I think a policy is great, but I'd also suggest having a behavior/ safety/ dance environment committee.This group would be briefed on previous issues, and our current progressive coaching/ warning system, and be first points of contact if a new dancer (for example) wishes to report something that made them uncomfortable. They also would be focussed on monitoring our dance, maybe asking people's opinions, and making improvements, (like our good etiquette posters.) Back in 2017 we had about 5 pent up behavior issues that needed dealing with (people would avoid people's lines, etc.) and we finally got caught up.One best practice is to COACH and discuss any uncomfortable / unsafe behavior. Things like suspension and expulsion come with repeat infractions for people that don't respond to coaching. For example, we don't want highly enthusiastic male dancers twirling 1st time dancers like crazy (I have seen this recently) without asking clear permission/ possibly giving them a tiny demo at the end of the line, etc. For example, Sri says he would never twirl a dancer he hasn't talked to about it.We had to expel one dancer who refused to get consent before doing his wild moves. We had caused injury and discomfort. We talked a few times and he said he would not change.The committee could also make a short list of "Great dancing tips" that callers can reinforce- like one per night.On Wed, Dec 6, 2023 at 11:51 AM Virginia Varland via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:Thanks Kimbi and Jeff, from a first look, both of these resources look very helpful. I will share these with our local board!Best,Virginia_______________________________________________On Wed, Dec 6, 2023 at 9:54 AM Jeff Kaufman <jeff@alum.swarthmore.edu> wrote:Hi Virginia,Our dance (Cambridge MA) has a safety team that handles these issues (and other sorts, like people dancing in ways that hurt those around them). We have a description of what we do at bidadance.org/safety, and especially bidadance.org/safety/approach. Here are some other resources I'm aware of: jefftk.com/p/safety-committee-resourcesJeffOn Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 5:09 PM Kimbi Hagen via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:Hi All,
The attached document was most recently amended in 2019, before the (recent) name change from Chattahoochee Contra Dancers to the Atlanta Contra Dance.
This procedure is normally reviewed and, as needed, updated on a yearly basis by the Steering Committee and is now overdue for its first post-pandemic review. (Note to self – add this as an agenda item for next Steering Committee meeting).
The original version of the procedure was first drafted after we had been threatened with legal action by a creeper that we banned. (Unfortunately for the creeper, the lawyer he selected to represent him was also a dancer and, once we took him aside and revealed the full story, withdrew his agreement to represent the creeper in a suit against us, advised the creeper not to pursue additional action, and advised our Steering Committee to develop a formal procedure for disciplinary action/banning and put it in writing, which we promptly did).
To date we have only needed to use the procedure outlined here to “permanently” ban one dancer. Permanently is in quotes because, after being banned, that dancer proactively went to extraordinary measures (including attending anger management classes and getting therapy) to demonstrate a sincere desire to rehabilitate himself. As a result, we eventually allowed him to begin attending our dance again and now realize that the next iteration of the procedure needs to include a process for, and conditions under which we would, re-visit permanent bans.
-Kimbi Hagen
Atlanta Contra Dance
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