Your cart

Code of Conduct

Purpose and Values

5280 Westival is an event to celebrate West Coast Swing dance, the joy of the dance and the music, their heritage, and history. The event is open to dancers of all ages and promotes West Coast Swing dance and music education, open-mindedness, playfulness, and creativity. Our goal is to help build and strengthen the West Coast Swing dance community.

5280 Westival is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable event experience for everyone. Therefore all attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers at the event are required to comply with the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. We are expecting cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody. We care.

Options for Help

  • Find an organizer in person (during the event) via the registration desk.
  • Email 5280 Westival
  • Call or text (214) 663-1272. If we don't answer, we promise to call you back shortly.

Whatever means of communication you choose, the organizers will listen to you and work with you to determine the best course of action for the safety and well being of yourself and all other participants.

Declaration of Safe Space

5280 Westival is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof). We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery in social situations are not appropriate for any event venue, including dances, workshops, lectures, competitions, Twitter, Facebook, and other online media. Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the event organizers.

Code of Conduct in Detail

No forms of harassment will be tolerated. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments (related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, OR religion), sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of workshops or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of event staff immediately, using one of the methods above.

Event staff will be happy to help participants contact the organizers, or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety.

We expect all participants to follow these rules at the dance, workshop, and social venues.

Being a Good Event Attendee

Please be respectful to your fellow attendees. Many attendees will be happy to meet you and dance with you. Some will not. Be okay with that.

Be okay with being refused a dance (or multiple ones). Getting to dance with someone is not a right. If the person you asked says “no”, move on. If the person tells you “no” repeatedly, stop asking them and move on. It happens to all of us, not just you.

It is okay to refuse a dance, you do not have to give a reason.

Please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers either in class or on the social dance floor.

Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries. It is every dancer’s responsibility to be aware of their own and their partner’s movement and position, as well as the movement and position of the dancers surrounding them, in order to avoid all forms of dangerous contact.

Please be respectful to event staff, even if you are experiencing a personal frustration. Without the goodwill of these individuals, a smoothly functioning event is impossible.

Finally, be aware of your own boundaries and physical needs. Do not neglect your health, do remember to sleep, do wash your hands frequently, and do remember to take your meds if applicable.

PLEASE CONTACT SOMEONE IF YOU NEED HELP. BE SAFE, AND ENJOY 5280 WESTIVAL

Source of inspiration: Swingin' at the Savoy: Code of Conduct.