Body Autonomy & Consent
Dance is a body-centred art form and requires consent and body autonomy for all people at all times.
Equity In Dance believes in helping dance educators unlearn teaching with an emphasis on touch & helping them practice asking consent. Additionally, we believe in helping dancers claim their body autonomy and be firm with their boundaries and consent giving.
What we advocate for:
- Dance instructors unlearning teaching with an emphasis on touch.
- Dance teachers asking for informed consent the using physical touch to correct a dancer.
- Dance spaces being safe for dancers to create reasonable boundaries and have those boundaries be respected by peers & staff.
- Dance studio wardrobe regulations and dress codes being created in partnership with the dancers who must follow it.
- Dance instructors unlearning hierarchy and authoritative dance pedagogies
- Dancers being included in costuming choices and conversations.
- Have open discussions with dancers of all ages about consent.
- Dance instructors or studio / competition / convention staff holding other workers accountable, reporting abuse and misconduct if seen.
- Dance studios / competition / conventions having an anonymous way for students and parents to report abuse and misconduct if seen.
- Everyone in dance spaces has autonomy over their own bodies and everyone needs to be made sure they know that.
