Dance freely.
Feel safe.
Look out for each other.

This Code applies throughout official MY Swing activities and event spaces, including workshops, competitions, social dancing, performances, registration areas and official activities associated with the event.

MY Swing may also consider behaviour outside an official event space when there is a meaningful connection to MY Swing or when that behaviour creates a credible safety concern for someone participating in the event. This could include relevant conduct at event-related gatherings, accommodation, private gatherings, direct messages or online interactions.

This does not mean MY Swing attempts to govern people’s private lives. It means moving harmful behaviour outside the ballroom does not automatically make it irrelevant to participant safety.

Consent should be freely given, specific and ongoing. Anyone can decline or end a dance, ask for more space or less force, request a different connection, or decline a particular movement. Nobody needs to explain why. Previous dances, friendship, flirting or a previous relationship do not create an obligation to continue.

If someone’s comfort or willingness is unclear, slow down and ask. If someone says no, pulls away, repeatedly avoids something or asks you to stop, respect it. Do not argue with their boundary.

Ask rather than assume. Accept both yes and no graciously. Do not repeatedly ask someone who has declined you in a way that creates pressure. Nobody owes equal numbers of dances or a future dance in exchange for accepting someone else.

Prioritise your partner’s comfort and safety over showing what you can do. Adapt to the available floor space. Use extra care with deep dips, significant weight-sharing, off-axis positions, lifts or tricks, and do not use aerials or similarly risky movements on a crowded social floor.

Social dancing is primarily a space for shared dancing, not automatic instruction. Do not repeatedly correct, critique or teach your partner unless feedback has been invited. Communication about pain, comfort, injury, force, balance, physical limitations or anything affecting safety is always appropriate.

Respect boundaries before and after the song too. A dance invitation is not an invitation to physical affection, persistent flirting, personal questioning, romantic pursuit or sexual attention.

MY Swing does not accept behaviour that undermines another person’s safety, dignity or ability to participate freely. Depending on the circumstances, this may include harassment or bullying, discriminatory behaviour, unwanted sexual attention or contact, repeatedly ignoring boundaries, stalking or persistent unwanted pursuit, intimidation or threats, physical aggression or violence, deliberate or repeatedly unsafe dancing, coercion or manipulation, taking advantage of significant intoxication or impairment, abuse of professional or organisational influence, retaliation connected to a safety report, or other conduct that creates a credible risk to participant safety.

Not every awkward interaction, mistake or misunderstanding is misconduct. Our response considers context, severity, repetition, impact, power dynamics and whether behaviour changes when a boundary or concern is communicated. A mistake that is acknowledged and corrected is different from a pattern of repeatedly ignoring people’s boundaries.

People may drink responsibly where alcohol is permitted. Being intoxicated does not excuse behaviour that violates this Code. If impairment creates a safety concern, MY Swing may ask someone to stop dancing, stop participating or leave an event space. Judges, staff and professionals performing official duties are expected to maintain a level of sobriety appropriate to those responsibilities.

Influence creates responsibility. Teachers, judges, organisers, staff and influential community members may affect another person’s opportunities, competition experience, access or sense of belonging. MY Swing does not prohibit consensual relationships between adults, but professional or organisational influence must not be used to pressure someone into romantic or sexual attention, physical contact or another personal relationship.

Potential conflicts of interest involving judging, selection, employment or other decisions should be disclosed or handled through appropriate recusal where necessary.

We want MY Swing to remain a community where becoming a parent does not mean having to stop dancing. Babies and children may be present, subject to event and venue requirements. Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising children in their care and making appropriate decisions about noise, late-night environments, crowded dance spaces and other event conditions.

Anyone under 18 is considered a minor for this policy. Participants under 16 must attend with a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult designated by their guardian. Participants aged 16 or 17 may participate without their guardian being continuously present where guardian consent, emergency contact information and event or venue requirements allow it.

Adults representing MY Swing carry additional responsibility when interacting with minors. Where reasonably possible, one-to-one interactions with staff, volunteers or professionals should take place in settings that are observable and interruptible. Event-related communication should involve a parent or guardian where reasonably practical, particularly for direct staff/pro communication. MY Swing staff or professionals should not arrange isolated accommodation or transport with an unrelated minor without appropriate guardian involvement.

Any concern involving a minor’s safety or welfare will be escalated to the Safeguarding Lead. Where the concern involves a parent or guardian, immediate disclosure back to that person may not be appropriate. The safety and welfare of the minor comes first.

MY Swing is a photographed and filmed event. By attending, participants acknowledge that they may appear incidentally in photographs or video captured in public event spaces. Official photographers and videographers may document the event, and official media may be used in accordance with MY Swing’s registration and media terms.

We also ask attendees to use common courtesy. If someone asks you to stop deliberately photographing or filming them, respect that request where reasonably possible. Competition, showcase and other official recordings may be subject to separate published event rules.