All attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers at FFS are required to agree with the following code of conduct, which is subject to be updated before the event. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the weekend. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for all.
FFS is committed to providing a harassment-free event experience regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof).
We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, dance skill level, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, and religion (or lack thereof). Additionally, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention is considered harassment for the purpose of our code of conduct.
Reporting
Please report any behavior that appears abusive, disrespectful, harassing, suspicious, or unsafe, or that makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason.
Options for reporting:
- Email info@forfollows.com
- Find a volunteer or staff member in-person via the front desk at any event or dance. They will connect you to an organizer to address incidents of concern.
- Venue managers and point of contacts’ phone numbers will be posted during the event.
- Please try to include as much information as possible and sufficient detail so that we can appropriately assess the situation.
Your courage in coming forward can keep incidents from being repeated. Please contact us immediately if you have any reason to suspect a response from the FFS team might be appropriate. We treat these issues with the strictest confidentiality, with the exception of cases where disclosure is required by law. FFS staff and volunteers will be happy to help participants contact the organizers, or local law enforcement. FFS staff is also happy to provide escorts or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety.
Enforcement Procedures
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning or sanctioning the offender, expulsion from the event without refund, or banning individuals from future FFS events at the discretion of the event organizers.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the FFS staff immediately.
A note about FFS’ limitations: While we are dedicated to providing support when addressing harassing behavior of any kind, our staff and volunteers training and time is limited. We cannot make decisions or become involved with issues such as breakups, rivalries, things that happen within consensual relationships, etc., with the exception of helping you to contact law enforcement. Once law enforcement becomes involved, our involvement in the situation comes to an end.
Final Notes
We expect participants to follow these rules outlined above at all event and workshop venues.
Please be respectful to all event staff and volunteers. If you are not, unfortunately you will be removed without a refund.
Additionally, any participant who is unwilling to comply with our Covid-19 policy will also be removed without refund.
Finally, we value your presence and ask you to keep our community safe and inclusive. We welcome your ideas on how to do this well. Feel free to email with any suggestions or questions to: info@forfollows.com.
Dance Etiquette Reminders
Anyone has the right to turn down a dance at any time. Please consider being polite when turning down the dance and being gracious if someone turns you down.
Do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers, especially on the social dance floor. Although we typically encourage higher level dancers to help build our community by assisting lower level dancers in classes and practice sessions, please obtain consent before offering advice and before touching or dancing with others.
Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries. It is every dancer’s responsibility to be aware of their own and their partner’s movement and position, as well as the movement and position of the dancers surrounding them, in order to avoid all forms of dangerous contact.
While we completely respect everyone’s right to choose who they dance with, we ask that you be aware and kind if you have the capacity to do so when declining dances. It is our hope that as our scene attempts to rebuild after years of a pandemic, that attendees approach this event with the empathy and the thoughtfulness needed to build a sense of community within the balboa scene. Just like… be nice, okay? Seriously.