Safer dance spaces are important to us at Stompin’ the Blues and at Blues at the Ritzy. We value the safety and comfort of dancers, musicians and guests in our spaces above all else.
As part of Swing Patrol, both events adhere to the Swing Patrol Code of Conduct.
As described in the Code of Conduct, we encourage people to come forward to report incidents or issues of any nature, we investigate complaints, and we take appropriate action. We also liaise and collaborate with other organisers to support each others’ efforts.
The Code of Conduct is an important public declaration of our intent, and is supported by regular practices to ensure dancers and guests know who to contact at each of our events, as well as regular lesson content and dedicated lessons around consent and safer practices in dance spaces. These serve the purpose of both re-affirming the dance culture we are aiming to build and ensuring anyone experiencing any issue knows how to access support.
The Stompin’ teaching team (Alain, Anna, Ryan and Zoë) and the Blues at the Ritzy team (Anna and Ryan) are supported by Swing Patrol Manager Sibhe and Director Scott. Any incidents can be reported directly in person or by email, or anonymously through a trusted friend if preferred.
We investigate every concern brought to us directly. We are aware of public concerns made against one of our teaching team – Alain – with regard to his connection to an international event in another dance style in another country where an incident occurred, along with complaints made about the rest of the teaching team, who were not present at the international event, on account of their association with Alain. We abhor all forms of assault and are saddened to hear of the experience of the survivor at the international event. No-one has contacted any of the Swing Patrol team directly about their concerns, but concern has been expressed publicly via Facebook, Instagram, and through a large social group WhatsApp which the commenter has since left. Direct contact has been made with an event hiring Alain as well as an event hiring Anna and Ryan, asking for them to be removed from the events’ line ups. The accusations made publicly against Alain and by association Anna, Ryan and Zoë, have been investigated by Swing Patrol and found to contain many factual errors and incorrect assumptions. Swing Patrol are happy for all of the Stompin’/ Ritzy teams to continue their work. Additionally both events have chosen to retain Alain, Anna and Ryan as part of their line ups following their own independent investigations and in line with their own safer spaces policies. The Swing Patrol team are happy to enter into direct discussions with interested parties regarding our findings and can be contacted via email or phone, details on our contact page.
