CODE OF CONDUCT
Welcome to Studio X Ottawa! In order to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and safe during our activities (classes and events), we have established a code of conduct that we expect everyone to respect.
This code of conduct details:
What we expect of our participants.
What we expect from our volunteers, artists, DJs, collaborators and any others parties working with us.
The procedure to follow should you wish to report an incident and our potential responses to a report.
In addition to the code of conduct, we expect all participants to comply with our policies and to be respectful at all times.
Problematic behaviors
Problematic behaviour includes, but is not limited to, the following: sustained disruption of events, domination language, mansplaining, whitesplaining, microaggressions, oppressive verbal comments (in person or online) related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, age, ethnicity, religion, nationality, dance skill level, dance role, etc., harassing photography or recording, criminal harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention, unwanted physical contact, physical assault, sexual assault, etc.
Studio X Ottawa Inc. has no tolerance for any of those behaviors!
Complaints and protocol of intervention
Protection against discrimination, harassment and assault
We strive to provide an environment and experience free from harassment, assault and discrimination of any kind. This includes feeling welcome to participate in our activities in non-traditional lead/follow roles.
We will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment or assault by any participant, artist, DJ or any other party. We encourage you to report any incident promptly by following the procedure described below so that we can deal with the situation appropriately.
Consent during a dance
We expect all participants to ensure that they have their partner’s consent for any dance, movement or intimate moment. While accepting a dance implies consent to dance within normal limits, participants should ensure that you obtain additional consent before performing any non-traditional moves (e.g. lifts, dips). You should also comply immediately with any request not to perform a specific move or not to dance too close. If you’re not sure whether a partner agrees with something, you should ask them verbally. If you’re unable to respond to a certain request during your dance, it’s best that you end the dance rather than continue and violate your partner’s boundaries.
You can help your partners understand your limits by making them clear. While many people are able to read your body language, words are the best way to let them know you’re not comfortable with something.
You have our full support to verbally express your limits, and we can help you express them to the other person if you find yourself in an unpleasant situation with a partner who doesn’t respect them. You have the freedom to say “no” at any time and for any reason. Even if you agree with certain things, you can change your mind or refuse other behaviors. The other person is expected to respect this decision.
Be respectful and courteous
Be considerate, respectful and courteous towards the others participants, organizers, volunteers, etc. The success of our activities is due to the efforts of many. We all rely on them to make our events fun and successful. Please be respectful, supportive and courteous in your dealing with them. Participants who cannot respect that rule will be asked to leave immediately!
Accept or refuse a dance
Participants may accept or decline an invitation to dance for any reason (e.g., energy level, preference for your role in the dance, an injury or simply because they don’t want to dance with a person). Whatever the reason, we expect you to treat the other person with respect and dignity (except in exceptional circumstances). Our community has a reputation for being warm and welcoming, and we wish to keep it that way.
Request / Feedback during a dance
We encourage you to ask your partner to stop a specific behavior (e.g., being hugged, on or off the dance floor) or to avoid any specific movement or set of movements (e.g., dancing in a closed embrace, doing dips or lifts or gripping your fingers too tightly).
When making such requests, we ask the participants to show kindness and understanding, unless the circumstances are exhausting. In some cases, you may have to remind your partner more than once (e.g., your partner may make an effort not to hold you too tightly but unintentionally tighten their grip, in which case you may have to remind them.)
Stopping a dance
Participants always have the right to stop a dance for any reason at any time. When dancing with a partner who is new or nervous, we encourage dancers to be kind and engage in behaviours that will be constructive and courteous in guiding them toward a better dance experience for both of you. (see section on request/feedback during a dance).
Hygiene
We expect all participants to maintain proper hygiene, including washing hands, keeping breath fresh, wearing deodorant and changing a wet shirt if necessary. Please check your hygiene regularly to ensure you look your best for your partners.
Volunteers, artists, DJs and any other party working with us
We expect everyone who work with Studio X Ottawa Inc. in any way, shape or form to uphold the same standards as you, and to help us create a safe and positive space for our participants. If a volunteer, artist, DJ or any other party makes you feel uncomfortable, please let us know. We’ll do our best to resolve the issue, and take appropriate action.
For your information, volunteers, artists, DJs and any other party working with us are required to comply with a conduct policy. This policy includes provisions specifying that they :
– are not permitted to pressure any individual into a sexual or intimate relationship at any time or place during their collaboration with us;
– will never become so intoxicated that they are no longer able to behave professionally;
– not engage in criminal or illegal acts while collaborating by us; and
– comply with our code of conduct and policies.
If a volunteer, artist, DJ or any other party working with Studio X Ottawa Inc. violates this part of the agreement, they may receive a warning or be removed from the event, as appropriate.
Complaints and protocol of intervention
Before or after the event
If you wish to report a situation before or after the event, please contact Studio X Ottawa Inc. directly at info@studioxottawa.com. The sooner we are made aware of an issue, the more time we’ll have to address the situation effectively.
During the event
If something happens during the event that makes you uncomfortable or you’re not sure how to handle the situation, we invite you to contact Soul or Nadège (on-site co-directors at Studio X Ottawa) directly. If you’re having trouble finding them, please report the issue to one of the volunteers.
How we will intervene
Consent is the cornerstone of our support process. We will ask for your consent before taking any of the following actions:
– Speak, in a way that could reveal your identity, to others involved in or witnessing the incident, including the person alleged to have violated the code of conduct,
– Talking to third parties (e.g., other organizers) in a way that reveals or could reveal your identity, or causing the person alleged to have violated the code of conduct to learn your identity,
– Mediating an interpersonal dispute between you and the person you allege to have violated the code of conduct,
– Calling the police or any other organization, unless there is an imminent risk of harm against you, the person alleged to have violated the code of conduct or any other person (e.g., in the event of a real and significant threat to someone’s safety or life),
The decision to give or withhold consent remains yours at all times. Please note that if you ask us not to use your name or if you do not give us your consent to take further action, we may not be able to handle the situation as effectively.
We will always review incidents reported to us, to the extent necessary, to reach a conclusion as to what action (if any) should be taken before, during or after the activity. After reviewing an incident, we may decide to take one of the following actions:
– Take no action;
– Counsel the person about their behavior;
– Mediate the conflict between you and the person (if applicable, and with your consent);
– Require a written behavioral agreement before the person can continue to participate in the activity;
– Suspend participation in certain activities;
– Ban (temporarily or permanently) the person from our activities.
In the case of grave, repeated or unresolved incidents
If there are concerns for the safety, comfort or inclusion of the person who made the complaint, or our community at large, Studio X Ottawa will consider excluding the person targeted by the complaint from the dances while we discuss the issue and until we come to a decision.
For any of the responses, the person whom the complaint is against should, if possible, be given an opportunity to talk to one or more members of Studio X Ottawa managment team before a final decision is made so that: a) they can understand what the problem is, and hopefully change their behavior, and b) they can have an opportunity to respond to the complaint.
IMPORTANT: We will give people accused of harassment/violence/abuse a chance to respond to complaints against them, but we also recognize that false accusations of violence, abuse or harassment are very rare. Therefore, we have no tolerance for those types of behaviors.
studioxottawa@gmail.com
info@studioxottawa.com
ADDRESS
122 – 250 City Centre Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario