We ask that Herrang Dance Camp publicly publish and implement a Code of Conduct Policy at their event.

(please note: any personal details will not be published or shared)

UPDATE!!!  - Please scroll down and read below. Suggestions for policy have been made to "best fit" Herrang Dance Camp. 

Herrang Dance Camp is the largest and longest running event of its kind and it is a beautifully unique happening in the whole world. The camp runs over many weeks and has a unique environment that is different from the typical weekend dance event. The presence of large number of students, volunteers, teachers, visitors, performers, locals and random visitors creates a very creative and joyful atmosphere. But such a large collection of people always creates dynamics and situations which are not healthy and at times very uncomfortable and hurtful for some participants.

We ask the owners and organizers of the Herräng Dance Camp to publish, display and implement a transparent Safe Space policy before the start of the Herräng Dance Camp 2016.

The policy should include the safety and well being of the different categories of people that are present at the camp and provide a way to sincerely address all concerns, behaviors and events which are reported by any participant no matter what their position is in the camp. The policy should state the different avenues for reporting and also guarantee privacy, transparency, and safety to affected.

HDC should provide

1. An environment that is safe for everyone regardless of gender/gender identity, race, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, religion etc. Herrang Dance Camp should not tolerate harassment of any kind. If someone harasses another person, violators should be asked to leave; a person may be kicked out for life.

2. Publish code of conduct and acceptable behaviors in various spaces in the camp. The sleeping areas, dance floors, bar and cafe, volunteer space, etc

3. Code of conduct that is applicable to everyone at the camp including the owners, organizers and teachers.

4. Policy that is clear and simple to read and understand. See policies from other events at

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p4mPoE3zKI5Vb-O7aQxLaXo-7WP2BMezLe_2XDRZeoQ/

5. Provide mechanism in the policy for improvements to the Safe Space policy

If you are in favor of such of such a published policy which should then be visibly implemented by Herrang Dance Camp, we encourage you to please sign the petition. We further encourage you to share this petition to your fellow dancers

Any comments, questions, suggestions, concerns which will be sent to Herrang Dance Camp organizers can be sent to: 

hdcpetition@gmail.com

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07 March 2016 - Suggested Update based on feedback

Thanks for a tremendous response to the petition and the discussion it has started in various groups.

To clarify some things, firstly the intention of this Petition (or we could say “suggestion”) to Herrang Dance Camp was to have the organization, pro-actively create a policy of no harassment and a Code of Conduct. We would like the development of the petition and the actions surrounding it to be one that we the dancers are interested in collaborating on in this endeavor.

There are a few who have pointed out that perhaps we have spoken too soon and the discussion be taken up with Herrang Dance Camp first before going to any kind of “Petition” which makes this request. We feel that it is never too soon to begin this discussion. Those attempts to approach Herrang Dance Camp have already been made and it did not have the effect we would have hoped for within a “reasonable” time frame many feel this discussion should have been started.

In lieu of those attempts, this petition came about and has spurred on discussion and interest which we believe to be a positive initiative which could lead to either implementation of a policy formally created and enforced  by Herrang Dance Camp. OR it could lead to the self organization of dancers by dancers to create and permeate the codes of conduct and consent culture we all wish to support at all events including Herrang Dance Camp. At the very least, we would ask/hope that Herrang Dance Camp open up a reasonable public discussion about the subject either for or against the idea. Up until now, there has been no reasons given, or any response to individual or group efforts to bring the suggestion to the table.

Many dancers see Herrang Dance Camp as a historical and unique leader in the swing world. This may be true in the context of creating a unique creative international experience, yet with the recent developments which are disrupting the harmony in our swing world it seems more and more important that ALL events and organizers around the world take a stand and push for these acceptable codes of conduct and consent policies and enforce them.

If it is the wish of Herrang Dance Camp to not address or implement a policy it is within their right to do so, however with so many events and organizers attempting to adopt codes of conduct which directly deals with consent, it is becoming more and more “the norm” to have such a policy in place. It is very encouraging to have received input by many of you who have thoughts and ideas about what type of policy would be a best fit for the unique context Herrang Dance Camp finds itself. With that input in mind, we propose we make some improvements/changes to the petition/suggestion which would most clearly fit the environment of Herrang Dance Camp.

We also encourage everyone to be vocal, be proactive, be a voice for this change for every type of event in whatever context, shape, or size. We mustn’t stand silent for any reason if codes of conduct and consent are being violated for any reason. And we definitely must not remain silent for fear of any number of repercussions one might have for voicing opinions, concerns to event organizers. Fear of repercussions in and of itself is contradictory of an acceptable code of conduct.

As was aptly pointed out, because the Herrang Dance Camp event takes place in village that is quite spread out all over the place, it is impossible to govern and/or shield any possible victims in any kind of “safe space”, nor would we wish any victims to have a false sense of security which a safe space might imply.  With that in mind, we propose the petition/suggestion to Herrang Dance Camp be amended to a policy more in line with a “Code of Conduct” & “Consent” which would more appropriately fit Herrang Dance Camp’s unique international experience.

1. Herrang Dance Camp should be an event environment which welcomes everyone regardless of gender/gender identity, race, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, religion etc. Herrang Dance Camp should not tolerate harassment of any kind. Herrang Dance Camp should outline avenues of communication victims will have for reporting such violations. Herrang Dance Camps policy should include how these violators will be dealt with.

2. Publish code of conduct dealing with consent and acceptable behaviors in various spaces in the camp. The sleeping areas, dance floors, bar and cafe, volunteer space, etc

3. Code of Conduct that is applicable to everyone at the camp including the campers, locals, owners, organizers and teachers.

4. Policy that is clear and simple to read and understand. See policies from other events at

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p4mPoE3zKI5Vb-O7aQxLaXo-7WP2BMezLe_2XDRZeoQ/

5. Provide mechanism in the policy for input and feedback by dancers to improve upon the policy once it is in place without fear of repercussions by voicing any concerns, or opinions about the policy or how it is administered or enforced.

If you are in favor of change, and helping our dance community and Herrang Dance Camp create policy toward codes of conduct and consent,  we encourage you to please sign the petition.

Please don’t stand silent. We encourage you to send any and all input, opinions, suggestions to hdcpetition@gmail.com