CODE OF CONDUCT

The Open World Swing Dance Championships is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all our attendees. Please review and abide by this Code of Conduct during the event.

This Code of Conduct describes:

  • How we can share the responsibility to make the weekend fun while maintaining a safe environment for all in attendance.
  • The behaviors that are acceptable and those behaviors that are unacceptable.
  • The options available for all in attendance if someone’s behavior is unacceptable or unsafe.
  • How the event will support a safe environment for all in attendance.

We reserve the right to manage any violations of this Code of Conduct as we deem necessary, which may include refusal of admission or ejection from the event without a refund for any reason.

 

TABLE OF Contents

i. BE RESPECTFUL.
ii. BE CONSIDERATE.
iii. BE A GOOD CITIZEN.
iv. NO HARASSMENT OF ANY KIND.
v. TAKE ACTION.

BE RESPECTFUL.

COMFORT AND SAFETY
The Open prioritizes a commitment for all in attendance to feel safe and comfortable, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, ability, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or any other personal circumstance. We ask that you treat each other with kindness and respect at all times.

Be polite to our dance professionals, event staff, volunteers, and hotel personnel. Please comply with their requests.

COURTESY AND GUIDELINES FOR DANCING
All dancers are entitled to:

  • Respectfully decline an invitation to dance
  • Dance in your preferred role (lead, follow, or switch roles during a dance if your partner agrees)
  • Change partners for the next dance, dance again with the same partner if your partner agrees, or opt to take a break.
 

Ask, and respond, respectfully. You have the right to decline an invitation to dance, or to stop dancing with someone who mistreats you or ignores your wishes. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, touches you inappropriately, or hurts you, it is okay to say “no” or “stop.” You do not have to give a reason. If someone says “no” or “stop” to you, honor their request.

Never pressure anyone to act against their own feelings. If someone turns down your invitation to dance, move on. If someone refuses several invitations to dance, stop asking and move on.

Do not offer unsolicited advice, teaching, criticism, or comments about physical appearance.

BE CONSIDERATE.

BOUNDARIES
Be considerate of other people’s boundaries. Trying out new patterns and moves, or engaging in conversation can be fun. However, not everyone may want or be able to. This applies to everything from close dance holds to moves such as dips, flirty conversations or even just agreeing to dance. In some cases, your partner may have or be at risk for injuries that you are not aware of.

If you are not sure of someone’s boundaries, or cannot tell from their nonverbal cues, ask them. If you misjudge, and they ask you to stop (either verbally or nonverbally, such as with a facial expression or a body language cue), then stop.

Remember that alcohol and other substances can make it harder to judge boundaries accurately; please be mindful of your limits so that you can be mindful of others.

FLOOR CRAFT AND SAFETY
Be mindful of other dancers around you to avoid accidental collisions and potential injuries, especially when the dance floor becomes crowded. If anyone near you falls or is injured, please offer immediate assistance and check to see if they are okay. If you see that someone needs medical attention, contact a member of our staff immediately, or call the hotel operator and ask for the medical first response team. In an emergency, call 911.

BE A GOOD CITIZEN.

WELCOMING FOR BEGINNERS AND CHILDREN
Dancers of all ages and levels of ability will be at our event. You can help grow our dance community by welcoming beginners and demonstrating to parents that dancing is a safe activity for their children.

WRISTBANDS
Our door monitors are volunteers. Please be prepared to show your event wristband upon every entry into the ballrooms. This applies to all in attendance including professional staff. Do not attempt to enter the event or assist anyone else with entering the event without purchasing a pass.

NO SOLICITATION
Do not solicit our attendees for any reason, or sell any goods or services if you have not received approval in advance to do so from event staff. A table will be available for other events’ flyers.

NO SMOKING
Per California state law, no smoking is allowed in any of the indoor public areas of the hotel. This includes e-cigarettes. Smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas.

NO THEFT OR PROPERTY DAMAGES
Do not damage or steal other people’s property. Those who cause property damage will be personally liable.

NO DRUGS OR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
Drugs and illegal behavior are strictly prohibited. Do not share alcohol with anyone under 21. We will report offenders to hotel staff (or the police), if necessary. We will ask hotel security to remove anyone who appears to be intoxicated in any way and might be a danger to others, or who engages in disorderly or destructive behavior.

ZERO TOLERANCE HARASSMENT POLICY.

THE OPEN’S STANCE
We do not tolerate harassment or threats of any kind. Any situation which makes another person feel unsafe or uncomfortable to the point of being unable to enjoy the event is unacceptable and can be considered harassment. If you harass or threaten someone, you will be asked to leave.

