Policies

Code of Conduct, Terms of Sales & HEALTH POLICY

Philly Swing Classic is dedicated to protecting the safety of every community member. We have a new Code of Conduct statement, Terms of Sales, and Health policy.

Please read each of the Philly Swing Classic policies below. It will apply to all attendees.

*Policies are subject to change.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Philly Swing Classic is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all our attendees. Please review and abide by this Code of Conduct during the event.

This Code of Conduct describes:

  • How we can share the responsibility to make the weekend fun while maintaining a safe environment for all in attendance.
  • The behaviors that are acceptable and those behaviors that are unacceptable.
  • The options available for all in attendance if someone’s behavior is unacceptable or unsafe.
  • How the event will support a safe environment for all in attendance.

We reserve the right to manage any violations of this Code of Conduct as we deem necessary, which may include refusal of admission or ejection from the event without a refund for any reason.

 

TABLE OF Contents

i. BE RESPECTFUL.
ii. BE CONSIDERATE.
iii. BE A GOOD CITIZEN.
iv. NO HARASSMENT OF ANY KIND.
v. TAKE ACTION.

BE RESPECTFUL.

COMFORT AND SAFETY
Philly Swing Classic prioritizes a commitment for all in attendance to feel safe and comfortable, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, ability, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or any other personal circumstance. We ask that you treat each other with kindness and respect at all times.

Be polite to our dance professionals, event staff, volunteers, and hotel personnel. Please comply with their requests.

COURTESY AND GUIDELINES FOR DANCING
All dancers are entitled to:

  • Respectfully decline an invitation to dance
  • Dance in your preferred role (lead, follow, or switch roles during a dance if your partner agrees)
  • Change partners for the next dance, dance again with the same partner if your partner agrees, or opt to take a break.
 

Ask, and respond, respectfully. You have the right to decline an invitation to dance, or to stop dancing with someone who mistreats you or ignores your wishes. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, touches you inappropriately, or hurts you, it is okay to say “no” or “stop.” You do not have to give a reason. If someone says “no” or “stop” to you, honor their request.

Never pressure anyone to act against their own feelings. If someone turns down your invitation to dance, move on. If someone refuses several invitations to dance, stop asking and move on.

Do not offer unsolicited advice, teaching, criticism, or comments about physical appearance.

BE CONSIDERATE.

BOUNDARIES
Be considerate of other people’s boundaries. Trying out new patterns and moves, or engaging in conversation can be fun. However, not everyone may want or be able to. This applies to everything from close dance holds to moves such as dips, flirty conversations or even just agreeing to dance. In some cases, your partner may have or be at risk for injuries that you are not aware of.

If you are not sure of someone’s boundaries, or cannot tell from their nonverbal cues, ask them. If you misjudge, and they ask you to stop (either verbally or nonverbally, such as with a facial expression or a body language cue), then stop.

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.

FLOOR CRAFT AND SAFETY
Be mindful of other dancers around you to avoid accidental collisions and potential injuries, especially when the dance floor becomes crowded. If anyone near you falls or is injured, please offer immediate assistance and check to see if they are okay. If you see that someone needs medical attention, contact a member of our staff immediately, or call the hotel operator and ask for the medical first response team. In an emergency, call 911.

BE A GOOD CITIZEN.

WELCOMING FOR BEGINNERS AND CHILDREN
Dancers of all ages and levels of ability will be at our event. You can help grow our dance community by welcoming beginners and demonstrating to parents that dancing is a safe activity for their children.

WRISTBANDS
Our door monitors are volunteers. Please be prepared to show your event wristband upon every entry into the ballrooms. This applies to all in attendance including professional staff. Do not attempt to enter the event or assist anyone else with entering the event without purchasing a pass.

NO SOLICITATION
Do not solicit our attendees for any reason, or sell any goods or services if you have not received approval in advance to do so from event staff. A table will be available for other events’ flyers.

NO SMOKING
Per state law, no smoking is allowed in any of the indoor public areas of the hotel. This includes e-cigarettes. Smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas.

NO THEFT OR PROPERTY DAMAGES
Do not damage or steal other people’s property. Those who cause property damage will be personally liable.

NO DRUGS OR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
Drugs and illegal behavior are strictly prohibited. Do not share alcohol with anyone under 21. We will report offenders to hotel staff (or the police), if necessary. We will ask hotel security to remove anyone who appears to be intoxicated in any way and might be a danger to others, or who engages in disorderly or destructive behavior.

ZERO TOLERANCE HARASSMENT POLICY.

OUR STANCE
We do not tolerate harassment or threats of any kind. Any situation which makes another person feel unsafe or uncomfortable to the point of being unable to enjoy the event is unacceptable and can be considered harassment. If you harass or threaten someone at our event, you will be asked to leave.

HARASSMENT DEFINED
Harassment can take many forms. At Philly Swing Classic, the why or the how does not matter—harassment is not acceptable. Actions such as offensive comments, hostile or inappropriate in-person or online communications, sexual propositions, unwelcome photography or videography, displays of sexual imagery, unwanted physical contact, physical or verbal intimidation, stalking, verbal abuse, disruption of workshops or competitions, or other forms of harassment will not be tolerated. Known violators will not be welcome at our event.

