The following contains the code of conduct we developed for the Blues on the B-Side, the Blues and Fusion Lounge, and other events hosted by the Atomic Blues Team while it was active.

These guidelines apply to everyone equally, regardless of gender, orientation, or lead/follow role.

Summary

Our staff and teachers are here to create the most positive experiences possible, but we need your help. We therefore ask that you follow our code of conduct summarized below. After the summary are more specific details on each topic.

Safety First

Communicate: Let your partners know if you are injured or are being injured.
Avoid Injuries: Initiate movement from the torso. Avoid using arms and hands for anything more than guidance and tension.
Practice Floor-craft: Keep in mind your surroundings in order to avoid collisions.
Lifts and Drops: Make sure you are trained, have permission from your partner, and have the space to perform them safely.
Ask for Help: The staff is here to help if you have any questions or need assistance!

Inappropriate Contact and Behavior

Be Mindful: You set an example for others.
Body Language: Pay attention to body language and be respectful of personal space.
Body Contact: Avoid inappropriate/sexualized/unwanted contact.
Dealing with Unwanted Contact: Tell your partner, use "Safety Dance" techniques, or just walk away.

Addressing and Reporting Misconduct

Speaking Directly to the Offender: Communicate the problem, and that may do the trick.
Speaking to a Manager: If the situation warrants it, call for a manager to step in.
Filing a Report: For more serious incidents, we may request that you file a report.
Consequences: Depending on the severity of the situation, the offender may receive a spoken warning, be asked to leave without refund, temporarily banned, permanently banned, or held for arrest.

Venue Etiquette

Be Clean! Clean up after yourself, and others.
Food and Beverages: Other than water, all food and beverages must be consumed in the lobby. Alcohol is not permitted.
Atmosphere: Request lighting, music, or decorative changes through the event hosts, staff, or instructors.

Music Etiquette

Sound / Tech Issues: Bring these issues to the attention of the staff. Do not try to fix them yourself.
Interacting with DJs: Be respectful and minimize distracting them from their duties.

Dance Etiquette

Being Inclusive: Ask people to dance, especially new folks, regardless of age, shape, background, or level of experience.
Asking Someone to Dance: Make eye contact, say the words, and introduce yourself. Don't grab people.
Non-verbal Cues: These could work, but asking works better.
Lead/Follow Roles: Anyone can lead or follow, regardless of gender. And sometimes folks switch.
Turning Down Offers: Offers can be turned down without explanation. A simple "No, thank you" will suffice.
Being Turned Down: Don't take it personally. Just say "perhaps another time" and walk away. Don't linger.
Unsolicited Advice: Do not offer unsolicited dance advice. Please leave the teaching to the Atomic staff.

Taking Lessons (Group or Private)

Class Times are Limited: Avoid being disruptive and wasting everyone's time.
Respect the Instructors: Refrain from talking unless it's to ask a question.
Critiquing Your Practice Partners: Do not offer unless asked or part of the curriculum. When critiquing, be honest, but kind.

Grooming/Hygeine

Illness: If you are sick, stay home - even if you think you are mostly "over it".
Cleanliness: Shower, wear unscented deodorant, keep cologne/perfume to a minimum, and wash/disinfect your hands regularly.
Eating, Drinking, and Breath: Brush your teeth, use mouthwash, chew gum, etc. Show up sober.
Dress Code: Shoes and shirt required. Casual or formal is okay. Bring changes of clothes if you sweat a lot.
Accessories/Hair-styling: Avoid accessories or hair styles that can injure your partner via "whip-lash" or scratching.

Photography/Video Recording

Recording Lessons: Ask permission first. Do not publicly share the video. They are for your own personal use only.
When Out Social Dancing: Be aware of your surroundings, avoid flash photography, and respect those that do not want to be recorded.
Usage of Photos/Videos: The photographer owns the rights to the recording, but needs releases of the subjects before using them for commercial purposes.

Give Us Feedback!

If you have any suggestions, concerns, or corrections, please feel free to contact us.

Safety First

Safety is our number one priority. We want to make sure that everyone is having an enjoyable dance in a safe and welcoming environment. Injuries happen on the dance floor more often than you think!

If at any time you get hurt or feel uncomfortable, stop dancing.

Communicate

Remember that social dancing is a conversation, not a dictatorship.
Establish a safe space for your partner. Do not force your partner to do what you want them to do.
Inform your partners if you have any injuries that they need to be aware of before the dancing starts.
If a dance partner is injuring you, let them know! Odds are they don't even realize they are doing it, and most people will want to adjust their style rather than continue injuring you.
If your partner does not acknowledge or adapt to your requests, end the dance and walk away. It is not worth risking injury just to be polite to an inconsiderate partner.

