Event Policies

NWBF Code of Conduct

We are dedicated to providing a safer and comfortable event experience for everyone. If you attend our festival or work for our festival in any capacity you agree to comply with the following code of conduct.

The swing dances are founded upon swing music, an African-American cultural art form.  Any disrespect of the African-American culture unintentional or intentional will be called out and may be grounds for removal from the event without a refund.  Any participant who is unwilling to comply with our COVID policy will also be removed without refund.

COVID-19 & other contagious viruses

We are not requiring masks. However, if you feel sick at all we highly encourage masks to be worn (we will have a supply available). There will be antibacterial hand gel available at all venues, please use this & wash your hands frequently. We are no longer requiring up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations at check in, but if you feel sick at all, please do not attend classes or the dances. Contact admin@nwbalfest.com for your options in these instances. These policies are liable to change depending on current public health concerns.

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Consent

Not everyone will feel comfortable dancing or touching anyone at this event.  Please care and obtain verbal consent before touching or dancing with someone at Northwest Balboa Festival.  

There might be a bar available in our main evening venue and alcohol will be served to those over the age of 21.  It has been some time since many of us have been in a social bar setting. Please monitor your own intoxication carefully and be aware that someone who is intoxicated is unable to give consent to you.  

Anyone has the right to turn down a dance at any time, consider being polite when turning down the dance and being gracious if someone turns you down. 

Be kind

While we completely respect everyone’s right to choose who they dance with, be aware and be kind if you have the capacity. There are people in our scene who are left out or feel uncomfortable and we have all been there.

If you are an experienced dancer, take a moment out of your friend time to find a beginner dancer and dance with them.

• If you see someone who has been standing on the side of the dance and looks like they would like to dance, ask them to dance if you feel like you are up to it.

• Is someone standing in the practice without any one to talk to? Be aware and ask them to practice something you are interested in or maybe just say hi.

• Is there a person who is in the minority at this event? Watch out for them, make them feel welcome.

These are ways we can invite diversity in our scene, by making people feel included and uplifted. Understand the limits of your own boundaries, but together we can make a tangible difference in how our scene restarts. 

Declaration of Safe Space

We are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof).

No forms of harassment will be tolerated. Harassment includes but is not limited to:

• offensive verbal comments (related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion, sexual language, images, or invitations in public spaces or online)

• deliberate intimidation (stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention)

Our Safer Spaces Advocates are volunteers and our capacity is limited to the timeframe of the event and the event venues. We cannot make decisions or become involved with issues such as breakups, rivalries, things that happen within consensual relationships, etc., with the exception of helping you to contact law enforcement. Once law enforcement becomes involved, our involvement in the situation comes to an end.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact our safe spaces ambassadors or the front desk immediately.

• Event staff will be happy to help participants contact the organizers, or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event.

• Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

• If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event without a refund.

The purpose of this event is to create opportunities to socialize, make friendships, build community, dance, and learn from each other

• The space is not a place to seek romantic or sexual relationships. 

Please do not offer unsolicited advice to fellow dancers

• Although we are encouraging higher level dancers to help build our community by assisting lower level dancers in the practice sessions, please obtain consent before offering advice and before touching or dancing with others

Please use your full range of senses on the dance floor to avoid accidental collisions and injuries

• It is every dancer's responsibility to be aware of their own and their partner's movement and position, as well as the movement and position of the dancers surrounding them, in order to avoid all forms of dangerous contact

Please be respectful to event staff and venue staff

• If you are not, unfortunately you will be removed without a refund

Finally, please be aware of your own boundaries and physical needs

• Wash your hands and hand sanitize often.  If you sneeze or cough, please wash your hands before returning to the dance floor.  If you are sick or suspect you are coming down with something or have been in contact with someone who is sick, please stay home

Do not use Dance Wax on our floors

Putting foreign wax on a dance venue’s floor can cause nightmares for the facility. The only individuals that are allowed to put down (any form of) “dance wax”, are the actual NW Balboa Festival’s board members (Taylor, Alison, Andrew, or Robin).

IF you are found to have placed unapproved dance wax on our event floors, you will be asked to leave the venue and will be billed the cleaning fee deemed by the venue to have it removed post-event.