Code of Conduct and Policies*
Overview
At ABQFX, we cherish our fantastic dance community. We believe that you respect and value fellow attendees as dancers and human beings. We want to make sure all conduct is in line with our philosophy, reflecting the welcoming and diverse fusion dance community, and creating a safe space for exploration.
The following Code of Conduct seeks to outline the values that ABQFX wishes its attendees to share and abide by. Behavior that is clearly out of line with this code of conduct will not be tolerated. If you feel that an individual has violated this code of conduct, or you have a problem and need help dealing with it, please bring it to the attention of ABQFX as soon as possible. If you cannot talk with one of us in person (preferred), then you can use the contact us form on our website, or you can send an email message to [email protected] .
The following Code of Conduct seeks to outline the values that ABQFX wishes its attendees to share and abide by. Behavior that is clearly out of line with this code of conduct will not be tolerated. If you feel that an individual has violated this code of conduct, or you have a problem and need help dealing with it, please bring it to the attention of ABQFX as soon as possible. If you cannot talk with one of us in person (preferred), then you can use the contact us form on our website, or you can send an email message to [email protected] .
Goals
- Foster mutual respect, appreciation, and value for all members of the fusion dance community.
- Encourage safe and responsible dancing, and social interaction.
- Promote active community building through awareness, courtesy, encouragement, responsibility, praise, and constructive critique.
Code of Conduct
- I am a valued member of the dance community. No matter my background, my experience, or my ideas, I have something valuable to contribute to the realm of dance.
- I will respect my fellow dancers regardless of gender, background, nationality, race, lifestyle, and personal boundaries. I recognize that people have different values and viewpoints than I do. Regardless, we all share a love of dance, and I will embrace and respect their love of dance.
- I will strictly respect the physical and personal boundaries of my fellow attendees on and off the dance floor. Dancing is a series of invitations, of which my partner may choose to accept or reject dance requests.
- I will do my part to keep The Las Puertas Event Center free from alcohol, drugs, and smoke, and I will adhere to the policies involving alcohol, drugs, smoking, and fragrances.
- It’s okay for me to inform my dance partner if something they do makes me uncomfortable or physically hurts me. Additionally, I will respect my dance partner’s request that I stop doing something that makes them uncomfortable or physically hurts them.
- I am free to accept and decline dances for whatever reasons I wish. As the requester, I will respect the wishes of someone who declines, which is great for me because then I don’t force someone to dance when they do not wish to. Plus, I now have the chance to dance this song with someone who wants to dance it with me! Win Win!!!
- I will be respectful of the dance floor and the space people dance in. I will do my best to monitor the volume of my conversations near the dance floor while I’m not dancing, or take them away from the dance floor so other dancers are not distracted. I will not attempt dance moves (such as aerials, kicks, lifts or overly large movements) that are potentially dangerous to my partner, the dancers around me, or myself. I will do my best not to step on, bump, or trip other dancers; I will be gracious if I do and still gracious if someone does it to me.
- I understand that social dances are an opportunity to enjoy dancing with people of many different levels and dance backgrounds, not the place to offer unsolicited dance advice. If it is something that is causing a safety issue, however, notifying that person not only helps me, but my fellow dancers as well.
- I will conduct myself as a responsible adult. I will clean up after myself, help ABQFX staff where I can, cooperate with and show respect toward the instructors, care for and about the venue I am dancing in, and my behavior will abide by all laws, rules, and ordinances.
- I will care for my safety, my hygiene, and well-being. I am responsible for determining what I can and cannot accomplish on the dance floor. I will bring extra clothing and personal hygiene products to ensure I look, smell, and feel clean. I can also partake of the free mints or gum throughout the evening!
- I will bring inappropriate actions that I personally experience or observe to the attention of the ABQFX organizers.
- I am encouraged to actively participate in building the dance community. To do so, I will seek out new people to dance with or talk to. I can also foster connections by introducing or reintroducing myself with each new dance.
- I can share the love and give positive feedback to DJs, instructors, and dancers whenever I choose. I can clap for songs I enjoy or walk up to the dancers, DJ, or bands afterwards to let them know in person. I am free to dance with the same person multiple times. While I am free to give constructive and/or negative feedback, I will do so either through the ABQFX surveys or in a manner that is private, open minded, and respectful of the person receiving it.
Policies
- Alcohol: Some members of our community may not be of legal age to drink. In addition, dancing while under the influence of alcohol can endanger yourself, your dance partner, and bystanders. Remember that Albuquerque is high desert and at altitude (about a mile above sea level), both of which can exacerbate the effect of alcohol. Alcohol is not permitted at the Las Puertas Event Center (aka Las Puertas). Albuquerque has an ordinance prohibiting drinking in public, so you cannot stand outside Las Puertas and drink. If you bring alcohol into Las Puertas, you will be expelled from ABQFX and no refund will be given.
- Drugs: Dancing while under the influence of drugs can endanger yourself, your dance partner, and bystanders. Remember that Albuquerque is high desert and at altitude (about a mile above sea level), both of which can exacerbate the effect of drugs. Illegal drugs are not permitted at Las Puertas. If you bring illegal drugs to Las Puertas, you will be expelled from ABQFX and no refund will be given.
- Smoking: Both New Mexico and Albuquerque have clean indoor air ordinances. They prohibit smoking inside indoor public places, or near entrances, windows and ventilation systems of public places. In addition, there are many people who have allergies or asthma, and exposing them to smoke can be detrimental to their health. Smoking is not permitted inside Las Puertas or within 50 feet of the entrance. If you smoke inside Las Puertas, you will be expelled from ABQFX and no refund will be given.
- Sexually predatory behavior: Intentionally aggressive inappropriate sexual touching outside of the normal bounds of flirtation or other interaction socially accepted by the community will not be tolerated. If you act in this way, you will be expelled from ABQFX and no refund will be given.
- Physically harmful behavior: Intentionally harmful actions, or actions done with reckless disregard for the safety of others, resulting in bodily harm will not be tolerated. If you act in this way, you will be expelled from ABQFX and no refund will be given.
- Fragrances: There are many people who have allergies or asthma, and exposing them to fragrances can be detrimental to their health. Please be respectful and limit your use of fragrances.
*A special thank you to the Fusion Exchange and Ivy Grey, its founder and executive director. When we asked Ivy for permission to use the Fusion Exchange's Code of Conduct as the basis for ours, she said "We want people to use us as an example and we worked really hard to leave a legacy of balanced, well-written, well-considered documents."