Avoiding Injuries

The best way to avoid accidentally injuring your partner is to initiate all movement from your torso.
Do not push, pull, twist, or bend your dance partner in such a way as to cause injury.
Do not use your arms and hands for anything more than a little bit of guidance, stability, and slight tension for your partner to work with.

Practice Good Floor-craft

Keep in mind that there are others dancing in the space around you.
Be aware of your surroundings, mindful of the space you have, and the moves you choose in order to avoid collisions.
If there is a collision, a quick “Sorry” is always a good idea, regardless of whose fault it is.

Complex Lifts and Drops

Make sure you are well trained in performing them. Do not mimic a "cool move" you just saw without proper guidance and practice.
Verbally confirm with your partner that they are okay with doing a lift or aerial before attempting it.
Make sure you have plenty of space around you to do them.
Unless given permission by Atomic staff (such as for a performance), no lifts or aerials should take your partner up higher than knee height off the floor.
No lifts or aerials should be done in the upstairs loft at all because of the low ceilings.
Avoid doing lifts and drops when you are tired! Even if you've done them hundreds of times before, you are more likely to make a mistake when you are fatigued.

Ask for Help

You can always ask for assistance and tips from the event hosts, instructors, or staff. We are here to help!

Inappropriate Contact and Behavior

Be Mindful

Remember that you set an example for others who may be watching you dance.
If your behavior might make other guests uncomfortable or get the wrong idea about you, perhaps consider toning it down.
Atomic Ballroom is an all-ages dance studio. You may not know the age of your partner - the person could be under the age of consent.
Even if you are dancing with a consenting adult who doesn't mind where you put your hands, it sends a signal to others that whatever you are doing is generally acceptable behavior. That may not always be the case, and could lead to those observers causing problems for other guests.

Body Language

Pay attention to your partner's body language.
Sometimes a partner will go rigid rather than speak out about being uncomfortable with your dancing. Look for it. If that happens, ease up to a more open position so that they feel more comfortable.
If your dance partner is using techniques to create space between you, give them that space. Don't force a close embrace. Find a caring and creative way to adjust to their comfort zone.

Body Contact

Avoid inappropriate and/or unwanted body contact.
There is a difference between being sensuous/sexy in your dancing and crossing the line to where you are making your dance partner uncomfortable through unwanted body contact.
Do not use the dance for your own sexual arousal or assume your dance partner wants your sexual attention. You could be causing your partner to feel uncomfortable or even victimized by your behavior. This is not the place for it.
Our general recommendation is to keep dance connection contact points above the waistline. If you really want to connect below the waist, ask the person out on a date.

Dealing with Unwanted Contact

If someone makes unwanted sexualized contact with you, there are several ways of addressing it:

Tell your partner what they are doing makes you uncomfortable. A considerate partner will adapt accordingly.
Use "Safety Dance" techniques to finish the dance and prevent further unwanted contact. These techniques include holding yourself farther away from your partner, and not accepting dancing in close embrace. For more information, ask one of the Atomic Blues Team members for instruction. We also occasionally teach a class in safety dance techniques and etiquette.
In extreme cases, end the dance, walk away, and report the behavior to a staff member.

Addressing and Reporting Misconduct

If at any time you feel that someone is crossing the line, either through dancing dangerously or inappropriate behavior, we encourage you to address and/or report it.

Speaking Directly to the Offender

Hopefully, the situation may simply warrant you speaking to the offender directly. Ask the person to stop the inappropriate behavior and give that person an opportunity to rectify the behavior.

Speaking to a Manager

If speaking to the offender directly doesn't work, or if the situation is serious enough that speaking to the offender is not a reasonable option, talk to one of the event hosts, staff, or instructors. A manager will take over from there. If you aren't sure who to talk to, ask the DJ or speak with the people at the front desk, and they will direct you to the right person.

Filing a Report

For more serious incidents, the situation may require filing a written report. Having the written reports are essential, especially when it comes to tracking potential repeat offenders.

When making a report, identify yourself if it is appropriate to do so. If you are concerned for your personal safety, you can ask that the reports be anonymous, but it is better if we have a contact name and number in case a follow up is required at a later time.

Consequences

Generally speaking, a member of the Atomic Blues Team or a studio manager will explain to the person causing the problem what is and isn't appropriate. If the offender continues to behave inappropriately, that person can be asked to leave without a refund, banned temporarily, or banned permanently. If the issue is a physical or sexual assault, they may be banned without warning and possibly held for arrest. Policies for what the consequences will be in any given situation are established and enforced by the Atomic Ballroom management.

