CODE OF CONDUCT
Our dance community should be a fun, friendly place, where everyone can enjoy learning,
dancing and have a great time. This code of conduct is meant to outline some ways we can
work together to keep everyone safe and happy. It also helps explain what is and isn’t okay
behavior. It talks a little about things any of us can do when someone’s behavior is unacceptable
or not safe for those around them, and some things we as organizers might do to support a safe
environment for everyone.

How to be popular and safe at events:
● Be respectful of those around you on the dance floor. If you bump into someone,
apologize. If you hurt someone, apologize, and try to figure out how you can keep it from
happening again. This might mean not dancing with them again, or talking to your
teacher.
● Respect other people’s boundaries. We can do some crazy things around here, but
just because you see someone do something with someone else doesn’t mean they will
want to do it with you! This applies to everything from close dance holds to moves like
dips, flirty conversations or just agreeing to dance. If you aren’t sure of someone’s
boundaries, or can’t tell from their nonverbal cues, then ask them. If you misjudge, and
they ask you to stop, either verbally or nonverbally (such as with a facial expression or a
body language cue), then stop.
● Ask, and respond, respectfully. People around here usually happily accept an
invitation to dance, but it is also okay to say “no.” If you are turned down for a dance,
please respect that decision and find someone else to dance with instead. If at any point
in a dance you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you can tell your partner that you are
uncomfortable, ask for any adjustments you need, or stop the dance before the song
ends without explanation. Requests for your own safety and comfort are respectful of
your partner as your ally in creating fun for everyone and are not the same as offering
someone unsolicited feedback on their dance skills (which is generally considered rude).
If you are often uncomfortable in dances or often the recipient of these kinds of requests
for adjustments, you should consider reaching out to a teacher or trusted ally for help.
● Remember that alcohol and other substances can make it harder to judge boundaries
accurately. Please be mindful of your limits so that you can be mindful of others.
This environment is for everyone regardless of race, age, level of dance, sexual orientation,
gender/gender identity, disability, physical appearance, religion, or anything else. We do not
tolerate harassment or threats of any kind. Any situation which makes another person feel
unsafe or uncomfortable to the point of being unable to enjoy the event is unacceptable and can
be considered harassment. If you harass or threaten someone, you may be asked to leave.
What to do if you witness or are subjected to unacceptable or harassing behavior:
Please watch out for each other and help us to take care of you. If you aren’t sure if someone
else is okay, please take a closer look: ask them for a dance to draw them away from the
situation, or ask, in a friendly way, if they need help.

If you are subjected to harassing behavior, notice that someone else is being subjected to
unsafe or unacceptable behavior, or have other concerns along these lines, please
● Seek out any Sauna Swing staff member for help. You can find staff on duty at the event
registration desk, or at the DJ booth when registration is closed. -or-
● Directly text or call one of the people listed below, or ask the hotel or venue staff to find
us. -or-
● Bring something to our attention (anonymously, if needed) through our after-event
survey.

We promise to respond to your concerns promptly, to listen to you and to take your concerns
seriously, and to treat you with respect and confidentiality.
For any incident reported, A panel will be selected by the Event Director to review the situation
from all sides.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior:
Anyone asked to stop unacceptable or harassing behavior is expected to do so immediately.
Actions that compromise the safe and respectful environment of this event are not acceptable
from any member of our community: attendees, teachers, judges, performers, volunteers, or
staff. Depending on the severity, event organizers’ interventions in response to a problem may
range from talking to the offending person and asking them to do or not do something,
disqualifying someone from a contest or other component of the event, to asking them to leave
the venue immediately without warning, compensation, or refund.
These conversations or actions may take place in private if that seems appropriate to the
situation. When a situation is significant enough that we decide to take follow up action, we may
share information about the situation with our fellow event directors, others in decision-making
positions, or local law enforcement officials.
If you see additional problems after you or someone else spoke with us initially, we’d like to hear
about them too. We want this to be a place everyone can enjoy. We are grateful for your help
and commitment to making our shared environment safe for everyone.

SAFE CONTACTS:
Rake Salo: rake.salo88@gmail.com+358407255696
Jacqueline Karvinen: karvinen.jacqueline@outlook.com+4915736299367
Armi Juusela: a.juu@hotmail.com +358503859312
Chuck Brown: chuckbrowndance@gmail.com +15413009039

This Sauna Swing Code of Conduct document was revised by Chuck Brown based on the
Code of Conduct of for Dance Jam Productions (Kay Newhouse and Dave Moldover)

Expectations of Professional Staff
At Sauna Swing , we pride ourselves on running events with the highest possible level of
integrity and professionalism. It is important to us that our judges are expert and unbiased, and
that our teachers understand that modeling behavior can be as important as teaching content.
In your role as our professional staff, we entrust you not only with judging contests fairly and
teaching great workshops, but also with engaging with other event participants in a way that
reflects well on the credibility of your station with us and your own personal and professional
integrity. With these objectives in mind, we ask that you:
Give contestants your full, unimpaired attention during contests.

