Code of Conduct

The Knoxville Swing Dance Association (KSDA) wants to provide you with a safe and welcoming environment. To help us provide and promote a culture of safety within the KSDA community, we kindly request you read and follow the below code of conduct:

At all times be courteous and respectful of everyone while helping to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. This is regardless of, but not limited to age, body shape, ethnic background, gender, gender identities, life choices, political beliefs, race, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), sexual orientation, skill level, etc.

Please report any behavior that appears abusive, disrespectful, harassing, suspicious, or unsafe, or that makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason. You may do so by:

  • Contacting a Community Ambassador in person. These people can be identified by the rainbow paracord bracelets they will be wearing on their wrist. There will be at least 2 of these individuals at any KSDA sanctioned event.

  • Calling or texting 865-224-6830

  • Emailing info@knoxswingdance.org

  • Leave anonymous feedback on our contact page.

  • Please try to include as much information as possible and sufficient details so that we can appropriately assess the situation.

 

Please contact us immediately if you have any reason to suspect a response from the KSDA might be appropriate. Except in cases where disclosure is required by law, we will treat any information we receive with strict confidentiality, unless otherwise instructed by the person reporting the incident.

The KSDA reserves the right to take any action which it, in its sole judgment, deems appropriate in response to reports of abuse, harassment, threats, hazardous situations, or other inappropriate behavior (whether or not listed as an example on the next page), including but not limited to: warning the individual(s) who appear to be responsible, expelling them from the event, banning them from future KSDA events, and/or notifying law enforcement if there is reason to believe that laws have been violated or there is a dangerous situation.

 

Examples of appropriate behavior

  • Maintaining awareness of your movement and surroundings to avoid collisions and injuries to yourself, your partner, and others around you, especially while on the dance floor.

  • Making your personal boundaries known when necessary; letting people know (if you feel comfortable doing so) if they are hurting you, making you feel unsafe, threatening you, or crossing some personal boundary.

  • Apologizing (even if you don’t believe you were at fault) if you bump yourself or your partner into someone, or if you become aware you have made someone feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

  • Asking anyone to dance in an appropriate manner. Respecting anyone’s right to say “no” to a dance at any time.

 

Examples of inappropriate behavior

  • Harassing, insulting, stalking (including photographic stalking), or other threatening behavior.

  • Not respecting boundaries that others set either verbally or non-verbally; not respecting that others’ boundaries are different from your own.

  • Giving unsolicited advice about others’ dancing (unless someone is endangering someone’s safety, or your current dance partner is making you uncomfortable).

  • Dancing without due regard for the potential for collisions and injuries to yourself, your partner, or others.

  • Attempting air steps, aerials, and unsupported dips on the social dance floor (this does not include competitions, performances or jam circles).

  • Disrespecting rules of individual venues and/or TN state laws regarding alcohol.