Zouk Underground LLC

the below rules of this code of conduct on proper dancefloor/class etiquette - taking punitive measures when education appears impossible or other students are put at severe physical or emotional risk. By attending our classes/events, you agree to abide by our rules and guidelines and be held accountable if you engage in unsafe or harassing behavior. COVID-19 Precautions
Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team takes COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of our dancers and the general public very seriously. We have taken many precautions to continue to provide opportunities for our students to learn safely. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team commits to following CDC and city guidelines for gatherings and interactions while the virus continues to circulate. We expect our students to follow all guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are mandated at our classes/events. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A may require masks, proof of vaccination, and/or a negative COVID-19 test before entry at any of our events. By purchasing a ticket to our events, you agree to follow all of our requirements. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth for the entirety of the time at our event, excluding short periods to drink water. If you need to remove your mask for an extended period of time, we ask that you do so outside our venue while maintaining proper social distance (6ft) with other participants outside. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A also requires each participant to fill out an attestation that they have not had any recent COVID-19 symptoms or knowledge of exposure prior to participation at our events. If Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team becomes aware of any falsification of vaccine cards or covid-19 test results, or if a participant provides false information about current symptoms or recent possible exposure, said participant will be banned from all R+A classes/events immediately. We encourage all participants to be open with Zouk Underground LLC & R+A staff if they begin to feel any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 after a Zouk Underground LLC & R+A event so that we can properly notify all participants of any possible exposure. Diversity and Inclusion
Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone, regardless of dance skill or background, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or any other characteristic or trait. We are expecting cooperation from all participants to help ensure an inclusive, safe dance experience for everybody. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team supports the idea that dance roles (lead and follow) do not need to be tied to gender. Our Instructors and Team always strive to use de-gendered language when referring to roles in class and we encourage all students to do the same. We encourage all dancers to avoid assumptions regarding dance roles and to check in with their partners about their preferred roles. Feel free to ask anyone to dance. If a student ever feels marginalized, disrespected, or treated unfairly due to a particular trait, we ask that they report such events to Zouk Underground LLC and/or to R+A team as soon as they feel comfortable to do so. Safety on the Dance Floor: Technique
While there is always some risk associated with any physical activity, we are committed to preventing injuries before they happen. Injuries frequently occur as a result of unsafe dancing, which we deem as any movement that puts anyone at an unnecessarily high risk of physical injury. This includes, but is not limited to, yanking or jerking your partner around (aka “arm-leading”); using unnecessarily forceful movement when leading or following; the lead bending over the follow during a cambre (a dip) or head movement variations; or doing any lift where both of your partner’s feet go above your knees. If you are unsure what constitutes unsafe dancing or have concerns about the safety of a dance partner’s movements, please talk to any R+A Team. Brazilian Zouk is a very technically complex dance, therefore Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team works diligently to ensure that all of our students dance safely and responsibly. Our Series Classes are carefully designed to build a strong foundation for our dancers before they move onto more advanced movement types characteristic of Brazilian Zouk. If these movements are executed without proper technique, they can be dangerous. Advanced movement types include:
Cambre (a dip)
Balao (circular head movement while traveling)
Boneca (circular head movement)
Tilted Turns (turns where the follow is tilted to one side; traveling or in-place)
Frango Assado (Roasted Chicken- head movement where follow’s head stays tilted on one axis)
One-footed spins
Other Head Movements
Zouk Underground LLC & R+A instructors and staff reserve the right to ask any student not to lead or follow particular movement types if they deem the ex*****on unsafe or dancer inadequately trained. We hope to help all students explore the wide range of movement that Brazilian Zouk offers, but we emphasize strong basics. Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries. Leads are responsible to stay attentive and prevent, to the best of their ability, their follow being led into a collision. It is especially important to keep floor-craft in mind when leading advanced movement types while the follower's head and neck are in a particularly vulnerable state. At socials that are crowded, we advise avoiding leading or following head movement. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team is not liable for any injuries that occur at our events and the student understands that they take responsibility for their own personal safety in regard to injuries. Safety on the Dance Floor: Personal Boundaries
As a dancer, every dance is a gift you are giving. You are not obligated to dance with anyone, and you can turn down any dance or end it early for any reason. You are the ultimate authority on your own boundaries, which may be different with different people and which may change over time. You can always tell a partner that they’ve crossed a boundary, or let a Zouk Underground LLC and/or R+A Instructor or Team member know. As a dancer, every dance is a gift you are also receiving. You are not entitled to dance with anyone and should not take being turned down as a personal insult. You should treat every dance you receive with respect and recognize that your partner is the ultimate authority of their own boundaries and physical safety. Belittling or denying your partner’s experience is not appropriate. Ask consent for anything you think may cross a boundary. We recommend apologizing if you think you crossed a boundary or if your partner expressed that you did. In Brazilian Zouk, there are specific movement types or techniques that not all students will be comfortable with. We ask that all students be mindful and respectful of their partner’s comfort level as it pertains to physical proximity, body contact, hand placement, or any movements that cross a partner’s specific personal boundaries. Dance is a conversation, and while we encourage students to build a strong awareness of their partner’s non-verbal cues, the easiest way to ascertain your partner’s comfort level with any particular move is to ask. As a highly suggested guideline, please ask a new partner if they are comfortable with close embrace (or other intimate moves) before attempting to lead or follow it. Additionally, be respectful that a familiar dance partner’s boundaries are flexible and they reserve the right to change their mind about their comfort levels at any point. While close physical connection is a beautiful part of Brazilian Zouk, it is also non-essential for a fun, connected, and enjoyable dance. Any movements that are typically done in close proximity to one’s partner can be modified and still lead/followed enjoyably and comfortably. If you are confused about issues on connection and intimacy in dance and want to adapt the dance form to fit your personal comfort level, our instructors will be happy to help you in your journey - just ask! Complaints about forced/ unwanted physical intimacy, boundary crossing, or excessive verbal persuasion to try intimate holds or connection will not be tolerated and may result in your removal from Zouk Underground LLC & R+A classes/events. Harassment
