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Code of Conduct

V1.0.0 | 2023

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Zouk Pirates (ZP) is committed to providing a safe, fun, and educational environment for learning and practicing Brazilian Zouk. We believe all people have the right to enjoy this dance form, and strive to create a community of mutual respect. As a part of this goal, we choose first to educate individuals who break the below rules of this code of conduct on proper dancefloor/class etiquette - taking punitive measures when education appears impossible or other students are put at severe physical or emotional risk. By attending our events, you agree to abide by our rules and guidelines and be held accountable if you engage in unsafe or harassing behavior. 

COVID-19 Precautions  

Zouk Pirates takes the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of our dancers and the general public very seriously. ZP may require masks, proof of vaccination, and/or a negative COVID-19 test before entry at any of our events. 

 

By purchasing a ticket to our events, you agree to follow all of our requirements. If required, masks must cover both the nose and mouth for the entirety of the time at our event, excluding short periods to drink water. If ZP becomes aware of any falsification of vaccine cards or covid-19 test results, or if a participant provides false information about current symptoms or recent possible exposure, said participant will be banned from all ZP events immediately.  

 

We encourage all participants to be open with ZP team members if they begin to feel any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 after a ZP event so that we can properly notify all participants of any possible exposure.  

Diversity and Inclusion 

Zouk Pirates is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone, regardless of dance skill or background, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or any other characteristic or trait. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure an inclusive, safe dance experience for everybody.  

 

Zouk Pirates supports the idea that dance roles (lead and follow) do not need to be tied to gender. Our team members always strive to use de-gendered language when referring to roles and we encourage others to do the same. We encourage all dancers to avoid assumptions regarding dance roles and to check in with their partners about their preferred roles. Feel free to ask anyone to dance. 

 

If a dancer ever feels marginalized, disrespected, or treated unfairly due to a particular trait, we ask that they report such events to a ZP team member as soon as they feel comfortable to do so.

Dance Floor Technique  

While there is always some risk associated with any physical activity, we are committed to preventing injuries before they happen. Injuries frequently occur as a result of unsafe dancing, which we deem as any movement that puts anyone at an unnecessarily high risk of physical injury. This includes, but is not limited to: using unnecessarily forceful movement when leading or following, the lead bending over the follow during a cambre (a dip) or head movement variations, and any lift where both of your partner’s feet go above your knees. If you are unsure what constitutes unsafe dancing or have concerns about the safety of a dance partner’s movements, please talk to any ZP team member. 

 

Brazilian Zouk is a very technically complex dance, and requires a strong foundation before some movement types characteristic of Brazilian Zouk can be executed safely. If these movements are executed without proper technique, they can be dangerous. Movement types which carry increased risk of injury for both lead and follow include:  

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  • Cambre (a dip) 

  • Balao (circular head movement while traveling) 

  • Boneca (circular head movement) 

  • Tilted Turns (turns where the follow is tilted to one side; traveling or in-place)

  • Frango Assado (head movement where follow’s head stays tilted on one axis)

  • One-footed spins 

  • Other Head Movements  

 

ZP instructors and team members reserve the right to ask any dancer not to lead or follow particular movement types if they deem the execution unsafe or the dancer inadequately trained. 

 

Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries. Leads are responsible to stay attentive and prevent, to the best of their ability, their follow being led into a collision. It is especially important to keep floor-craft in mind when leading advanced movement types while the follower's head and neck are in a particularly vulnerable state. 

 

Zouk Pirates is not liable for any injuries that occur at our events and the dancer understands that they take responsibility for their own personal safety in regard to injuries.  

Personal Boundaries  

As a dancer, every dance is a gift you are giving. You are not obligated to dance with anyone, and you can turn down any dance or end it early for any reason. You are the ultimate authority on your own boundaries, which may be different with different people and which may change over time. You can always tell a partner that they’ve crossed a boundary, or let a ZP team member know.

 

As a dancer, every dance is a gift you are also receiving. You are not entitled to dance with anyone and should not take being turned down as a personal insult. You should treat every dance you receive with respect and recognize that your partner is the ultimate authority of their own boundaries and physical safety. Belittling or denying your partner’s experience is not appropriate. Ask consent for anything you think may cross a boundary. We recommend apologizing if you think you crossed a boundary or if your partner expressed that you did. 

 

In Brazilian Zouk, there are specific movement types or techniques that not all dancers will be comfortable with. We ask that everyone be mindful and respectful of their partner’s comfort level as it pertains to physical proximity, body contact, hand placement, or any movements that cross a partner’s specific personal boundaries.  

