The community that we have built here in Cambridge (and the wider Swing dance world) is generally a welcoming and friendly one, with instances of inappropriate behaviour a rare thing. Our Safer Spaces Policy is designed to acknowledge that we as a Society have a responsibility to build safety into all of our events, large and small.

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> Process overview: incident reporting and action procedure

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Safety secretaries are available for discussion and reassurance, not just formal reports, please do tell us about your concerns – of any shape or form! You can see who they are on our Committee page.

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Please feel free to contact them directly, through welfare@cambridgeswingdance.com.

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CAMBRIDGE SWING DANCE - SAFER SPACES POLICY

 

Cambridge Swing Dance (CSD) are committed to providing a dance environment free of unlawful discrimination, bullying or harassment and expects all attendees to treat others with dignity and respect.

 

CSD maintains a strict policy prohibiting harassment based upon sex, gender expression marital or civil partner status, sexual orientation, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or disability. This policy prohibits unlawful bullying and harassment, including verbal, physical and visual harassment and promotes the fair treatment of all its dancers and volunteers.

 

Violations of this policy will not be permitted and may result in disciplinary action up to and including being asked to leave or banned from future events.

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Unlawful harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender expression, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, disability or age of the victim which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.

 

A single incident of unwanted or offensive behaviour to one individual can amount to harassment. In relation to sex discrimination, harassment may also be less favourable treatment on the grounds of people rejecting or not submitting to unwanted conduct.

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Examples include: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature such as uninvited touching, sexual labels, jokes of a sexual nature, derogatory comments or slurs, sexually suggestive notes, cartoons or photographs. What is not harassing conduct in the view of some people may still be harassing conduct to the recipient.

 

If you witness or feel that you are a victim of bullying or any type of harassment, we encourage you to report the matter by contacting one of the Safety Secretaries or a member of the committee, emailing welfare@cambridgelindy.com.

 

The absence of reports of harassment prevents CSD from taking necessary steps to remedy such situations. Members who come forward in good faith to complain about the occurrence of any harassment or offensive behaviour will not be criticised or retaliated against in any manner for having done so.

 

All reports of harassment will be investigated by the Safety Secretaries who are not involved in the reported harassment, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if it is found that this policy has been violated. 

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AERIALS: When and where is appropriate?

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Air steps or aerials are welcome in any jam circle, competition or performance where there is sufficient space to safely complete the figure without injuring yourselves or others in immediate surroundings. Aerials should only be performed with dance partners who you know are comfortable with performing that particular airstep you intend to complete.

 

Aerials are not acceptable on a social dance floor AT ANY TIME. This places significant risk on everyone on the dance floor. 

 

If you need clarification on any of these points place contact our Safety Secretaries (welfare@cambridgeswingdance.com).

 

Looking forward to seeing your mad dance skills in a jam circle soon!