HARASSMENT DEFINED
Harassment can take many forms. At The Open, the why or the how does not matter—harassment is not acceptable. Actions such as offensive comments, hostile online communications, sexual propositions, unwelcome photography or videography, displays of sexual imagery, unwanted physical contact, physical intimidation, stalking, verbal abuse, disruption of workshops or competitions, or other forms of harassment will not be tolerated.

BYSTANDER EFFECT
Please watch out for each other and help us to take care of you. If you are not sure if someone else is okay, please take a closer look: ask them for a dance to draw them away from the situation, or ask, in a friendly way, if they need help.

SAFETY VIOLATION INCIDENT REPORTING
We have created a dedicated team, The Open Safety Concerns Committee, to address issues of attendee safety. If you are subjected to harassing behavior, or notice that someone else is being subjected to unsafe or unacceptable behavior, or have other concerns related to conduct or safety violations, the committee is available to support you.

If you witness or are subjected to unacceptable or harassing behavior, you can make an in-person report, or submit a report through the Safety Violation Incident Reporting form (link TBA). The Open Safety Concerns Committee has put in place:

  • A Lead Safety Representative, Heidi Dziak (she/her), has been appointed as the dedicated point-of-contact for reporting an incident.
  • The option to confidentially report an incident to Heidi Dziak: in-person, by phone (724-255-0093), or make a written incident report via The Open Safety Violation Incident Reporting Form (link TBA prior to the event), also monitored by Heidi.
  • An opportunity for the reporter to suggest or request specific actions be taken by the event.

 

As Lead Safety Representative, Heidi will be an advocate for the needs of the incident reporter.  The Lead Safety Representative will be supported by The Open Safety Concerns Committee.

You may use the Safety Violation Incident Reporting form or contact Heidi Dziak, our Lead Safety Representative, or a member of the committee (listed below) for help. You can find a member of the committee on duty at the event registration desk, or at the DJ booth when registration is closed, or you can directly text or call one of the people listed below; you may also ask the hotel or venue staff to find us. We promise to listen and to treat you with respect and confidentiality.

 

NOTE: The Open Safety Concerns Committee members are not trained mental health or crisis workers. In case of emergency, or situation requiring de-escalation, please dial 9-1-1 (emergency services), 800-656-4673 (RAINN network) or 9-8-8 (suicide & crisis hotline).

If, for any reason, you are not comfortable with the Lead Safety Representative having knowledge of your report or acting as your advocate, you may contact any member of The Open Safety Concerns Committee directly. Contact information can be found at the bottom or this page, as well as the Code of Conduct or the Safety Violation Incident Reporting Form.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
Anyone asked to stop unacceptable or harassing behavior is expected to do so immediately. Actions that compromise the safe and respectful environment of this event are not acceptable from any member of our community: attendees, teachers, judges, performers, volunteers or staff. Depending on the severity of the violation,  intervention by the Event, in response to an incident, may range from:

  • talking to the offending person and asking them to do or not do something
  • asking them to leave the venue immediately without warning, compensation or refund
  • preventing the offending person’s from attending The Open in the future
 

Conversations or actions may take place in private if that seems appropriate to the situation. If you see additional problems after you or someone else spoke with us initially, we request to be informed. We want this to be a place that everyone can enjoy. We are grateful for your help and commitment to making our shared environment safe for everyone.

 

TAKE ACTION.

Have questions? Need help? What should you do if you witness or are subjected to unacceptable or harassing behavior?
Use the Safety Violation Incident Reporting form (link TBA), and/or call or text Heidi Dziak, Lead Safety Representative, during her posted times of availability. If Heidi is not available, you may also contact any member of the committee.

Thank you for helping us keep all our event safe.
 

The Open Safety Concerns Committee

Heidi Dziak (she/her) – Lead Safety Representative. Cell: 724-255-0093
Dani Mullin Darasz (she/her)  – Director of Registration. In person– at the Registration Desk.
Michael Eads (he/him) – Event Security. In person– in the Ballroom area.
John Lindo (he/him) – Event Director. Cell: 201-563-9479

 

We would like to acknowledge and credit the following for providing concepts on which we have based this Code of Conduct.

Kay Newhouse and Dave Moldover/ Dance Jam Productions
Riley Crozier / Do Your Own Swing

SAFETY VIOLATION
INCIDENT REPORTING
LGBTQIA+ DIVERSITY &
INCLUSION PDF (PRINTABLE)