1. Refrain from talking to other judges, or conversing with competitors, while you are
   judging. Consultations with the chief judge are an exception.
2. Keep your phone off, and off the floor, when you are judging.
3. Judge sober. Consuming alcohol prior to or during judging assignments, publicly or to
   the point that your judgment is in any way impaired in the opinion of the Chief Judge, is
   not allowed, and may be the basis for immediate dismissal from a judging panel.
   Respect the work of our contest staff and your fellow professionals.
4. Dress professionally for all judging assignments.
5. Help us stay on time by checking in with the chief judge 15 minutes before each of your
   assigned judging sessions, and being prompt for workshops.
6. Speak respectfully of your fellow staff at all times.
7. Do not discuss placements until after those scores are posted.
   Understand that you carry serious responsibility in your professional role.
8. Personal relationships with contestants, good or bad, may influence your judging or
   create the appearance of conflict. It is your responsibility to inform the chief judge of
   any close personal relationships you have with any contestants so we may recluse you
   from that panel.
9. Your position on our staff gives you influence over others and increases your level of
   personal responsibility:
   a. Using your role as judge to coerce or exert undue influence on contestants,
   whether stated or implied, to take private lessons or coaching, or engage in
   sexual contact, is not ethical.
   b. Because of your position of authority, the burden to obtain freely given consent is
   greater for you, and perhaps harder to ascertain.
   You have a unique ability as admired professional staff to publicly model respectful behavior
   both on and off the competition floor. Please read and understand our Code of Conduct and be
   prepared to support our community in working together to create a safe, respectful environment
   for attendees, staff, and audiences alike.
   Since these responsibilities are fundamental to fulfilling your role as professional staff at this
   event, failing to meet any of these expectations may be considered grounds for dismissal by the
   chief Judge or Event Director.
   We expect that you will carry out these responsibilities with grace and integrity. Concerns about
   attendees or other staff members may be discussed in confidence with either event director or
   the chief judge at any time. Questions about your role, or about these guidelines, are always
   welcome.
   Thank you for being part of our team.
   Rake Salo, Event Director
   rake.salo88@gmail.com
   +358407255696
   Chuck Brown, Chief Judge
   chuckbrowndance@gmail.com +15413009039
   

Competition Organizer

Final decision on any matter pertaining to these competitions rests solely with the organizer(s) of Sauna Swing.

General Competition Requirements:

 Each competition is open to all competitors in good standing who:

1. Hold an Event Pass (Full Pass, Party Pass, All Star Pass) and pay all registrations fees;

2. Register by the official entry deadlines(s) as outlined in the weekend schedule;

3. Pay the required entry fee(s) and complete any required entry forms.

4. Meet all other specific entry requirements as outlined in these rules.

Contest Requirements:

1. Entries: All contests must have a minimum of five (5) entries to be a valid contest.

2. Judges: There will be a minimum of three (3) Judges per role for all prelims competitions and a minimum of five (5) Judges for all finals competitions. 

3. Scoring System: Contests are scored using computerized software and relative placement. 

4. Contestants will be judged in the preliminaries, quarter-finals and/or semi-finals as an individual in Jack & Jill competitions and as a couple in any finals.

Role/Gender Requirements:

Persons of any gender can choose to dance either lead or follow, as they prefer. We encourage you to register in whichever role you would like when dancing.

Non-dominant Role Competing and Tracking:

1. Competitors may compete in a maximum of two (2) skill level WSDC Jack and Jill competitions, once in their primary role and once in their secondary role (previously, competitors had to choose to compete in only one role for the skill level J&J).

2. Competitors must maintain their role, either as a Leader or Follower, throughout the contest – switching roles during your dances is not allowed for more than 8 beats of music.

3. Competitors will be awarded points as either a leader or follower. Those points will be tracked separately in the WSDC Points Registry for advancement to the next skill level.

4. Competitors qualify for their dance level based on either their Leader or Follower points, whichever is higher.

5. Competitors must dance one (1) level down in their secondary role, with the following clarifications:

• a)  Competitors with points in both their primary and secondary roles at the same skill level must select only one (1) role to compete in (either their primary or secondary role) for that event’s skill level contest.
• b)  Competitors who choose to dance at a higher level in their primary role must dance one level down in their secondary role (e.g., Competitor has 39 points in Intermediate as a Leader and is allowed to dance in Advanced. They may choose to dance in Intermediate as Leader and in Novice as Follower OR in Advanced as Leader and in Intermediate as Follower.)
• c)  Competitors who are Novice in their primary role may choose to dance in either Novice or Newcomer in their secondary role. If they choose to dance in Novice in their secondary role, they may not compete twice in the same skill level.
• d)  Competitors are not permitted to dance both roles in the same division.

Appropriate Behavior and Dress Code:

Any action that the judges believe would make them uncomfortable in a social dance setting (such as wearing inappropriate attire, showing disrespect toward one’s partner, other dancers, or the event) is prohibited. Competitors should check with the Organizer or Chief Judge in advance if they have any questions.

