At Sugarville we commit to providing a space where you feel comfortable and safe. All of us play a role in building that environment. As a participant of Sugarville you are asked to respect our key safe space values:
Dancing is for everybody - and every body; you are welcome, regardless of race, age, sexual orientation. gender identity, (dis-)ability or physical appearance.
Dancing level/-experience is not the most important thing about you; everyone was a beginner once - and everyone should feel equally welcome and encouraged to express themselves in this dance.
Be curious - and communicate;
• don't assume. Ask. Preffered dancing role, pronoun or if they're doing alright; there's a whole world to discover about your dancepartner;
• always ask if the other person wants to dance - and thank them afterwards;
• you are free to say ‘no’ if someone asks you to dance. You don’t need a reason or excuse. A polite ‘No, thank you’ is enough;
• accept ‘no’ for an answer. Don't argue. Don’t take it personally. The other person might be tired, or just wants to watch the crowd groove;
• don’t offer feedback to a dancer, unless they explicitly ask for your opinion. If they do, be kind and constructive.
• tell your dance partner if something is making you uncomfortable; they may not have realized.
Tip: use “I” statements when describing what is making you uncomfortable, and suggest an alternative; e.g., rather than "You are squeezing my hand," one could say “I feel a lot of pressure on my hand while doing this move, could you try holding it a bit more relaxed?”
Take care of yourself; take breaks and hydrate. Sugarville provides comfort items by the bathrooms.
Take care of others; sometimes we concentrate so much on our steps, technique, or environment that we forget the person we are connecting with. Our goal is to have a great time together. Let yourself be inspired by these tips of Swungover and Swing It.
Be respectful; Sugarville does not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory or harassing language/behaviour. Period.
If you feel these values are not met (intentionally or accidentally), we ask you to come speak with the Sugarville Care team. Members of the Care team are there to listen, assist, give advice or intercede on your behalf if you feel this is necessary. You can approach them either alone- or together with someone you trust.
If you are not in a position to talk to a member of the Care team in the moment, please send us a message through this Contact Form and we will get in touch if you so wish.