These are general guidelines on how we create a safe and fun dance space. You will hear some of these guidelines repeated during every dance during the opening and closing circle to remind dancers of our community agreements.

1) Move as much or as little as you like. this is your movement practice, and your time to move in any way that pleases you, even if it means laying down the entire dance.

2) Get non-verbal consent before dancing with someone else. Accept anything less than an enthusiastic yes as a no. More information on safety and consent below.

3) We ask each dancer to abide by our policy that protects our dance space as an alcohol and recreational drug-free environment.

4) Please refrain from using words during dance. Our dance is a non-verbal space so people can remain in connection with their bodies. Although conversations are discouraged, noises of all kinds including singing are encouraged. If you need to have a conversation please take it off the dance floor.

5) Talking Circles

We take turns speaking. the opening and closing circles are a time for dancers to share and be listened to without comment. Please refrain from cross-talk and conversation during circle. Please also refrain from directly responding to someone else’s share. It is alright to be inspired by someone’s share, but advice, opinions, or comments on someone else’s experience are discouraged. Everyone will get a chance to speak at least once.

Our circles are confidential. Dancers often share vulnerable and personal stories in circle. If you want to talk to someone about what they said in circle please first ask them “can I talk to you about your share?” no matter how mundane it may seem. Also remember that other people’s stories are not yours to share when we leave the dance space. Although we strive for perfect confidentiality we are all in fact human, so please use your discernment when sharing vulnerable information in the group.

There is never any pressure to share. You never have to share if you do not want to, however we do request that you share just your name so we know we can pass over you.

Opening circle - during opening circle our facilitators will go over these guidelines and give information on the space. If it is your first time at dance, please try to make it to the opening circle so you can get oriented to the practice. The opening circle is a time to share briefly about what you are dancing with, there will be more time to share at the end.

Closing circle- the closing circle is a time to share more deeply if you wish. You can share about your dance experience or anything that is on your mind/heart/body at the moment. It is usually done “popcorn style”, where dancers speak when they feel ready. Although there is usually more time to share during the closing circle please be mindful of the size of the group and the length of your share.

6) Facilitators are always available. If you have any concerns or questions during dance Facilitators are always available to help you, do not hesitate to interrupt their dance practice with your needs. If you have any comments, feedback, or concerns about dance you can always contact a facilitator individually, and they can bring your feedback or concern to the Ecstatic Dance Planning Crew.

7) Please sign in and donate. Buffalo Ecstatic Dance is run entirely off donations. No one makes money off this event. Every dance we have a sign in and donation jar. Please donate what you consider to be an equal energy exchange. No one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. Even if you do not donate please sign in so we know you were at dance.

We value and honor each other’s boundaries at dance gatherings, and our clear intention is to sustain, and continue to co-create a safe space for all.

We encourage appropriate, respectful non-verbal contact for those who wish to engage in dancing with others. Here are some guidelines to help create and sustain an open, safe, expressive, and respectful dance space for all. We welcome communication with you, and thank you for your participation.  We hope that everyone will take these guidelines to heart and observe them to protect the safety of all dancers.

1) When engaging in contact improv moves that involve taking on another dancer’s weight, please ensure that you have both feet firmly planted on the ground so that you are balanced and able to support the other dancer’s weight. This is especially important when doing lifts in order to ensure the safety of all concerned.  Also be aware of other dancers in the room, and only engage in lifts if there is space to do so.

2) If someone disengages or ends a dance with you, let the dance go. Even if you have danced with someone every week before, are in a relationship with them,

3) If a dancer indicates they do not want to dance with you, LEAVE THEM ALONE.  Find another partner with whom to dance or dance on your own.  Possible indications that someone does not wish to dance with you are:

• a) turning away from you as you approach;

• b) dancing to another part of the room without acknowledging you with eye contact, facial gesture (smile etc.) or movement dialogue;

• c) shaking their head sideways or using a ‘stop’ hand to indicate ‘no’;

• d) starting a dance with another person without acknowledging you and/or not including you in that dance;

• e) leaving the dance floor;

• f) moving their body in the namaste position (hands in prayer position at chest level) which often means thank you and good-bye;

• g) dancing (in one location) with eyes closed.

4) If someone indicates they do not wish to talk or have contact with you after dance, in the hallway or bathrooms, please respect their wishes and leave them alone.

5) Do not follow someone around the studio unless you have a sense of mutual interest.  Possible indications of mutual interest could be:

• a) an arm gesture or head movement, “indicating come with me”;

• b) the person moving around the room, away from but acknowledging your presence in an affirming way (eg. gesturing you to follow, smiling, laughing, in a movement dialogue, perhaps mirroring movements of yours);

• c) the person linking arms with you.

6) Please be aware dance is not intended as a place to cruise or pick up sexual partners.  It is different from dance clubs and bars in this regard.

7) Do not purposely touch or caress another dancer’s private parts (breasts, genitals, bums).

9) Please be aware of your surroundings and be mindful of any children in the dance space.

10) If you feel uncomfortable with another dancer’s behavior during the dance, please speak to facilitator.

We will do our best to offer you some suggestions as to how to maintain and protect your boundaries; we may also speak to the person in question, communicate our guidelines to them, and in the event that they are not able to hear and/or act in alignment with our values and guidelines, we may ask them not to leave, and perhaps not to return.  (Please see Harassment Policy below).

** Please know that you have the encouragement and permission of the Ecstatic Dance Planning Crew to disengage, or end any dance; and to assert your boundaries when you feel uncomfortable, or when you would rather dance alone.  **

11) Buffalo Ecstatic Dance’s Harassment Policy and Protocol:  Harassment is unwanted attention that humiliates or offends someone. It can take many forms, such as unwanted attention, inappropriate touching, verbal threats or slurs, or unwelcome remarks related to sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, size, disability, age.

Physical, verbal, and/or sexual harassment will not be tolerated at dance.  If you engage in harassment, as described by the above guidelines, you will be asked to leave the dance, and may be banned for any length of time up to lifetime.  We may also contact the police. (* The definition and forms of harassment that Buffalo Ecstatic Dance refers to above is derived from the Canadian Human Rights Commission.)

The above guidelines were adapted from the Move Collective’s safety guidelines