Code of Conduct

Our goal is to create a safe, pleasant, and welcoming atmosphere for everyone—regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, skin color, language, national or social origin, disabilities, religion, dance experience, or any other status. We are a place where you can make lots of new friends and have a lot of fun. Of course we take care of each other.

Behaviour

• We behave considerately and appreciatively towards other people. There is no place for demeaning, discriminatory, racist, sexist, harassing or abusive behavior or speech in the Hep Cat Club.

• All interactions at our events, courses, socials or dances are based on mutual consent - whether it's a request for a dance, an invitation for a drink or any other interaction.

• It's okay to say "No!" to a dance, drink or any other interaction. This must be accepted by the other person.

• Dance roles (Leader/Follower) are not gender-specific. Please ask for the desired role at the beginning of a dance and do not assume a specific role.

• When dancing, people with different levels of experience come together. We try to look out for each other and, especially as experienced dancers, we try to make sure that everyone finds fun in the dance and that we dance comfortably together.

• We are an inclusive place. We like to invite new people to dance and welcome them into our community.

• We do not give unsolicited feedback or critical comments - unless we are asked for it or something felt painful to us.

• Body language can sometimes be misleading. That's why we recommend asking verbally whether everything is okay and making sure you have understood actions and questions correctly.

• Respect people's pronouns and gender.

• We support each other and look out for each other.

Security

• We don't do aerials on the social dance floor.

• When we dance, we pay attention to our surroundings in order to avoid collisions or accidentally kicking somebody. If this does happen, we apologize to the person and ask if everything is okay.

Hygiene

• As you will quite certainly be in close contact to other people when you are dancing, please stay at home when you are sick.

• Please wash your hands regularly and use desinfectant.

• We recommend taking a shower before dancing and making sure you have a pleasant breath. 

• Dancing makes you sweat! We therefore recommend that you change your T-shirt regularly and/or bring a towel with you. Using deodorant also helps! When you come to dance, please wear freshly washed clothes.

Culture

• The swing dances originate from African American culture. We want to be respectful guests of this culture and are committed to ensuring that the culture of these dances is appreciated and acknowledged. We expect the same from you! If you have any questions or need resources, feel free to reach out to our team! In our classes, we aim to create a space where we can learn collectively and together!

Support

Our Awareness Team is always here for you and will support you in the best possible way, whether it's a small or large concern. Please simply speak to someone from our awareness team. You can also recognize us at festivals by the buttons with the colorful safety clip. If you can't find us, you can ask for us at the bar. Otherwise, you can also contact our awareness team via email at saferspace@hepcatclub.com. We also have an anonymous form where you can contact us. However, we encourage you to contact us personally as our options for action with an anonymous form are limited. We promise to treat all your concerns confidentially. 

In case of violations, we reserve the right to exclude the individuals concerned from our events and courses without a refund.