TCBC Safer Spaces Policy

By participating in events held by Twin Cities Balboa Connection, you agree to uphold this safer spaces policy. Any concerns may be addressed to our email account or to our leadership or safer spaces coordinator in person.

Twin Cities Balboa Connection(TCBC) aims to maintain a welcoming, affirming, and safe space for all attendees regardless of race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, body shape, religion, ethnicity, disability status, nationality, age, or any other demographic. Furthermore, TCBC aims to uplift and honor our community members that are frequently marginalized in other spaces. This policy outlines the basis for maintaining any events or spaces operated by TCBC, but is not exhaustive and TCBC reserves the right to implement consequences on a case by case basis. TCBC also reserves the right to implement consequences in situations that originate outside of TCBC run spaces, but that may create an unsafe space if no action is taken. 

Harassment

Twin Cities Balboa Connection(TCBC) will not tolerate any type of harassment, including sexual harassment, physical or verbal abuse, criminal behavior,  and “accidental” touch that makes another person uncomfortable. Any person participating in an event hosted by TCBC who engages in such behaviors will be asked to stop and may be ejected from the event. Depending on the severity of the offense, a person may be banned from future events for a period of time decided by a TCBC Safer Spaces Committee. 

Language

TCBC is an inclusive community, and no language that is racist, sexist, transphobic, homophobic, classist, nativist, or ableist will be tolerated. Respect everyone’s names, gender pronouns, and expressed identities. If you are unsure about how to say something, you can ask the safer spaces coordinator. TCBC understands that language is always changing and thus we are always learning, however this is not an excuse to continue using language that is hurtful. 

TCBC maintains that any person can dance any role regardless of their identity or body shape. To promote equality in this way, TCBC uses the terms “Lead” and “Follow” separate from gender identity or presentation, and these terms can apply to any person in that role. There is no expectation that a person dances one role or another based on their identity.

Physical Touch

TCBC maintains that all touch must be consensual, and all consent explicit. While balboa is an activity that requires touching, a person does not automatically give their consent to be touched simply because they are at our events or in our space. Always ask a person if they consent to dancing, and remember that consent to touching another person can be revoked at any time. TCBC also maintains that there is a specific kind of touching that is expected when dancing balboa, and that there are specific types of touching that are not expected in balboa. When a person consents to dancing in our spaces, they are not consenting to touch that is not typical of balboa dancing. Any touch outside what is prescribed in the act of dancing balboa, or any touch that makes another person uncomfortable, is considered harassment and will not be tolerated. If you are unsure about what kind of touching is okay, please see any TCBC leadership or the Safer Spaces Coordinator. 

Any reports or concern of a person breaching this policy may be made directly to a member of TCBC leadership, to the TCBC email account, or to a designated Safer Spaces Coordinator. Any and all reports will not be shared beyond what is required to enforce consequences decided by TCBC. A written summary of reports will be maintained by the TCBC leadership in our records. Any person who makes a report in good faith will not face any negative consequences in the event the report is false or inactionable. 

Community Guidelines:

Use inclusive language - ask explicitly if you do not know which words to use; listen with the purpose to learn; accept feedback and apologize; do not continue using any language deemed hurtful.

Promote Explicit Consent - Get it and give it. Verbally ask others to dance, and verbally give your reply when asked. Clearness is kindness, so don’t say yes if you really don’t want to dance. Accept “No” as a complete answer, and do so with the understanding that it’s likely not personal.

Do not offer unsolicited advice in class or on the dancefloor - if a person asks for feedback or advice please take that conversation off the dancefloor or consult the teacher. 

Protect your body - you have the right to not get injured while you are dancing. Telling another person they’re hurting you while dancing is not unsolicited advice.

Protect others in our community - if you see an interaction and have concerns please let any TCBC leadership or Safer Spaces Coordinators know. Part of having a safer space is looking out for others.

Don’t assume - That goes for pronouns, gender, and dance roles. 

Be responsible - At the end of the day you are responsible for your actions and helping maintain an inclusive, fun balboa community through those actions. Don’t be a reason someone decides not to come back.

Definitions:

Sexual Harassment is defined as harassment based on a person’s sex, and includes repeated unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. This includes verbal remarks that are sexist. 

Racism is defined as treating someone unfavorably because they are of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race or skin color complexion.

Body shape discrimination includes unfair treatment on the basis of various aspects of the body, such as weight, height, and body shape.

For further definitions please see https://www.eeoc.gov/discrimination-type 

For further information about consent and dance, please see https://irenaspassova.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/consent-culture-in-swing-dancing/

For further information about inclusive language, please see https://counseling.northwestern.edu/blog/inclusive-language-guide/