Swing Dance Sydney

What is sexual harassment?

The Australian Human Rights Commission defines sexual harassment as including:

• Staring or leering.
• Unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against you, or unwelcome touching.
• Suggestive comments or jokes.
• Insults or taunts of a sexual nature.
• Intrusive questions or statements about your private life.
• Displaying posters, magazines, or screen savers of a sexual nature.
• Sending sexually explicit emails or text messages.
• Inappropriate advances on social networking sites.
• Accessing sexually explicit internet sites.
• Requests for sex or repeated unwanted requests to go out on dates.
• Behaviour that may be considered an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking, or obscene communications.

How does this relate to dancing?

Harassment is unwanted or unwelcome behaviour (sexual or otherwise) which makes a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated.

• This means it’s ILLEGAL to hold a dance partner very close if they don’t want to be held.
• If someone says they don’t want to dance, and you insist, touching them and pulling them, it is harassment.
• Avoid ‘boob swipes’, touching a partner’s bottom, groin, upper legs - you know the deal. If you accidentally do so, apologise immediately. If you do this repeatedly, you will be warned, or told to leave the event.

Sexual harassment is not consensual interaction, flirtation, or friendship.

• Happy, consensual dances (no matter how close the position) is AOk.
• Hooking up at a dance event with a consenting adult is also totally AOk.

Sexual harassment is a type of sexual discrimination, which is illegal in Australian workplaces, in the provision of employment, education, or accommodation.

• This means it’s ILLEGAL to sexually harass your host or hostee, your dance teacher or student, your DJ or sound engineer, volunteer or musician, event manager, MC, or performer.

We have a legal and moral obligation to actively prevent sexual harassment.

• We WILL act immediately on your reports or complaints, and we will warn offenders or ask them to leave.

Sexual harassment can be obvious or indirect, physical or verbal, repeated or one-off, and perpetrated by people of any gender against other people of any gender.

• If you aren’t sure, if you think it’s creepy or makes you feel uncomfortable and you want a second opinion, if you see something and you’ve got a hunch ASK for advice.

How do I avoid sexually harassing someone?

• Ask for verbal consent: “Would you like to dance?” “Would you like a drink?” “Would you like to take a walk?” “Would you like to come back to my place?” “Would you like to have excellent, consensual sex with me?”
• Even if you’ve been given consent before, ask every time, and use your words.
• Be ok with people saying no. “No thank you” is all the answer they need to give.
• Aim for enthusiastic consent.

Good signs

• Practice giving enthusiastic consent: “YES! I’d LOVE to dance with you!” “I’d love to go for a walk!” “Wow, kissing you would be WONDERFUL!”
• Practice saying “No,” and practice saying “STOP!”
• If someone says “Stop!” - on or off the dance floor - you must stop immediately.
• Pay attention to your dance partners. Be careful not to touch their ‘private’ zones (breasts, bottom, groin), and take all care to avoid hurting them. Like Frankie said, they are the queen of the world (no matter their gender, or whether they're leading or following).

Alcohol Policy

• Some of our venues are licensed. Please respect this and do not bring your own alcohol.
• If you are drinking, please do not drive - we will call you a cab or arrange a ride for you.
• The legal drinking age in NSW is 18. Supplying alcohol to a minor is illegal, and often plays a role in harassment and assault. It will not be tolerated, and will have you immediately expelled from our venues.

Illegal substances and items policy

• Attendees are not to bring illegal substances or items to any of our events. This includes illicit drugs and weapons of any sort. Please familiarise yourself with the relevant New South Wales laws if you are from interstate or overseas.