No forms of harassment will be tolerated. Harassment includes inappropriate verbal comments or verbal abuse, deliberate intimidation, bullying, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Online harassment between students in our dance school will also not be tolerated and unjust defamation, verbal intimidation, and bullying that is brought to the attention of the R+A Team or Instructors will result in punitive actions against the aggressor. Harassment is not always done intentionally. If anyone engages in harassing or unsafe behavior, R+A Team may take any action they deem appropriate. Anyone asked to stop any harassing or unsafe behavior is expected to comply immediately. Anyone who does not comply immediately may be sanctioned or expelled from R+A Team classes/events without a refund, at the discretion of the Zouk Underground LLC & R+A team. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a R+A team member immediately. We will respect the reporter’s and/or victim’s anonymity wishes when dealing with harassment claims. Please contact a volunteer, instructor, or DJ if you need assistance locating a Zouk Underground LLC & R+A team member. While at a Zouk Underground LLC and or R+A class/event, we are happy to help with immediately addressing concerns and otherwise assisting anyone experiencing harassment, to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and your safety. Use of Intoxicants at R+A events
Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team does not strictly police the use of alcohol or other intoxicants at our classes or events, however, if any participant is noted to be visibly intoxicated to the point where dancing and socializing becomes dangerous, Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team reserves the right to ask said participant to safely leave our event. Additional restrictions may be put in place on individuals found to be dangerously using alcohol or other drugs at the discretion of Zouk Underground LLC & R+A staff after such an incident occurs. Additionally, if we become aware of any behavior in which alcohol or other drugs are used to intoxicate and take advantage of other participants at our events, the provider of said substances will be severely restricted from Zouk Underground LLC & R+A spaces or banned entirely. Giving Feedback to Fellow Students
We are all responsible for creating a good dance environment. As such, please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers. Each person’s learning style is different. Unsolicited advice can often be distracting from or disheartening for a student’s learning. Classes and practicas are an ideal time to work out issues with a movement by relying on the instructing staff present. We ask that you rely on the wealth of resources that your instructors possess and never assume that you have the answer or that your partner is at fault. Our instructors are trained to give kind, constructive feedback. While you may have the best intentions when giving feedback to your partner, it can often be misinterpreted as unkind or condescending, or may simply not actually address the issue at hand. If we see behavior or receive complaints about unsolicited advice or unkind comments on the dance floor, you will be warned by our staff and given better tools for working with your partner. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A team reserves the right to take more severe punitive measures (as seen fit by our staff) if the behavior persists. If you are having difficulty executing a move during a social or practica, we suggest the following verbiage to ensure you remain kind and respectful to your partner:
“I am having trouble with the move, how does it feel to you?”
“Is there anything I can do to make the move more comfortable?”
“I am not quite feeling what you are leading. Can we please try it again?”
“I would love to have an instructor watch us to see if we are doing it correctly, do you mind?”
Feedback on the social floor is not appropriate unless specifically requested by your partner. A social is a space where students are meant to enjoy and experience the dance at whatever technical level they are at. Giving feedback on the social dance floor can provide a bad experience for the receiver of said feedback. If you have concerns about someone’s safety when dancing socially, please get in touch with a Zouk Underground LLC & R+A staff member. Additionally, teaching on the social dance floor is not encouraged. Dance at whatever your partner’s level is and do not try to teach them more advanced movements. This can often lead to injury if the movement is not taught correctly or fully understood by both parties. Adherence to the Zouk Underground LLC & R+A team Code of Conduct
We expect participants to follow these rules at all Zouk Underground LLC & R+A class/event venues and related social events. Violations of the R+A Code of Conduct are taken very seriously and Zouk Underground LLC & R+A team reserves the right to deny entrance to any classes or events if a student violates these codes. Any violations can be reported in person to an organizer/instructor or via our online reporting page. You will be directed to the Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team to handle all complaints after the initial report. Anonymous reports are accepted. Please don’t hesitate to contact Adayl ([email protected]) or Lily ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns related to the above code of conduct. Be safe, and enjoy dancing! As it relates to Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team or Visiting Artists: Let it be known that Zouk Underground LLC & R+A staff, volunteers, instructors, and assistants, as well as all visiting artists, are held to everything laid out in this Code of Conduct. Zouk Underground LLC & R+A Team/Visiting Artist violations of this Code of Conduct will be considered just as seriously (if not more) as student violations. Creation of this agreement is credited to District Zouk Safer Spaces.It has been edited and adapted by Zouk Underground LLC and R+A in order to be catered to the needs of the community in Colorado
I understand and acknowledge the information above. I understand that any questionable behavior could lead to limitation of activity within Zouk Underground and R+A Team events up to the possibility of being banned.