Boston Lindy Hop Policies

We try to keep things simple at Boston Lindy Hop, but in order to create a productive and welcoming environment for all students and teachers we must ask everyone to please observe the following policies:

The Boston Lindy Hop Code of Conduct

Boston Lindy Hop (BLH) is dedicated to providing a harassment-free event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, dance skill level, or dance role. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the event organizers or the course instructors.

Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to:

  • Offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, dance skill level, or dance role
  • Sustained disruption of events or unwelcome sexual attention
  • Inappropriate physical contact
  • Photography or recording of others without prior permission
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the event/course instructors and organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, not limited to but including:

  • Logging the incident in a written report
  • Issuing a verbal and/or written warning to the offender
  • A temporary or permanent expulsion from the BLH classes and events without a refund
  • Sharing we have issued an expulsion to other dance organizations in town

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an event organizer or a course instructor immediately, or email info@bostonlindyhop.com if you'd prefer. Organizers and instructors will be happy to help participants contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe during our classes. We value your attendance.

The Boston Lindy Hop Code of Conduct is adopted from the Philadelphia Lindy and Blues Anti-Harrassment Policy and is licensed in the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero license. Please feel free to adopt our policy to your establishment as you see fit.

Waiver and Release of Liability

When you register for classes with Boston Lindy Hop, you will be required to read and agree to our standard Waiver and Release of Liability.  Please direct any questions regarding the waiver to info@bostonlindyhop.com.

COVID-19 Policies

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement 

We are requiring proof of up-to-date vaccination (including boosters) in accordance with all CDC guidelines at every event for in-person participation.

Proof of vaccination will be checked before you are allowed to enter a class or event. BLH will not keep records of vaccination status and you must show proof of vaccination before every class (even if it is part of a series) or event. If you registered and are not able to provide proof of vaccination at the door, you will not be allowed to enter. Acceptable forms of proof: your vaccine card or a photo of your vaccine card. 

Mask Requirement

Masks are currently optional in all BLH classes and events unless otherwise noted. If a COVID spike is observed, the instructors reserve the right to ask folks to dance masked.

Attending Classes/Events When Sick

We take the health of our community seriously. Do not attend class or an event if you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. Attending class with the knowledge that you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently or have a recent positive test is grounds for a permanent ban from all future BLH events. We will issue you a refund if you cannot come to class due to illness or recent COVID-19 exposure.

General Policies

  • We want our classes and events to be a comfortable environment for all our students, so we take our Code of Conduct seriously. Don’t harass anyone for any reason. We (the organizers and instructors at Boston Lindy Hop) reserve the right to take any action we deem appropriate in the event that harassment is occurring.
  • Arrive to class on time; doors will close and students will not be admitted into class 15 minutes after the stated start time.
  • Out of respect for the instructors and your fellow dancers, please do not give unsolicited feedback to other dancers unless directed to do so by an instructor. To quote Mobtown Ballroom in Baltimore, “In our experience the people who do this are usually wrong (and always annoying).” The exception to this policy is if someone is physically hurting you is acting in a way that is uncomfortable.
  • Turn off or silence all cellular devices before the beginning of class. Please do not take any recordings of a class unless you have explicit permission from the instructor(s) and any other individuals in the recording.
  • Throw out all trash and do not consume any food or drink (besides water) in the dance studio.
  • Do not bring firearms or other weapons into any of our spaces.
  • Please do not observe a class you are not registered for unless if you have permission from the instructor(s) of the class.
  • Do not film:
    • In class unless if you have permission from the instructor(s) and any individuals you are filming.
    • At social events unless you have permission of the individuals you are filming.
  • In our studio spaces, please do not touch any equipment that is not being used for the class, such as exercise equipment.
  • Sometimes, an instructor will determine that a student is not prepared for a particular higher-level class.  In these cases, instructors may ask the student to change classes or to withdraw from the course at their discretion. We will gladly issue full refunds for any classes not taken, or issue a voucher for future classes when this occurs.

Cancellation, Refund, and Registration Policies

  • REFUND POLICY:
    • We do not refund students for classes and events that they have registered for but do not attend, this includes conflicts with work or travel. Contacting us in advance before the class starts with a conflict is NOT an exception to this policy either.
    • We do not offer refunds if you sign up for a class that occurs at the same time as another class.
    • Class registrations are also non-transferrable. You CAN NOT sell your class registration to another person.
    • We will, however, provide class credit or a refund for missed classes and events if it is for a health related reason (please stay home if you are sick) or death of a close friend or family member.
  • We do not sell partial class series or pro-rated classes. Please do not email us to request an exception.
  • We do NOT maintain a waitlist for soldout classes. Please do not email us to request an exception.
  • In general, we do not cancel classes for inclement weather unless the T is not operational, the venues we rent from close, or if there is a snow emergency that would prevent students from getting to class. However, in the event that class or an event is canceled, we will; announce it on the website, attempt to email all registered users, and offer a refund of the missed class or class credit.
  • In cases of very low enrollment, we may be forced to cancel a class series.  If this happens, we will email any enrolled students by 11am on the day of the first class, and we will provide those students with a full refund.
  • We do not refund students who registered for a class or event but cannot attend because they are not vaccinated.

Under 18 Policies

In order to create a safe and productive environment within our in-person classes, any potential student who is under 18 must follow the additional policies listed below.

Ages 15-17

  • Must note in registration that they are under 18.
  • Legal guardian must sign a waiver allowing minor to take class.

Ages 12-14

  • Must note in registration that they are under 18.
  • Legal guardian must sign a waiver allowing minor to take class.
  • Legal guardian must accompany minor to each class to ensure they are not disruptive.

Ages 11 or Younger

  • Unfortunately, we do not have youth classes at this time to accommodate this demographic.

Above all, if you have any questions, please contact us at codeofconduct@bostonlindyhop.com.