 

Dance is a conversation, and while we encourage dancers to build a strong awareness of their partner’s non-verbal cues, the easiest way to ascertain your partner’s comfort level with any particular move is to ask. As a highly suggested guideline, please ask a new partner if they are comfortable with close embrace (or other intimate moves) before attempting to lead or follow it. Additionally, be respectful that a familiar dance partner’s boundaries are flexible and they reserve the right to change their mind about their comfort levels at any point.  

 

While close physical connection is a beautiful part of Brazilian Zouk, it is also non-essential for a fun, connected, and enjoyable dance. Any movements that are typically done in close proximity to one’s partner can be modified and still lead/followed enjoyably and comfortably. If you are confused about issues on connection and intimacy in dance and want to adapt the dance form to fit your personal comfort level, our team members will be happy to help you in your journey - just ask!  

 

Complaints about forced/ unwanted physical intimacy, boundary crossing, or excessive verbal persuasion to try intimate holds or connection will not be tolerated and may result in your removal from ZP events.  

Use of Intoxicants at Events

Zouk Pirates does not strictly police the use of alcohol or other intoxicants at our classes or events, however, if any participant is noted to be visibly intoxicated to the point where dancing and socializing becomes dangerous, Zouk Pirates reserves the right to ask said participant to safely leave our event. Additional restrictions may be put in place on individuals found to be dangerously using alcohol or other drugs at the discretion of ZP leadership after such an incident occurs.  

 

Additionally, if we become aware of any behavior in which alcohol or other drugs are used to intoxicate and take advantage of other participants at our events, the provider of said substances will be severely restricted from ZP spaces or banned entirely.  

Harassment  

No forms of harassment will be tolerated. Harassment includes inappropriate verbal comments or verbal abuse, deliberate intimidation, bullying, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Online harassment between students in our dance school will also not be tolerated and unjust defamation, verbal intimidation, and bullying that is brought to the attention of the ZP team will result in punitive actions against the aggressor as outlined in our Zero Tolerance Policy.  

 

Harassment is not always done intentionally. If anyone engages in harassing or unsafe behavior, Zouk Pirates may take any action they deem appropriate. Anyone asked to stop any harassing or unsafe behavior is expected to comply immediately. Anyone who does not comply immediately may be sanctioned or expelled from Zouk Pirates events without a refund, at the discretion of the ZP team.

 

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a ZP staff member immediately. 

Giving Feedback to Fellow Dancers  

We are all responsible for creating a good dance environment. As such, please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers. Each person’s learning style is different. Unsolicited advice can often be distracting from or disheartening for a student’s learning or take away from a social dance experience.  

 

While you may have the best intentions when giving feedback to your partner, it can often be misinterpreted as unkind or condescending, or may simply not actually address the issue at hand. If we see behavior or receive complaints about unsolicited advice or unkind comments on the dance floor, you will be warned by our team and given better tools for working with your partner. ZP reserves the right to take more severe punitive measures (as seen fit by our staff) if the behavior persists.  

 

If you are having difficulty executing a move during a social or practica, we suggest the following verbiage to ensure you remain kind and respectful to your partner:  

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  • “I am having trouble with the move, how does it feel to you?”  

  • “Is there anything I can do to make the move more comfortable?”  

  • “I am not quite feeling what you are leading. Can we please try it again?”

  • “I would love to have an instructor watch us to see if we are doing it correctly, do you mind?” \

 

Feedback on the social floor is not appropriate unless specifically requested by your partner. A social is a space where dancers are meant to enjoy and experience the dance at whatever technical level they are at. Giving feedback on the social dance floor can provide a bad experience for the receiver of said feedback. If you have concerns about someone’s safety when dancing socially, please get in touch with a ZP staff member. 

 

Additionally, teaching on the social dance floor is not encouraged. Dance at whatever your partner’s level is and do not try to teach them more advanced movements. This can often lead to injury if the movement is not taught correctly or fully understood by both parties.  

Adherence to the ZP Code of Conduct  

We expect participants to follow these rules at all Zouk Pirate event venues and related social events. Violations of the ZP Code of Conduct are taken very seriously and ZP reserves the right to deny entrance to any classes or event if a dancer violates these codes. Be safe, and enjoy dancing! 

As it relates to ZP Staff or Visiting Artists

Let it be known that ZP staff, volunteers, instructors, and assistants, as well as all visiting artists, are held to everything laid out in this Code of Conduct. ZP/Visiting Artist violations of this Code of Conduct will be considered just as seriously (if not more) as student/Attendee violations. 

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