Competitors are encouraged not to wear jeans or “too casual” attire for competitions. Please dress in appropriate attire; if you have a clothing issue, please contact the chief judge for prior approval. 

Responsibilities of Competitors:

1. Competitors should check the weekend schedule in advance in order to arrive in time to meet registration deadlines. They should bring appropriate competition attire. They should also plan ahead so as to be on-time for all marshaling and competitions. Competitors are responsible for checking at the event for any changes to previously announced schedules, which are always subject to change.

2. All competitors should read these rules carefully prior to attending the contestant meeting for their competition. Competitors are responsible for adhering to these rules whether they have read them or not. Questions about the rules should be addressed to the Organizer or the Chief Judge.

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3. Competitors should be present in the ballroom or in the marshaling area at least 15 minutes prior to the start of their competition marshalling. Failure to arrive at your scheduled marshalling times may lead to disqualification.

4. Any cancellation or disqualification by a competitor or couple after the registration deadline will result in the loss of the entry fee.

5. Competitors must demonstrate good sporting conduct at all times, both on and off the dance floor. Competitors may not speak to judges regarding their placements or scores until after the awards have been given. It is bad sportsmanship to badger or argue with judges about placements and scores. Competitors must also refrain from any behavior that the judges deem inappropriate. Failure to adhere to this code of behavior may result in disqualification.

Petitions for Division Reclassification:

The (WSDC) World Swing Dance Council Points Registry is used to determine eligibility for the West Coast Swing Jack & Jill skill levels. Current WSDC points information is available online at http://www.worldsdc.com for anyone to look up which division they have qualified for.

Competitors who wish to petitions down in level (in either primary or secondary role); must submit a formal petition to the Chief Judge or they will not receive points if they reach the final or a placement The Chief Judge reserves the right to approve or deny any petitions submitted.

1. The Chief Judge, or qualified individual(s)/committee designated by the Chief Judge, may approve or deny the petition after reviewing the competitor’s Points Registry record.

2. Petitions are event-specific and not transferable. Competitors must submit a petition at their next event.

Competitors who wish to petitions up in level (in either primary or secondary role); must submit a formal petition to the WSDC Chief Judges Committee (“CJC”) at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the event:

1. Petitions must be submitted to the WSDC Chief Judges Committee (“CJC”) at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the event, along with two (2) videos of the competitor’s dancing. Petitions and videos must be submitted via this link: worldsdc.com/level-up-petition. The CJC may approve or deny the petition after reviewing the competitor’s Points Registry record and videos.

2. Petitions will be approved for six (6) months and are transferable to other events. Competitors who obtain a point in the higher division will remain in the higher division.

Competitors are expected to honor this system when registering. Breach of this honor system will lead to disqualification of the competitor.

Changes to These Rules

The Organizer reserves the right to make any changes in schedule/format deemed necessary for any competition.

DIVISION RULES

JACK & JILL DIVISIONS

Competitors enter as an individual and dance with a randomly chosen partner. The DJ picks the music. Leaders and followers are randomly paired and there will be several partner changes during the preliminary, quarter-final, or semi-final rounds. Competitors are scored individually on timing, technique and teamwork in the preliminary heats. Those scoring the highest will be called back later to dance in a final round. In the final, individuals are randomly paired, then scored as a couple. The DJ picks the music. Music tempo and style will vary. All songs will be appropriate for the dance division entered.

Eligibility

Our Jack & Jill competitions are open to anyone who knows the basic West Coast Swing (WCS) patterns, such as:
• Starter step

• Sugar push
• Underarm turn

• Left side pass
• Right side pass 

• Tuck
• Whip

Jack & Jill contests offered:

1. Newcomers
2. Novice
3. Intermediate
4. Advanced or Advanced/All-Stars (* – depending on registrations)

Division Qualifications:

The World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) Points Registry determines eligibility for these leveled West Coast Swing Jack & Jill contests. Look up your level here: www.worldsdc.com.
Competitors are responsible for entering only contests they qualify for. If you haven’t earned any WSDC points you can choose to start in Newcomer or Novice.

Notes: 

The points required for moving up (or down) is based on the points in either the dancer’s primary or secondary role, not their combined points.

SPECIFIC RULES FOR JACK & JILLS DIVISIONS:

1. Contestants must be at least sixteen (16) years or older by the end of the event to participate.

2. Music will be selected by our DJ staff; length of music and number of songs per heat is at the promoter’s discretion.

3. This division will be danced in heats for preliminaries, quarter-finals, and semi-finals (if needed).

4. Lifts, aerials, and acrobatic moves are NOT allowed. Support moves, such as drops, slides, and splits are allowed (but not required) to the degree that they would be considered safe and appropriate on a social dance floor. 

5. You may not enter 2 levels dancing the same role.

6. You may not enter the same level dancing both roles.

7. You may not change roles during the Jack & Jill contest for more than eight (8) beats of music.

 
WSDC OFFICIAL RULES