Venue Etiquette

When patronizing a venue, be respectful of the space and good will of the hosts.

Be Clean!

Please clean up after yourself, and even others - just to be nice.

Food and Beverages

Eating food is restricted to the Atomic Ballroom lobby. Do not bring food onto any of the dance floors, unless there are tables set up specifically for this purpose.
Only bottles of water are permitted on the dance floor. Drinking any other kinds of liquid is restricted to the lobby.
Alcohol is not allowed in Atomic Ballroom. Please respect that, or you may be asked to leave.

Atmosphere

If you do not like the lighting, music, or decorations do not take it upon yourself to change them. Make your request for changes through the event hosts, staff, or instructors, and respect their decisions on whether to implement your suggestions or not.

Music Etiquette

Music at Atomic is provided by hard-working DJs and musicians. Be appreciative and respectful of the time and energy they put into making the experience enjoyable for you.

Sound / Tech Issues

Never go into the DJ area or touch gear without permission.
Do not touch the sound system yourself, even if you are sure you know what you are doing.
If you have a problem with the sound levels or quality, bring it to the attention of the event hosts. If they agree with your assessment, they will inform the DJ or sound engineer to make changes if necessary.
If you cannot find the host, either ask the DJ or sound engineer to point them out or speak to someone at the front desk.

Interacting with DJs

Be respectful and avoid engaging DJs in distracting conversations while they are working.
You can ask DJs to dance during their sets, but please recognize that they might say no or end the dance at any time when duty calls.
DJs are not obligated to take requests from guests. It's best to relay your requests to the DJ through a host so as not to distract them.
DJs are not obligated to give you the names of songs or copies of set lists.
To learn the name of a song while it is playing, rather than bother the DJ, we recommend using the Shazam app for your smart-phone.
Asking a DJ for a digital copies of songs from their library is not only rude, it is illegal. Buy it legally.
If you like a DJ's music, let that person know. Monetary tips could be a nice way to show appreciation.

Dance Etiquette

The following suggested rules of etiquette apply to social dancing situations. As you read these, keep in mind respecting the personal and emotional boundaries of others. See above sections on behavior and safety for further guidance.

Being Inclusive

It is important to be inclusive if you want social dancing to grow and be an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Ask people to dance, regardless of age, shape, background, or level of experience.
Try dancing with people you have never danced with before each time you go dancing.

Asking Someone to Dance

The very best way to do this is to make eye contact and actually say the words "Would you like to dance?”

Other things to keep in mind:

Don't forget to introduce yourself.
It is rude to grab a person and pull them onto the dance floor without speaking to them first.
It is rude to ask someone to dance while you are still dancing with another person - believe it or not, it happens! When you are with one partner, be present with that person!

Non-verbal Cues

These can work when asking someone to dance, as long as you are very clear.

When asking with non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, a head nod, or gestures towards the floor, pay attention to the reaction of the person you are asking.
You might misunderstand their reaction, so it is best to follow up with words. (See above.)

Lead / Follow Roles

We don't adhere to traditional gender/role pairings at Atomic. Anyone can lead, anyone can follow, and sometimes even switch back and forth (if both partners agree to it ahead of time). It's best to be specific about what role you would like to have when asking someone to dance:

"Would you like to lead or follow?"
"Would you like to follow me for a dance?"
"Would you like to lead me for a dance?"
"Would you mind if we switched back and forth in the dance?”

Turning Down Offers

Offers to dance can be turned down without explanation.
When turning down an offer to dance, a simple "No, thank you" will suffice.
Providing a reason is optional. Being inclusive and honest is important, but self-care and safety come first.

Being Turned Down

Don't take it personally if someone turns you down.
There can be many reasons that have nothing to do with you that led someone to say “no," and they are not obligated to share them.
A simple way to handle being turned down is to smile, say "no worries, perhaps another time time then" and walk away.
Do not linger around them afterwards, as that can be awkward.
If someone turns you down for a dance, that person is not obligated to sit it out and not dance with anyone else. For all you know, they may have promised that dance to someone else before you asked.

Unsolicited Advice

At social dances, never offer unsolicited advice regarding dance technique.
If someone initiates and does ask for advice, we prefer that you refer them to one of the staff instructors if they are available.
However, as long as you are kind, helpful, and considerate of the time and place, then feel free to work things out if the subject comes up naturally.

Taking Lessons (Group or Private)

Class Times are Limited

Avoid making jokes, being disruptive, or going off-topic.
Respect that other students have paid to be there, too.

Respect the Instructors

Refrain from talking unless it is to ask a question.
Raising your hand is completely appropriate - it is a class after all.
Questions are welcome and can be an important part of the learning process.
There may be members of the Atomic Blues team present participating in the class as teachers' aides. Follow their suggestions respectfully.