BYSTANDER EFFECT
Please watch out for each other and help us to take care of you. If you are not sure if someone else is okay, please take a closer look: ask them for a dance to draw them away from the situation, or ask, in a friendly way, if they need help.

SAFETY VIOLATION INCIDENT REPORTING
We have appointed a Safety Point of Contact to address issues of attendee safety. If you are subjected to harassing behavior, or notice that someone else is being subjected to unsafe or unacceptable behavior, or have other concerns related to conduct or safety violations, the representative is available to support you. Go to the Registration Desk and ask to speak to our Safety Point of Contact (SPOC).

If you witness or are subjected to unacceptable or harassing behavior, you can make an in-person report.  As a reporter, you may also use this as an opportunity to suggest or request specific actions be taken by the event.

Our Safety Point of Contact (SPOC) will be an advocate for the needs of the incident reporter.

You may contact the SPOC via text, phone call, or at the event registration desk, or go to the the DJ booth when registration is closed.  You can directly text or call the SPOC using the contact information listed below; you may also ask the hotel or venue staff to find the SPOC or an Event Director. We promise to listen and to treat you with respect and confidentiality.

NOTE: Our Event Staff are not trained mental health or crisis workers. In case of emergency, or situation requiring de-escalation, please dial 9-1-1 (emergency services), 800-656-4673 (RAINN network) or 9-8-8 (suicide & crisis hotline).

If, for any reason, you are not comfortable with the our Safety Point of Contact having knowledge of your report or acting as your advocate, you may contact John Lindo, Rob Baen or Sheila Purkey, the event directors, directly. Contact information can be found at the bottom or this page.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
Anyone asked to stop unacceptable or harassing behavior 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: attendees, teachers, judges, performers, volunteers or staff. Depending on the severity of the violation,  intervention by the Event, in response to an incident, may range from:

  • talking to the offending person and asking them to do or not do something
  • asking them to leave the venue immediately without warning, compensation or refund
  • preventing the offending person’s from attending Philly Swing Classic in the future
 

Conversations or actions may take place in private if that seems appropriate to the situation. If you see additional problems after you or someone else spoke with us initially, we request to be informed. We want this to be a place that everyone can enjoy. We are grateful for your help and commitment to making our shared environment safe for everyone.

TAKE ACTION.

Have questions? Need help? What should you do if you witness or are subjected to unacceptable or harassing behavior?
Call or text the SPOC (to be announced prior to the first day of the event), or go to the Registration desk and ask to speak to the SPOC or an event director.

Thank you for helping us keep all our event safe.
 

Safety Point of Contact Information

Representative TBA —   Safety Point of Contact. Cell: TBA

John Lindo (he/him) – Event Director. Cell: 201-563-9479

Rob Baen (he/him) – Event Director. Cell:

Sheila Purkey (she/her) – Event Director. Cell:

 

We would like to acknowledge and credit the following for providing concepts on which we have based this Code of Conduct.

Kay Newhouse and Dave Moldover/ Dance Jam Productions
Riley Crozier / Do Your Own Swing

SAFETY VIOLATION
INCIDENT REPORTING

Terms & CONDITIONS of TICKET Sales

If you feel unwell right before the event, please contact us at Philly Swing and we will refund your registration. In all other cases, all sales are final.

There are no refunds or exchanges for another event year. If you are unable to attend, you may sell your pass to another dancer. A weekend pass may be sold for no more than the price paid. The new attendee must qualify to purchase the ticket. Once the ticket is sold, please email us with the name of the new pass holder at least one day prior to the event to transfer the pass. Transfers after that point will not be accepted. Without proper contact, we are unable to transfer the pass.

Preregistration is required for all awarded passes; otherwise, the pass is voided. Awarded passes cannot be transferred or postponed and can only be used for the event listed.

A full weekend pass is mandatory to compete in ANY of our competitions.

Right To Refuse
Philly Swing Classic is a privately-owned company that reserves the right to establish and enforce policies that promote a safe environment for everyone. In order to maintain a high standard of service, we reserve the right to refuse attendance to any of our events to anyone for any reason that does not discriminate against any protected class. Attendance may be denied or discontinued to anyone who demonstrates harassment of any form.

Price Gouging
Philly Swing Classic prohibits the practice of price gouging of any kind. Examples include reselling event passes at a higher price or booking multiple rooms and reselling them for profit. Those caught price gouging will face disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the event.

Alcohol and Drug Policy
Philly Swing Classic does not allow the use of alcohol or drugs in or around the ballrooms and classrooms at any of our events. The hotel for our events may provide alcohol, and we ask everyone to drink responsibly.

Media
Philly Swing Classic may have professional video and photography at our events. By attending the event, you agree to allow us to use photos and/or videos from the event as promotional material on our website, social media, and print. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Event Directors.

Thank you for helping us keep all our events safe.

John Lindo, Co-Event Director
Rob Baen, Co-Event Director
Sheila Purkey, Co-Event Director

HEALTH POLICY

We ask that every attendee monitor and manage their own health and symptoms so as not to compromise the health of others. If you feel unwell prior to attending the event, please stay home.