Our Code of Conduct for Social Dancing – PLEASE READ & UNDERSTAND

The following page outlines our expectations and standards of dance etiquette. Please have a read to familiarise yourself with what is expected from yourself as well as what is expected of others. Anyone facing any issues with other members of the group failing to meet these standards should feel free to report these issues to a member of staff so the matter can be dealt with accordingly.

We aim to create a safe, social environment with a positive vibe for all to enjoy! The following will help us all to achieve this…

We reserve the right to refuse further entry to those failing to adhere to our codes of conduct and disrupting the experience and comfort of others in the club. We aim to create an enjoyable atmosphere for all and will not tolerate failure to meet our basic social standards.

If there is anyone who has been made to feel uncomfortable during a dance for any reason, please report it to a member of Bachata Fix team. If we don’t know about the problem, it makes it difficult to resolve it. As we want our dance clubs to be a pleasant experience, we would like to have the chance to discourage any inappropriate behaviours as soon as possible.

Dance within your Ability & Avoid Injury

When dancing with others, please refrain from rough handling of your dance partner. Do not pull or drag people onto the dance floor. Avoid gripping hands too tightly and forcing your dance partner’s limbs in ways they are not naturally supposed to go. Be aware of your dance space and respect the space of those dancing around you. Try not to throw your partner across the dance floor. Use your common sense and the correct amount of force when sharing dance space with others.  We do understand that sometimes, dancers may collide and if this is accidentally the case, please offer an apology as a sign of respect. Leaders are responsible for where you place your partner but ultimately both leaders and followers have the responsibility to keep an eye on their surroundings.

Be Friendly

People come to social dancing not only to learn how to dance but also for the social aspect. Some people may be outgoing and confident but for others it may be a nerve racking experience. Especially for beginners! With this in mind we should be patient with new comers and encourage them to dance. After all, we all had to start somewhere. We should also be kind and friendly to everyone to ensure that all have a good experience and no one is left out. We would like to encourage you to dance with as many people as you can and always be polite and patient. You never know a person’s reasons for dancing socially and you never know what your kindness could mean to them.  Smiles and thank you’s are always well received. We also encourage you to dance with a variety of people to avoid anyone being left out.

Be Appropriate

Please be respectful of the personal space of others. Keep an appropriate gap between yourself and your partner and avoid invading their space. Please acknowledge that the laws around sexual harassment are still the same in social dancing as they are in public. Just because someone has consented to you dancing with them, does not mean you have any right to take this further. This is not specific to any gender, it works both ways.

Report Inappropriate Behaviour

In the event that someone will not take “no” for an answer, is harassing you, making you feel uncomfortable in any way, please report it as soon as reasonably possible to a member of staff. The only way we can tackle such behaviour is if we know about it.

Wear Appropriate Attire

Though we appreciate that everyone has the right to wear what they choose, we do require people to dress appropriately. Anything too revealing that may risk indecent exposure should be avoided when possible. Apply common sense, if it wouldn’t be appropriate anywhere else in public, it is not likely to be appropriate for dancing.

Maintain Body Odour with Good Personal Hygiene

Social dancing does require us to be close to other people so we would encourage good personal hygiene for everyone.  Bad body odour can be a common complaint in social dancing so to avoid embarrassing or uncomfortable encounters, please ensure that you are keeping your personal hygiene at a socially acceptable level before coming to the classes. Have a shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth or bring a spare t-shirt are simple ways to avoid any such issues.

Washing hands regularly is also a good way to avoid spreading germs, especially after using the toilet. Also, if you are unwell with anything that may be contagious, please be considerate of others upon whether or not it is appropriate for you to go to class. Some individuals have weaker immune systems than others and may be more vulnerable as a result. It is always best to avoid putting others at risk where possible.

Be Respectful when Saying “No” or have been told “No”

When people ask you to dance and you feel the need to decline this is fine. However, please keep in mind that asking people to dance can be an intimidating experience that requires plucking up a lot of courage for some people. No one likes to feel rejected! So if there is a reason that you need to decline a request to dance, we would ask that you do so politely and sensitively. We want to encourage people to socialise with as many people as possible so that it is an enjoyable class for all. Also if you have declined a dance with a person and get up straight away to dance with someone else, please consider how this may look to the person you just refused.

On the flip side, you have every right to say no and everyone should respect that no really does mean no and not continue to harass a person upon being declined.

Please note there is no rule that males must ask females to dance. At Bachata Fix, we are all equal and anyone can ask anyone to dance.

Dance to your Partner’s Level

For less experienced dancers, dancing with those who know what they are doing can be very helpful but it can also be intimidating. People will feel more encouraged by feeling that they have danced well and are able to practice what they have learned. However dancing with someone who pushes them beyond their level and comfort zone may be quite off putting and will be more likely to discourage them. They will view dancing to be more challenging than it needs to be. Remember we all had to start somewhere and each and every one of us has gone through it. Therefore we know how it feels and are able to encourage others. There is no need to avoid those who are learning, we should be helping them to practice! Just dance to an appropriate level and use common sense.

Teaching on the Dance Floor

Teaching on the dance floor is fine if a person has requested your help however during social dance time, people want to dance and practice what they have learnt, as what better way to really grasp the concepts than to practice them! However practice may be hindered by another stopping the dance to teach them or they may feel they are being criticised. Therefore even if you have the best intentions it might be best to wait for them to ask for your help, in which case you can give them help yourself or feel free to ask one of our “Fixers” or instructors to help.