San Francisco Bay Queer Contra Dance

Create and support spaces where queer people and non-queer people alike can delight in inclusive gender-role-free contra dance communites.

Code of conduct

We want all people to feel safe and comfortable at Queer Contra Dance. We value and expect consent and communication, community mindness, and physical safety. Harassment of any kind won't be tolerated. If someone's behavior is offensive or harassing during the dance, we encourage you to speak with one of the organizers.

Values and Expectations

San Francisco Bay Queer Contra Dance is dedicated to hosting dance events that are fun and inclusive for all. We aim to foster physical and emotional safety through our norms and values, and are prepared to address any violations of these norms.

We value…

  • Consent and communication
    • Anyone can ask anyone to dance; we all are free to politely accept or refuse
    • Communicate with partners around role preference, injuries, twirls, flirting, etc.
    • Recognize eye contact is a part of contra culture but is optional for all
    • Acknowledge that consent is situational and can be revoked at any time
  • Community mindedness
    • Be inclusive and dance with partners of all ages, genders, experience levels, etc.
    • Change partners each dance and avoid booking ahead
    • Dance with the whole line and hall, not just your partner
    • Be conscious of fragrance sensitivities by avoiding strong scents
    • Avoid assuming people's genders; instead refer to people in non gendered ways
    • Ask if people want feedback before giving it (other than not hurting you)
  • Physical safety
    • Dance to avoid injuring others, for example by using open hand holds, holding your own weight, stopping when someone indicates that they're in pain
    • Be responsible for your own body on the floor to avoid running into other people

We expect attendees to avoid…

  • Discrimination and harassment of all forms
  • Pushing anyone on their boundaries or stated dance preferences
  • Overtly sexual words or actions
  • Putting others' physical safety at risk
  • Coming intoxicated or using drugs, alcohol, weapons, or tobacco on-site
  • Dipping other dancers without explicit consent

If someone makes you uncomfortable

If anyone at one of our events makes you uncomfortable, please discuss what happened with the person if you feel okay doing so. If not, or you don't feel heard, please talk to an organizer. If you would tell a friend, it is worth talking to an organizer. We recognize that not all concerns require action and that sometimes concerning behaviors happen outside the dance space. If someone comes to us or we witness conduct that does not meet our community norms we will:

  1. Listen - Hear the experience of anyone who has been harmed and their needs to continue to be safe at the event. We will discuss next steps with them and respect any requests for anonymity.
  2. Take action - Approach the person or people whose conduct did not meet our expectations and listen to their experience. We will discuss and identify what they can do to avoid making others feel uncomfortable in the future and ask them to commit to doing it.
  3. Monitor - Keep an eye out for subsequent concerning behavior and follow up if appropriate.

We recognize that every situation is different and some may require different processes including, but not limited to, mediation, organizer discussion, expulsion from the event, and banning from future events.

For more information, email: info@queercontradance.org
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