Community Guidelines & Group Agreements
We are here to practice a form of dance that in our eyes is incredibly enriching. It offers us the space to explore both our physicality and our humanity whilst deeply connecting to one another. This exploration is normally a great experience for all but sometimes there can be challenges that arise.
Our wish is that we can create a space that is safe, kind and respectful for all. So you can fully engage in the somatic wonders of this practice, in which your growth and development can easily occur. We do a really good job of this, however, despite our best efforts, life and the dance show us that even here, at this event which is so full of love and care, someone still could potentially get hurt physically, emotionally or sexually.
What we can all do to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible is to be aware and attentive, to ourselves, our dance partner/s and our environment. These Community Guidelines & Group Agreements are set out to support us all in this process. Please read through them before you come to the event. If you don’t understand any part or have any questions then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will also be offering guidance and support within the event.
1. These apply to all attendees, teachers, volunteers & organisers anytime and anywhere within the event.
This event is for those who have a clear understanding and respect for consent and boundaries in line with our Community Guidelines and have the personal resources and ability to respect our group agreements towards caring for others.
2. Be kind and respectful, do no harm and look out for one another, both physically and emotionally.
It’s not just a movement practice we are building community and creating a culture of safety and respect.
3. When we initiate touch in Contact Improvisation (CI) we have the intention to tune in, listen and move with our dance partners.
Touch is an intimate and direct expression of communication and can have many different qualities, intentions and associations.
Touch is the foundation of this dance practice, so it's important to have a clear understanding of the quality of touch we use and the intention that we bring with it.
Within CI we approach touch as a means to explore an embodied co-creative dance practice.
The quality of touch and the intention that we bring is one that allows us to tune into, listen and respond to the qualities, dynamics and subtleties of both our own and our partner’s physicality and movements.
This type of touch or ‘point of contact’ as it is often referred to, opens up a pathway for embodied listening and a sharing of weight, which creates the possibility and impulse for exploration in co-creative and embodied movement improvisation.
It enlivens the sensitivity in our bodies and focuses the quality of our attention so that we become more attuned and present with our dance partner/s.
It is also a subtle and deep pathway for communicating our intentions of movement and acts as both an extension and expression of our movement.
Please take care not to mix up other intentions or qualities of touch into this dance practice. It’s important to respect what we are here to collectively explore and not disrupt or negatively affect someone else’s experience.
4. It is always OK to respect and act upon your own boundaries.
Our aim is to be proactive about our boundaries. We invite you to recognise, respect and act upon your own boundaries.
This is important in developing a deeper understanding and respect for yourself as well as facilitating a richer engagement and presence with your dance partners.
We take care of ourselves and each other by dancing within our ‘yes’ boundaries.
Be attentive to your limitations and communicate with your partner about any injuries or sensitive areas in your body.
Communicate when you need to slow down, if there is too much weight or pressure on you, or if you feel emotionally challenged.
If you have any concerns or feel uncomfortable about your partner’s intentions, i.e. you feel a ‘no’ within your dance, please know that is always ok to take a break, leave the dance or situation, take care of yourself and if you feel necessary or you need support, speak with one of the organisers or support team.
It is also very important that we respect our partner's body, as well as our own.
Contact Improvisation is not a sexual practice. If sexual energy naturally arises for you, please take care not to express it towards your dance partners during classes, workshops or jams, as this is not part of the practice of CI and not within the intention or container of the event.
Negative sexual behaviour, i.e. repeated proposals through words or touch or stepping over someone’s personal boundaries, anywhere within the event will not be tolerated. The organiser/s reserves the right to ask individuals who do not follow this guideline to leave the event.
5. It is always OK to take care of yourself or take a break, for any reason.
Always feel free to take time out for yourself, there is NO need for any explanation or reason.
You are always welcome to sit, watch, rest or if necessary leave the workshop.
It may be appropriate to let your partner/s know “I need to take care of myself / take a break”, especially if you are exploring an exercise together as part of a workshop.
6. It’s always OK to ask questions about the practice.
Especially if you don’t understand or know what the group are doing.
This is for everyone’s safety not just your own.
7. You’re never doing your dance partners a favour by dancing with them when you don’t want to.
It’s respectful and good practice that our dance partners know that we want to be there.
It’s always ok to take care of yourself or take a break.
You can always let them know if the exercise or dance goes beyond what you’re ready to explore, e.g. lifting or taking too much weight.
8. If you or your partners leave a dance anytime during a JAM it does NOT require a ‘Check In’.
During a jam, we are free to come and go from any dance, any time, in fact, you may be dancing with a mix of people at any one time.
We always recommend ‘grazing’ and sampling a few dances before developing a longer dance with someone.
It is always OK to end a dance at any time and for any reason, you do NOT need to give an explanation or reason.
If someone leaves YOUR dance, do NOT expect an explanation or reason, simply take care of yourself or continue dancing.
Offering a simple thank you gesture at the end of a dance may feel appropriate but by no means necessary.
9. Reasons to ‘Check In’ with your partners:
If there is a loss of ‘Active Engagement’ with your dance partners, e.g. they become unresponsive or disconnected within your dance.
“Are you ok?” (if you need support please speak with one of the teachers and come off the dance floor)
If you have the desire to transition from CI into something that isn’t CI like massage or cuddling.
“Would you like a massage?”, “Would you like a cuddle?” (if this happens please move off the dance floor as this is not part of the practice of CI)
10. Consider your dance partners and dress appropriately.
Wear fresh clean clothes that cover your body (including chest, shoulders and legs) and are suitable for dynamic movement with close physical contact. If you sweat a lot, change your clothing regularly.
We recommend wearing thin kneepads that don’t restrict your movement.
Remove any sharp objects from your clothing and body (e.g. piercings, jewellery & watches) that could potentially cause someone an injury.
We dance barefoot or with socks if our feet are cold.
Keep your finger & toes nails trimmed.
Please wear shoes when using the toilets.
Refrain from wearing strong perfumes and fragrances including essential oils.
11. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the beginning of a workshop.
Classes often relate to a theme and build upon an accumulation of material.
Make it easier for yourself, the teacher and the other participants by being on time and in the space during all demonstrations and explanations.
If you arrive late, please check in with the teacher before joining.
12. Please turn off the sound on all devices and keep any belongings outside of the dance floor.
Be mindful of other participants and the practice space by not causing noise disruptions or trip hazards.
13. Please advise the teacher if you have any medical conditions, injuries or physical difficulties that may affect your ability to participate safely.
If you choose to dance with an injury or physical difficulty, it is important that YOU are responsible for taking care of yourself.
Always let your dance partners know, and understand it is NOT their responsibility to look after you.
14. If any questions, concerns or incidents arise around behaviour, safety, consent or these guidelines, or you feel you need support for any reason whatsoever, then please let us know.
In case of physical injury, we have first aiders in the welfare space.
In case of emotional distress - feeling disoriented, lonely, confused, or any other issue, you are welcome to come and share with the welfare team. We can help, or refer you to someone who can.
In case of an emotional injury - someone crossed your boundaries without your consent, or any other issue regarding something that happened with another person, whether in the dance or out of the dance, it is important for us that you share it with the welfare team as they can help.
As community members, if you witness something that looks or feels out of place, or you see someone in distress around you, you are invited to involve one of the organisers, teachers or welfare team.
15. Please remember to take care of and respect these guidelines. In doing so you are taking care of yourself and the community. When this happens then we facilitate everyone to have the best experience possible and dances that will fill us with joy.