Swing Out, South Florida is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all participants, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or dance experience. Harassment, discrimination, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
All attendees, teachers, organizers, and volunteers at SOSF events are required to comply with the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout events. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Need Help?
Contact organizers immediately via [email protected] or find them in person via the front desk of any venue.
All attendees, teachers, organizers, and volunteers at SOSF events are required to comply with the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout events. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Need Help?
Contact organizers immediately via [email protected] or find them in person via the front desk of any venue.
the quick version
- Be kind, respectful, and mindful of others’ boundaries. Know your own boundaries & be prepared to communicate them respectfully.
- Follow proper social dance etiquette: ask people to dance politely, accept "no" gracefully, prioritize good hygiene, practice good floor craft, don’t offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers, and don’t throw aerials on the social floor. Please keep your volume low during the Taster, whether you are participating or waiting on the sidelines for a social dance to start.
- Adhere to venue rules, including alcohol and smoking policies.
- Harassment, discrimination, or unsafe behavior is prohibited.
- Late arrivals to classes or workshops may be denied entry. If you’re late and able to join the class, enter quietly and attentively. Each Taster has a teacher’s assistant, who will be able to help you catch up without interrupting the flow for the rest of the class. Please seek out this teacher, rather than jumping into the circle with the rest of the students.
- Participants violating this code may be expelled or banned from events without refund.
the less quick version
1. Social Dance Etiquette
2. Personal Hygiene: You will be in close proximity to your dance partners. Please be mindful of your hygiene - shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth, and avoid strong scents/perfumes/colognes. Our dancers, who typically sweat a lot, often bring a towel and extra shirt to stay fresh!
3. Class & Workshop Etiquette
4. Anti-Harassment Policy
Harassment includes but is not limited to:
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately. Event staff can be found via the front desk at any venue.
Event staff will be happy to help participants contact venue staff or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety.
6. Smoking Policy: Smoking/vaping is prohibited near entrances, dance areas, or crowds. Use appropriate zones outdoors and away from participants.
7. Liability & Alcohol: Venues serving alcohol are not our responsibility. Drink responsibly; intoxication may lead to expulsion.
8. Photography & Media Release (Compliant with Florida Law): By participating in Swing Out, South Florida events, you grant permission to Swing Out, South Florida, its affiliates, and authorized parties to photograph, film, record, or otherwise capture your likeness, voice, or image during all events. These materials may be used for promotional, educational, or archival purposes, including but not limited to:
By attending, you acknowledge this release and waive claims against Swing Out, South Florida related to the use of your likeness. Minors: If a participant is under 18, a parent/guardian must provide written consent via a separate form.
Code of Conduct Enforcement: Organizers may issue warnings, expel offenders, or ban repeat violators. Serious incidents will be reported to authorities.
By participating in Swing Out, South Florida events, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct. Let’s keep our community joyful and safe for everyone!
- Asking/Declining Dances: Anyone may ask anyone else to dance, and everyone has the choice to decline a dance without needing to explain why. Declines should be polite and should be respected without pressure or guilt. Leaders and followers are roles, not genders - ask about the other dancer’s preferences!
- Respect Boundaries: Honor personal space and consent. Everyone’s boundaries or comfort levels are personal to them and may be different from your own. Adjust your dancing to your partner’s comfort level, whether communicated verbally or nonverbally.
- Floor craft & Safety: Use your full range of senses on the social floor to avoid collisions and injuries. Every dancer is responsible for maintaining awareness of their own and their partner’s movement and spacing, as well as those of the dancers around them, in order to avoid any dangerous contact. If you accidentally kick or collide with someone else, please apologize (regardless of fault) and make sure the other person is okay.
- No Aerials/Air Steps: Aerials are banned on social floors. Please reserve aerials for performances/jam circles only. To be as safe as possible, please make sure that you have practiced these moves with your partner and that you have their consent before executing them.
- During a dance, if you feel uncomfortable (whether the discomfort is physical, psychological, or due to an injury), do not hesitate to inform your dance partner. If needed, do not hesitate to stop the dance. You may explain why, but you do not have to. If someone ends a dance with you, understand that it is most likely more to do with their needs than something to do with you. Be understanding and respectful, then find a new partner or jam the rest of the song out solo!
- Unsolicited Advice: Do not correct someone else’s dancing unless you were explicitly asked for feedback or if their dancing may cause an injury. If you are in a situation where you are giving someone feedback, please do so in a way that is respectful and constructive.
2. Personal Hygiene: You will be in close proximity to your dance partners. Please be mindful of your hygiene - shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth, and avoid strong scents/perfumes/colognes. Our dancers, who typically sweat a lot, often bring a towel and extra shirt to stay fresh!
3. Class & Workshop Etiquette
- Late Arrivals: Taster classes may deny entry to latecomers for the sake of the students who arrived on time. If joining mid-class, please enter quietly and attentively. Each Taster has a teacher’s assistant, who will be able to help you catch up without interrupting the flow for the rest of the class. Please seek out this teacher, rather than jumping into the circle with the rest of the students.
- Noise: Keep conversations low during classes, whether you are participating or waiting on the sidelines for a social dance to start.
4. Anti-Harassment Policy
Harassment includes but is not limited to:
- Offensive comments related to identity, age, physical appearance, or background.
- Unwanted physical contact, sexual attention, or intimidation.
- Expecting or aggressively seeking out romantic or sexual relationships.
- Stalking, following, or harassing photography or recording.
- Sustained disruption of classes, dances, or other events.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately. Event staff can be found via the front desk at any venue.
Event staff will be happy to help participants contact venue staff or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety.
6. Smoking Policy: Smoking/vaping is prohibited near entrances, dance areas, or crowds. Use appropriate zones outdoors and away from participants.
7. Liability & Alcohol: Venues serving alcohol are not our responsibility. Drink responsibly; intoxication may lead to expulsion.
8. Photography & Media Release (Compliant with Florida Law): By participating in Swing Out, South Florida events, you grant permission to Swing Out, South Florida, its affiliates, and authorized parties to photograph, film, record, or otherwise capture your likeness, voice, or image during all events. These materials may be used for promotional, educational, or archival purposes, including but not limited to:
- Social media, websites, newsletters, press releases, or advertisements.
- Print/digital marketing, instructional materials, or public presentations.
- No Compensation: You waive any right to inspect, approve, or receive payment for the use of these materials.
- Opt-Out: To exclude your image from being used, notify organizers in writing at [email protected] prior to attending. While we will make reasonable efforts to honor requests, we cannot guarantee the removal of pre-existing content.
- Third-Party Media: Attendees may not use event photos/videos for commercial purposes without written consent from Swing Out, South Florida.
- Florida Law: This release is governed by Florida Statutes, including §540.08 (regarding commercial use of photographs).
By attending, you acknowledge this release and waive claims against Swing Out, South Florida related to the use of your likeness. Minors: If a participant is under 18, a parent/guardian must provide written consent via a separate form.
Code of Conduct Enforcement: Organizers may issue warnings, expel offenders, or ban repeat violators. Serious incidents will be reported to authorities.
By participating in Swing Out, South Florida events, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct. Let’s keep our community joyful and safe for everyone!
resources
We know that disclosing an uncomfortable situation, conflict, or complaint can be challenging. Anyone who chooses to share a concern with SOSF organizers has the right to be heard, believed, and to have their privacy respected. We’ll do our best to let you decide how, where, and if your disclosure gets shared. And to give you a say in what happens next (or if anything happens at all). However, if the law requires it or someone’s safety is at risk, we might have to make a call you disagree with.
If you’re ever unsure about a situation (like, “Is this weird? Is this okay? Am I overthinking?”) SOSF organizers are here to chat. No stress, no judgment. Seriously, hit us up if something feels off, confusing, or just…meh. We’ve got your back!
What can you do if you have a negative experience at Swing Out, South Florida?
This document was based on Hot Jam’s Code of Conduct, Cat’s Corner’s Code of Conduct, and confcodeofconduct.com. Feel free to use this, as-is or in a modified form, for your own dance event. Swing Out, South Florida reserves the right to update this policy as needed.
If you’re ever unsure about a situation (like, “Is this weird? Is this okay? Am I overthinking?”) SOSF organizers are here to chat. No stress, no judgment. Seriously, hit us up if something feels off, confusing, or just…meh. We’ve got your back!
What can you do if you have a negative experience at Swing Out, South Florida?
- If another person is involved, try to resolve the issue directly with them - express your concern, discomfort, etc., set boundaries, and ask for what you need.
- Ask for support from a friend, a witness, or a SOSF volunteer or organizer.
- Share your experience with the organizers in person or by email at [email protected]
This document was based on Hot Jam’s Code of Conduct, Cat’s Corner’s Code of Conduct, and confcodeofconduct.com. Feel free to use this, as-is or in a modified form, for your own dance event. Swing Out, South Florida reserves the right to update this policy as needed.