Ceroc operate a zero-tolerance policy towards antisocial behaviour on and off the dance floor at our events and classes, and a full commitment to protecting all of our members and promoting a happy, healthy and safe environment for everyone.

Any evidence, observation or report of harassment such as physical, personal, sexual, psychological, third party or discriminatory will be investigated and could result in membership withdrawal or legal prosecution. 

If ever in doubt, always ask. We are here to help and easy to contact, with our organisers contact details on every venue and event page. 

CONDUCT

We ask all our members to conduct themselves in a thoughtful, considerate, healthy and appropriate manner at all of our events. 

• Dancing is a contact sport. Ensure any physical connection with your partner is appropriate and considerate. Dance the moves as they are taught, and act respectfully should people ask you to avoid certain movements.
• Dancing is a great place to meet people and create new friends. Do not treat it as a 'pick up joint' and do not misconstrue physical contact as anything other than dance technique and connection.
• Be thoughtful when speaking to others. Ask others for dances politely and understand that everybody has the right to refuse for a range of reasons.
• If you are refused a dance, do not take it to heart; it could be for a range of different reasons unrelated to you. Simply move on and ask someone else. If you are refusing a dance yourself, please do so respectfully and politely, remaining empathic to the fact that it takes confidence to ask in the first place. 
• Bad language (whether swearing, insulting or sexual), even said in jest, is inconsiderate of those around you, and should be avoided. 
• Bullying, either physical or verbal, will not be tolerated, and could result in immediate suspension.
• Always endeavour to reflect Ceroc’s values, and make your dance venue a safe and enjoyable space for all

EMPOWERMENT

Understand your rights as a Ceroc member and how you can protect yourself and others.

• Have the confidence to speak politely to your fellow dancers if you are ever uncomfortable with their behaviour, always empathising that they may be unaware of what they have done or how it may have affected you.
• If the behaviour persists, speak directly to a crew member, event organiser or teacher present at the event. This is the best way for effective action to be taken. Our team are always available to help, and if they do not have the resources to immediately assist, they will contact the appropriate bodies.
• Understand you have a right to refuse any dance, being sure to consider the feelings of others when you respond.
• Look out for your fellow dancers and speak out to an organiser if you witness any inappropriate behaviour. Always be available to offer support to those who ask.

ACTION

Ceroc will investigate all matters that have been reported, initially speaking to and requesting information from all parties involved, and then making a decision on the findings. In case of legal matters, the memberships of ALL parties will be temporarily suspended until a legal decision has been reached and communicated back to the event organiser. 

Always speak to the event organiser promptly about anything that has affected you, or that you have witnessed affecting one of your fellow dancers. It is much easier to deal with issues on the night than it is post event, however you should feel confident to report historic concerns too. 

If the event organiser is unable to assist, or if you would feel more comfortable with an anonymous chat, please contact tim@ceroc.com or call 0208 969 4401 to reach our Head Office team.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• Ceroc (The Company) are entitled at any time to refuse you admission at any premises at which Ceroc dance classes or a Ceroc function of any nature is being held.
• Pending or following complaints and investigation, Ceroc (The Company) will respect privacy laws and will therefore not discuss any investigations, decisions or convictions with any members or team members not involved.
• As a members only club, Ceroc reserves the right to suspend or withdraw any membership without explanation. We exercise this right with respect, sensitivity and without prejudice. 

Safeguarding young people at Ceroc events is of paramount importance to our organisation. Young people can learn, flourish and develop with the education and social environment provided at a Ceroc event, however this positive experience relies on rigid measures to ensure the safety and comfort of that young person for the duration of their time at the event. 

These measures must be observed by Ceroc as organisers, by the young people themselves, and by the parent, guardian or responsible adult present with them. They are designed not only to protect the young person in question from discomfort or abuse, but importantly also the other members attending the night.

Necessary Measures

Young people at Ceroc are defined as any attendees to our events under the age of 18 years of age. The minimum required measures to safeguard young people at Ceroc are as follows:

