any other form of discriminatory language.

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Avoid gendered language.

Always use the terms ‘lead’ and ‘follow’ and use gender-neutral pronouns when explaining something, unless you are referring to someone whose pronouns you know for sure. Everyone is free to choose whether they lead or follow, regardless of their gender.

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‘No’ means ‘no’.
If someone does not want to dance with you, accept this. They have the right to refuse a dance and do not owe you an explanation. Also be respectful of their chosen role (lead/follow). If they are flexible, all the better, but do not pressure anyone to take on a role they do not want to take on.

 

Be respectful of your own boundaries.
Do not let yourself be pressured into dancing with someone you do not want to dance with. You have the right to refuse and do not owe them an explanation. Also, do not let yourself be pressured to take on a role you do not wish to take on or do high risk moves you are not comfortable with. However, when you refuse, try to be polite about it.

In a class context, we require our dancers to rotate and expect everyone to do so, but if you do have serious issues with someone in particular, please come and talk to a committee member so we can help you solve your problem.

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Communicate with your partner.
Be sure to know which role they want to take on, or let them know which role you want to take on. If you’re injured, tell your partner. If your partner is injured, bear that in mind when dancing. Sudden dips and unannounced aerials can cause injuries, so only perform dips and aerials with explicit verbal consent from your partner.

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Personal space.

Respect people’s requests concerning personal space. Do not touch without asking and give other dancers space when they need it. If you want to dance in a close embrace, ask your partner if they are comfortable with it. If you are not comfortable with dancing in a close embrace with someone, let them know, and do not let yourself be pressured into doing so anyway.

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Play it safe.
To avoid accidents, pay attention to your surroundings and adjust your dancing to the amount of space you have. Also be careful when dancing near electrical equipment, tables with food and drinks, lights, etc.
We know how much fun showing off can be, but aerials, lifts, flips, and drops are not the best moves to pull on a social dance floor. At jams or comps, however, feel free to show us what you got (with your partner’s consent, of course)!
When you do want to perform a potentially risky move, be sure to know what you’re doing. A lift that sort of worked out a few weeks ago or a dip that you half-remember from a workshop last year is not a good idea.

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Giving feedback.
Feedback is only acceptable when explicitly asked for by your partner (‘Hey, am I doing this right?’ or ‘Was that okay?’) or explicitly encouraged by teachers. When you have known your partner for a long time and know that feedback will be welcomed, you may give them feedback, but be sure to confirm with them first. (Eg. ‘May I make a suggestion?’) Unwanted feedback can make people insecure and makes you look like a bit of a smartarse…

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Please know that this code of conduct was not installed to police you or tell you off, but rather to create a safe environment in which everyone feels comfortable and welcomed. However, if you do break the code of conduct, appropriate measures will be taken against you.

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Ask For Frankie

Named after Frankie Manning, Ask For Frankie is an initiative by the Aberdeen University Swing Dance Society that allows dancers in distress to discretely ask for help. If you are experiencing problems at one of our events or classes and don’t know what to do, simply go to one of our committee members and ask for Frankie. (Eg. ‘Hi, can I speak to Frankie, please?’ or ‘Hey, is Frankie around?’) They will take you aside and help you out. The nature of the problem doesn’t matter, whether it’s someone making you feel uncomfortable or you’re just feeling unwell, we are always here to help. Also, you needn’t worry about your story being spread to other people, everything is strictly confidential and we have all sworn an oath of no snitching!

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