Dance Etiquette

At the PSU Social Dance Club, we want everyone to feel safe and comfortable! Here are some guidelines to follow to make sure this happens:

  1. Ask before you dance with someone, and respect if they say no
  2. Respect the personal space and boundaries of others, and make sure your partner is comfortable while dancing
  3. Be kind and respectful to everyone, both on and off the dance floor
  4. Have fun!

If you want more in depth information about dance etiquette, read the Dance Etiquette document.

Anonymous Social Dance Club Safety Form

 

Dance Etiquette

As a member of the PSU Social Dance Club, we expect that you adhere to certain rules of etiquette at all lessons and events in order to help us create a safe and welcoming environment. By becoming a member of the PSU Social Dance Club, you agree to abide by the following rules:

  1. All club members must respect the physical and personal boundaries of other club members, both when dancing and when not dancing.
    • If you think that something you are doing may be making someone uncomfortable, stop doing it.
    • If your actions result in others feeling uncomfortable, an instructor, safety liaison, or executive board member will contact you and ask you to stop.
    • Repeated or extreme behavior may result in
      • Ejection from the club – The PSU Social Dance Club executive board will vote on the ejection of the member in question. The safety of other club members and the frequency and severity of the behavior demonstrated will be taken into consideration.
      • Involvement of the Office of Student Conduct – The PSU Social Dance Club has the right to inform and involve the PSU Office of Student Conduct and proceed with appropriate disciplinary action.
How to Dance Respectfully and Comfortably
  1. When finding a dance partner
    • Always ask permission before dancing with someone. Never grab your potential partner assuming they would like to dance. Be respectful if someone declines your offer to dance.
    • If you are asked to dance and do not want to, politely decline.
  2. While dancing
    • Make sure your dance partner is comfortable at all times. Try not to grip them too hard and respect their personal space. If you are not sure if your partner is comfortable or not, ask.
    • If your dance partner is making you uncomfortable in any way (dancing too close, squeezing too tight, dancing too rough, etc.), tell them. If they do not stop, talk to a Safety Liaison or instructor.
    • Be mindful of other dancers; try to avoid running into others.
    • Don’t correct others’ dance technique unless you are asked to.
  3. After dancing
    • We typically switch dance partners every 1-2 songs.
    • Say thank you to your partner.
    • If you and your partner have stopped dancing, step off the dance floor so you are not in the way of others dancing.
When to Talk to a Safety Liaison

You can talk to a safety liaison even if you are unsure whether a person has done something wrong, and you don’t have to file any kind of formal report. Much of the time, discomfort occurs because of miscommunication, and we can help you figure out how to handle the situation. Below are some examples of situations when you might want to talk to us:

  1. Someone did something that made you uncomfortable, and you don’t feel you can talk to them yourself to resolve it (ex. dancing too close, inappropriate comments).
  2. Someone did something that hurt you or made you feel unsafe (ex. dancing aggressively, squeezing very tight).
  3. You think you see someone hurting someone or making someone else uncomfortable.
  4. You think you may have made someone uncomfortable or feel unsafe.
How to Talk to a Safety Liaison

Come up to a safety liaison during or after an event. They won’t make a formal report or take action without your consent, and you can talk to them no matter how big or small the issue is. They can just talk to you about how to handle the situation, or they can take action if you want them to and the situation warrants it. We will make every effort possible to keep what you say confidential and anonymous. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a safety liaison in person, you can contact them over email (socialdanceclub.safety@gmail.com) or there is an online form you can fill out anonymously.

** Unless the SDC committee deems that anyone’s safety or well-being is at risk by the offender, no action will be taken at the request of the reporter or offended person. The SDC committee will preserve the anonymity and confidentiality of the reporter or offended person if requested, unless disclosing their identity is necessary to guarantee their safety and that of other SDC members, or is required by law or by Penn State **

Member/Attendee Obligations

Members/attendees should abide by the Dance Etiquette. Members/attendees have a right to report any events of misconduct they or their peers have experienced, in as much detail as they feel comfortable with. They also reserve the right to not report such wrong-doings if they so prefer.

Anonymous Social Dance Club Safety Form