1. Young people must be accompanied by a responsible adult guardian to all events. This adult must be 18 years old or over. Under 18s are deemed by law to be physically and emotionally vulnerable, therefore the guardian accepts full responsibility to protect them for the duration of the event. This guardian can be a parent, family member, or a friend or colleague as agreed by the young person and their legal caregiver. 
2. The young person must adhere to the parameters set out below by Ceroc, the organisation, and any additional parameters stipulated by their responsible guardian.
3. The attending guardian should contact the event organiser at least 24 hours prior to attendance. Some venues do not allow under 18s to attend as a result of the venue hire restrictions. Those venues that do accept young people will need forewarning so the Ceroc team can be notified and correct procedures followed. The event organisers contact details will be on the website page for the event, and we ask that you receive a agreeable response before turning up at the event. 
4. Also prior to attendance, both the young person and guardian must be fully complicit with the structure and ethos of the event. Ceroc is a social dance environment, often in a dark lit space, where individuals learn to dance together, and practice/freestyle with other members of the public, many of whom will be unknown to both the young person and the guardian. Our dance is a lead and follow activity which requires physical contact for sustained periods of time. Appropriate contact for our dance includes holding hands, and making contact with the forearm, upper arm, shoulders, back, hip or leg.
5. On understanding our structure and ethos, the young person must sign a membership form agreeing to their consent and understanding. The guardian must also countersign the young person's membership form accepting full responsibility for the young person for their time before, presence at, and following the event. If the young person attends an event with a different guardian in the future, a further countersignature will be required for each accompanying guardian.
6. Whilst our dance is taught in a way which demands consent and respect for others' wellbeing, it is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from deliberate malpractice. It is therefore NOT always possible for our team or members to make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is however everyone's responsibility to identify poor practice/possible abuse and act if they have concerns about the welfare of the young person. 
7. Young people are not permitted to sit and observe classes whilst their guardian participates, as the guardian will not be able to complete their role of care and observation.

Measures FOR Guardians

1. The guardian must have already notified the event organiser prior to arrival that they are bringing a young person to Ceroc. On arrival, introduce the young person to the event organiser and remind them of their age. 
2. The guardian accepts responsibility for the young person for the entirety of the event, meaning full observation and support from arrival to departure.
3. The guardian must be aware of the young person's wellbeing in all areas of the venue, including access to toilets, activity both on and off the dance floor, in all classes and social freestyle.
4. Ceroc teaching methodology is defined by frequent rotation, allowing people to dance with different partners. The guardian must decide whether or not it is appropriate for the young person to rotate within the class, or stay with them in a fixed partnership. If the young person rotates, the guardian must rotate with them, ensuring they are never out of view.
5. During freestyle time, members can ask others for a dance. It is the responsibility of both the guardian and the young person equally as a partnership to decide whether it is appropriate to ask for, accept or refuse dance requests. It is our recommendation that the young person dances with the guardian, and only others whom the guardian knows and can trust. 
6. If the guardian suspects any malpractice or potential abuse, they are to remove the young person from the activity immediately and report to the event organiser. 
7. The guardian accepts that Ceroc events are predominantly an adult environment, and therefore the young person must behave as such. This includes not disrupting, respecting the educational environment, and remaining courteous to all members.

Measures FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

1. Young people must be empowered at the event to make their own decisions as well as following the guidelines above. They must know they have a choice, and that politely refusing dances for whatever reason is an acceptable practice. 
2. Young people must acknowledge that their guardian has equal right to decide what is appropriate or not for the young person, and will follow the guidelines suggested.
3. If the young person suspects any malpractice or potential abuse, they are to remove themselves from the activity immediately and report to both their guardian and the event organiser. 
4. The young person accepts that Ceroc events are predominantly an adult environment, and therefore they must behave as such. This includes not disrupting, respecting the educational environment, and remaining courteous to all members.
5. Young people accept that our members may choose to refuse a dance with them for a number of reasons. They should not reflect personally on this, and accept that there may be a multitude of reasons for varying consent. 

Measures FOR Ceroc Team

1. Any team members notified about the attendance of a young person to their Ceroc event should ensure that all other team members are informed. This includes teachers, demonstrators, event organisers, Taxi dancers, volunteers, DJs and venue management.
2. In the case that the event organiser is not present at the event, the team members, young person and guardian should all be introduced to the most senior member of the team should there be any issues that need addressing. 
3. Team members are aware that, whilst it is not their responsibility to care for the young person for the duration of the night, they should remain vigilant when looking out for the young person, their movement through the venue, and their interaction with other team members and members of the public.
4. Teachers should make reasonable adjustments to move content taught should there be a young person present. This includes providing variations of, or wholly changing, any move content that is in close hold, or in any way suggestive or intimate.
5. If the team member suspects any malpractice or potential abuse, they are to speak to the guardian in the first instance about removing the young person from the activity, and secondly report to the event organiser. 

Measures FOR Members/Public

1. Our members accept that young people may refuse a dance for a number of reasons. They should not reflect personally on this, and accept that there may be a multitude of reasons for varying consent. 
2. Our members understand that they too have the right to accept or refuse dances with young people (and any other members) without prejudice or offence. 
3. Our members agree to only dancing moves that they have been taught at a Ceroc event, and it is their responsibility to adjust move content taught should there be a young person present, including providing variations of, or wholly changing, any move content that is in close hold, or in any way suggestive or intimate.
4. If our members suspect any malpractice or potential abuse towards a young person, or any other dancer, they are to immediately report to the event organiser. 

EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY

Young people have rights and choices, especially the right to be protected against harm. As an organisation, we want to work closely with our dancers to keep young people safe. Safeguarding children and protecting them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children has a role to play.