We, the members of the NU Ballroom Dance Club, strive for a strong culture of consent. We aspire to create a space of mutual understanding, generosity, care, and fun. We maintain that all actions, on and off the dance floor, should be consensual. These standards apply to people of all genders, ages, races, abilities, etc. Please treat everyone with kindness, respect, and generosity.

1. Safety and Consent Policies

Dancers will receive verbal consent before touching/dancing with another dancer.

“Consent” is defined as a voluntary, affirmative agreement.
Dancers are expected to respect other dancers’ rights to refuse to dance with them.
Dancers have the right to refuse to dance with anyone for any reason.

NU Ballroom Dance Club will not tolerate retaliation or aggressive behavior towards dancers who exercise their right to refuse.

Dancers will be cognizant and respectful of their points of physical contact with other dancers.

“Respectful physical contact” is defined as the dance frame as taught by club teachers and professional instructors.
Participants are encouraged to communicate with their dance partner about appropriate contact.

Dancers are responsible for correcting their dance hold and physical contact when asked by their partner, a club teacher, or a professional instructor.

Dancers are encouraged to report any complaint or concern regarding inappropriate conduct to a club executive board member or faculty member. Club executive board members will respond and take steps to address general behavioral concerns and will refer dancers to university resources and departments to address potential violations of university policies, including discriminatory conduct and/or sexual misconduct.

Executive board members will be available at all events to receive concerns or complaints.
If you are not comfortable approaching an executive board member, or your complaint is with an executive board member:

Please know that there are confidential, on-campus resources who can assist in addressing complaints of sexual misconduct, including the Office of Prevention and Education (OPEN), University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS), and spiritual advisors in the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service (CSDS).
You can also talk to our faculty advisor. Please know that Northeastern University policy mandates that faculty and staff members report allegations of sex and gender discrimination, including sexual misconduct, to the Office for University Equity and Compliance (OUEC).
You can report concerns directly to OUEC.
Executive board members are not permitted to report to the university on another student’s behalf but will support any dancer’s decision whether or not to report to OUEC or OPEN.

2. Ballroom Etiquette Guidelines

Ballroom dancing involves close proximity and physical contact with another person, so be considerate of others.

All participants of club events are expected to maintain proper hygiene. Proper hygiene may include, but is not limited to, wearing clean clothes, bodily and oral cleanliness, deodorant use, etc.

NU Ballroom is welcome to all dancers of any size, shape, ability, and skill. Therefore, participants are expected to accommodate (to the best of their ability) their dance partners to maintain safety and comfort.

Examples of appropriate adjustments may include moving slower, applying a more gentle connection, avoiding an injured body part, placing one’s hands in the appropriate areas, etc.

Mistakes are okay (and even welcome) - there is no pressure to be perfect! Please be patient and kind to your fellow dancers of all levels and dance backgrounds.
Dancers are expected to respect the boundaries and consent of others and should communicate in ways that do not pressure or intimidate others.

When refusing a dance, “No” is considered a full answer.

Other ways to decline include:

“I’m taking a break right now.”
“I came here with a partner, and I’m only dancing with them tonight.”
“I’d prefer to watch for now.”

The NU Ballroom Dance Club 2023-2024 Safety and Consent Agreement can also be found here.