Tips for Respect, Congeniality and Safety in Tango

Argentine tango is an adult activity that brings participants in physical contact with adult risks. Madison Tango Society strives to create a positive, respectful space that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone. We value and respect the profound ways each person’s experiences, age, race, gender, sexuality, ability, background, culture, and opinions enrich our tango community and encourage respectful, considerate behavior and clear communication.

We regret having to bring this up, but to ensure all dancers have a common understanding, we want to outline the expectations of MTS event attendees. Uncivil behavior, especially public slandering, shaming, and aggression - either physical or verbal - would be grounds for revocation of your MTS membership and may be grounds for legal action. Any interpersonal issues occurring at an MTS event should first attempt to be resolved between parties. If that does not reach a successful compromise, then the MTS board should be contacted.

So let’s dance and have fun!

If you have questions about this, please contact the MTS Board. 

By attending our event, you are agreeing to help make the event safe, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone. Here’s how:

• Celebrate the diversity of skills and styles in this community! Consider asking new dancers, experienced dancers, and dancers you don’t know to dance. MTS encourages tango dancers to dance with a variety of the other event attendees.

• Be respectful of the pronouns other dancers use.

• It’s OK to say “No” to a dance, or any activity, without offering an explanation.  It’s OK if someone says “No” to you. Celebrate people taking care of themselves. Disregarding another dancer’s right to choose how and with whom they dance at MTS events may mean this MTS event is not well-suited for you.

• Respect all dance traffic and floorcraft etiquette for courtesy and physical safety. If you need a refresher, we’ve put together this Line of Dance/Floorcraft Guide.

• MTS celebrates Argentine tango dance, music, and culture. Other styles of dance may have different cultures of partnering and aesthetics that may not be appropriate for MTS events.

• Be attentive to your dance partner’s skill level, and dance in a way that is appropriate for their comfort.

• Do not engage in sexual or sexually suggestive behavior or conversation on the social dance floor. Refrain from sexual or romantic interactions at this event. Even consensual sexual contact may be misunderstood by observers and should be taken elsewhere.

• Stalking or other predatory behavior of any form, including but not limited to behavior logging is strictly prohibited.

• Weapons, smoking, and illegal drugs are not permitted for the safety of all. Please drink responsibly and respect each venue’s policy on alcohol.

• Sometimes, we wind up doing something that makes someone else feel unsafe or uncomfortable, even when that is not the intention. If you are asked to stop any behaviors in your social interaction with an attendee either by an organizer or fellow attendee in your interaction with that attendee, you are expected to listen respectfully and comply immediately.

• Discrimination or aggression in any form towards members, guests and other participants, including but not limited to that based on gender, age and partner preference is prohibited. Members and guests are free to make their choices in this regard without aggression, overt or otherwise, from other members or attendees.

• Libel and defamation either written or in person is strictly prohibited at any MTS event or on any MTS-sponsored forum. If you have a disagreement with another community matter, please first talk it to them privately. Posting grievances against community members public;y on social media is not an effective means to resolve differences. Violations have consequence and may lead to immediate and permanent removal.

• Aggression, hostility or disrespect towards any MTS board member, employee, volunteer or teacher will not be tolerated.

• It is important to bring any concerns, whatever they may be, to an MTS organizer's attention in a timely manner so MTS can address them.

Enforcement:

If a participant violates the code of conduct, MTS may take any action they deem appropriate, including but not limited to any of the following:

• Verbal warning by an organizer/host. In such a situation the person making the report or complaint does not have to be identified.

• A person who continues to disregard the rules, or whose violation is more egregious, may be expelled from the event. Repeated egregious violation may lead to a person being barred from attending future MTS events.

Expectations:

• When assisting in a learning environment, please leave the dance couple as you found them, dancing together.

• MTS strives for a friendly environment. Tango attendees should feel no obligation to provide contact information or to attend other events. 

If you have ideas about ways we could make our community safer and more inclusive, we want to hear about it! Please - E-mail us.

** Harassment includes offensive verbal comments (related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, OR religion), sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of workshops or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Credit:

These guidelines were adapted from the guidelines of Philadelphia Argentine Tango School and Powerhouse Blues, with their permission. Updated based on feedback from members of the tango community 2024-Jun.