Be Respectful and Polite 

Assume that everyone is doing the best they can. Everyone is in a different place on their dance journey.  Social situations are complex; not everyone may know how to deal with every situation that arises. 

Be Mindful of Others 

Personal boundaries are individual—respect them.  Be aware of verbal and non-verbal cues. It’s okay to ask if someone is comfortable with a move or situation.  Just because you observe something between two partners does not make it appropriate to replicate—your relationship with each dance partner is unique. It’s okay to say no or to let someone know if you are uncomfortable with a move, comment, or situation. If something physically hurts, tell your partner so they know your boundaries.  If a partner tells you something is uncomfortable, adjust your dance to accommodate. Never say, “Oh, let’s try it again”. Instead, you can ask a professional for assistance with the move after the dance is finished.

To ask for a dance

Smile, greet the person, and ask if they’d like to dance. If you don’t know each other yet, introduce yourself by name first. Smile and make occasional eye contact with your partner while dancing, but don’t stare.

Turning down a dance

We encourage you to dance with many different people, but everyone has the right to say “no thank you” to a dance. Many new dancers get discouraged when they feel disrespected or shorthandedly dismissed. Please be kind. Say “no” politely, with a smile, as you would expect others to treat you. 

Respect a “No thank you”

If the answer is “no”, be gracious – don’t try to convince the person to say “yes” or beg them for a reason. You may invite them to ask you to dance later if they wish. Remember that nobody “owes” anybody else a dance. Focus on the people who say “yes” to you instead. If you sense that more people say “no” to you than “yes”, ask a professional if they know why that may be happening.

Be Clean and Scent-Free 

Wear freshly laundered clothing. Brush your teeth before dancing.  If you sweat a lot, bring extra shirts, a towel, and deodorant. Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, and scented products. These items cause allergic reactions in many people.

Health and Safety 

If you are sneezing, coughing, or experiencing other signs of illness, do not come to the event. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap before dancing and after using the bathroom or eating. Use hand sanitizer throughout the evening. Protect yourself by avoiding touching your face (eyes, mouth, nose, ears) while dancing.  Please respect the choices others make to feel safe.

Use Only Appropriate Touch 

Permission to touch a dance partner begins and ends with the dance. 

Acceptable touch in partner dance is generally limited to hands, arms, shoulders, back, hips, and knees. With partners you know well, more connection points may be acceptable.

Dress and act safely 

Avoid wearing clothing and accessories that may cause injury to yourself or others while dancing, such as pointy shoes, spike heels, clothing with holes, loose/dangling jewellery and belts, large rings, sharp or roughly textured watches, wristbands, bracelets, etc. 

Intoxication 

Remember that alcohol and other substances can make it harder to judge boundaries accurately; please be mindful of your limits so that you can be mindful of others. CTO staff shall remove from the venue those found to be overly under the influence of such drugs.

Practice Good Floor Craft 

Be aware of others around you. Be aware of the space that is available to safely dance. When the floor is crowded, keep your dance space small by shortening the length of your arm connection and avoiding things like travelling patterns, slides, and leg sweeps.

Apologize if… 

Social dancing can be unpredictable. When the unexpected happens, apologize immediately; for example, unintended touch, injury (minor or major), unintended words, accidentally running into other dancers on the floor, etc.

Avoid Weight-Supported Moves and Tricks 

Unless you are dancing with a regular and trusted partner, do not lead or follow movements that require either partner to support the other’s weight. Avoid tricks, both for reasons of safety and floor craft. Please refer to the competition rules for all restrictions listed.

Do Not “Help” In Class or on the Dance Floor 

Unless you are the instructor in the class or teaching a private lesson, never offer advice or instruction on or off the dance floor in class or social dancing. If you think something is going wrong in class, ask the instructor. Please limit chatter so that those around you can hear the directions from the instructor.

Venue restrictions

Please respect our licensed venue and the contract that we have with the hotel. 

• NO outside food or alcohol is allowed in the ballroom. 
• Our dance parties must end as posted in the schedule
• The venue is a busy public space where we cannot control airborne, food, or scent allergens in that environment.

What to do 

If you or someone else is subjected to harassing or unacceptable behaviour, please seek out any CTO staff member so they can contact the Event Director, or you can contact the ED directly. All reports with be treated with confidentiality and sensitivity. 

Consequences 

Anyone asked to stop unacceptable or harassing behaviour is expected to do so immediately. Actions that compromise the safe and respectful environment of this event are not acceptable from any member of our community, including attendees, teachers, judges, performers, volunteers, contracted staff, venue staff, and guests.  Interventions may range from talking to the offending person to eviction without warning, compensation, or a refund. This may include exclusion from future events. 

Dispute Resolution  

We strive to resolve issues that parties experience as unfair treatment by or between the CTO, staff, and contractors. Should an issue not be resolved to the satisfaction of the parties involved, dispute resolution shall be offered. Dispute resolution sessions shall be conducted soonest as the Executive Director can arrange.