Creating a Safe and Enjoyable Experience for All
Cielo Events and the Los Angeles Bachata Festival are committed to creating a safe environment where everyone feels welcomed and respected. As thousands of dancers from around the world come together for this premier event, we understand that newcomers to the social dance scene may sometimes mistake kindness for intimacy.
We’ve developed these community standards to help all attendees understand the expectations and etiquette of our festival dance floors.
These guidelines ensure everyone can enjoy the full LASBF experience while maintaining the respect and consideration that makes our dance community special.
Consent & Boundaries
- Inviting to Dance: Verbally ask or invite by hand gesture (without touch) for a dance. Be sure to wait for the other person’s response before heading to the dance floor.
- Respecting Decisions: No means no. Only ask once for consent to have a dance, have a drink, to exchange contact information, etc. Asking multiple times may put unwanted pressure on people that have a hard time saying no. Silence is not a yes.
- Appropriate Contact: Physical contact is part of social dance and should be used as a source of leading and following and not interpreted or used otherwise. Be mindful of boundaries regarding physical touch, dancing close, etc. Groping and unwanted touch is not tolerated.
Dance Floor Conduct
- Dance Expectations: A dance is just a dance, and nothing more. Don’t misinterpret friendliness (multiple dances, eye contact, smiles, etc.) for intimacy.
- Safety First: Don’t attempt unsafe dance moves such as lifts, kicks, or overly large movements. Be mindful not to step on or bump into dancers around you, and if so, be apologetic if you do and forgiving if done to you.
- No Harassment: Harassment will not be tolerated. Harassment includes (but is not limited to) inappropriate comments, verbal abuse, intimidation, bullying, stalking, unwanted photography or recording, sustained disruption, unwanted physical contact, and unwanted sexual attention.
Personal Responsibility
- Alcohol Consumption: Drink responsibly. Be aware to not become overly intoxicated. If you don’t remember, then it wasn’t fun.
- Personal Hygiene: Personal hygiene wins. This includes: brushing your teeth or at the least, having mints (supplied with the bathroom attendants), taking care of body odor by showering and/or using deodorant, bringing towels or a change of clothes, and washing hands after using the bathroom.
- Health Considerations: Don’t dance sick. If you are not feeling well, please stay home out of consideration for other dancers.
Reporting Issues
- Speaking Up: Speaking out about incidents can be uncomfortable, however it’s beneficial for the community’s safety. When possible, verbally let the other person know your boundaries have been crossed or inform staff about the misconduct. We encourage you to inform us about any misconduct as soon as possible.
Our Commitment to Safety
The Los Angeles Bachata Festival and Cielo Events are dedicated to creating a safe, respectful environment for all attendees. We have zero tolerance for harassment, unwanted advances, or inappropriate behavior of any kind. Our team is trained to respond promptly to reports of misconduct, and we encourage all participants to help us maintain the positive, supportive atmosphere that makes our dance community special.