Critiquing Your Practice Partners

Do not offer a critique of your practice partners’ dancing unless they have asked you for your opinion or it is part of the class curriculum.
When in doubt, have an instructor come over and look at what you and your partner are doing.
When you do offer critique, try to make it kind and honest about the choices made, and not about the person.
Some positive examples:
1. "That doesn't feel quite right, maybe it's this..."
2. "Let's try it a few different ways and see which works best..."
3. "I'm not sure that's right, let's ask the instructor..."
Avoid these:
1. "You really don't know what you are doing..."
2. "That was completely wrong..."
3. "What is your problem? ..."

Grooming/Hygiene

Good hygiene is very important for having an enjoyable dance. If you smell, have bad breath, or are overly sweaty, you may make your dance partners uncomfortable.

Here are some tips:

Illness

Do not go out if you are sick. Be polite to others and take care of yourself by staying home.
Germs and viruses can hang around longer than you think, and some people have weaker immune systems than others.
Even if you feel you are nearly "over it”, you might relapse if you over do it.

Cleanliness

Always shower before you go out, and wear deodorant, preferably scentless.
If you are going to wear cologne/perfume, try not to overdo it. You will be in close quarters with many people, and the combination of too many strong smells can be obnoxious.
There is always going to be an irresponsible person who shows up with a cold, and you won't know it until it's too late. Wash or disinfect your hands occasionally throughout the evening to protect yourself and others.
There is a disinfectant station to the left of the entryway to the main ballroom, as well as in the bathrooms.

Eating, Drinking, and Breath

People want to enjoy the dance, and that can be challenging when your breath smells like a dragon's after devouring a herd of sheep.

Brush your teeth, and use mouthwash before you arrive.
If you eat food at the dance, be sure to mitigate the results by chewing gum, having a mint, brushing your teeth again, etc.
Show up sober. Although alcohol is not allowed in the venue, that doesn't mean you should get drunk before hand. Being intoxicated is dangerous to yourself and others on the dance floor. Plus, breath. (see above)

Dress Code

Shoes, shirt, and pants/skirts are required.
There is no formal dress code. Attendees dress anywhere from casual to formal, vintage to modern.
Bring extra changes of clothing or towelettes if you sweat a lot. It's the right thing to do.

Accessories/Hair-styling

Sometimes folks like to go over the top with hair-styles and/or accessories, which is fine as long you keep in mind the following:

Beware of wearing long necklaces or untamed long hair that can whip around and hit your partner in the face.
Beware of wearing large rings that might cut or scratch your partner's hands or clothing.
Some types of shirts and blouses that are loose or have flowy bits can get you and your partner entangled or snagged in awkward positions.

Photography/Video Recording

Following are general guidelines for the taking and usage of photos and videos at events.

Recording Lessons

Ask the permission of the instructors before you take photographs or shoot video.
If you are granted permission, assume that it is for personal use only. Do not share or publicly post the video, as that could impact the instructor's livelihood.

When Out Social Dancing

Be aware of your surroundings and make sure you don't risk physically knocking into someone trying to get "the shot".
Do not use flash photography, especially strobe flashes. It can blind dancers, be distracting, and for some people trigger an epileptic seizure.
If someone requests that you do not take their photo/record their image, respect their request. If you have already done so, the polite thing to do is to delete the image.

Usage of Photos/Videos

The following is based on the copyright laws of the United States.

Unless under a "work for hire" contract, the photographer is the owner of any photos they create.
If a photo clearly shows specific subjects, and the photographer wishes to sell those photos for commercial purposes, the photographer should get a signed release by the subjects of the photos.
After obtaining a signed release from the subjects of the photos, those photos may be used by the photographer for the purpose of art, journalism, and self promotion without further releases from the subjects for specifics uses. The exception is in scenarios where an "invasion of privacy" case can be made.
If a 3rd party wishes to use any photos for commercial purposes, even if it is for an event that is free or does not make a profit, they must get permission from the owner of the photograph.
Regardless of the type of event, the photographer has the right to charge for the usage of their work.
It is always best to establish the permissions for usage of a photograph in writing.
Taking an existing photo and altering it beyond recognition is still considered to be a "derivative work,” and you should still get permission from the owner of the photograph to use it.

Give Us Feedback!

We are always open to ideas on how to improve. You can either e-mail us through the contact page or leave us a suggestion in the suggestion box that is next to the door on the way out.

If you do drop a suggestion in the suggestion box, and are open to having us reach out to you to discuss your ideas, make sure to include your name and contact information.