Siempre Tango Ottawa is committed to creating a welcoming, respectful, and sustainable tango community. These policies help us keep our classes and events safe, fair, and enjoyable for everyone.
PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION
Payment is due before participating in a class or event unless otherwise arranged. We accept e-transfer, cash, and other payment methods indicated at registration.
Some classes, workshops, and special events require advance registration. Registration is confirmed via email, and payment details will be given in your confirmation email.
CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS, AND CREDITS
Registration fees are non-refundable once a class series has begun, except in exceptional circumstances such as extended illness, injury, or emergency travel.
Single classes, drop-ins, prácticas, milongas, and other events are generally non-refundable if you are unable to attend.
Special workshops and guest events may have their own cancellation and refund policies. Where a specific policy is listed on the event registration page, that policy takes precedence.
If Siempre Tango Ottawa cancels a class or event, participants will be offered an appropriate refund, credit, rescheduled class, or other replacement.
MAKE-UP CLASSES
If you will miss a class in a series, please let us know whenever possible. Missed group classes are generally non-refundable and cannot be transferred to a future session.
When possible, we will suggest another class, práctica, or other opportunity to review missed material, but make-up lessons are not guaranteed.
If you are ill, please stay home. We would much rather help you get caught up when you’re feeling better.
ROLE BALANCE AND PARTNERS
No partner is required unless a class description specifically says otherwise.
At Siempre Tango Ottawa, we encourage dancers to develop skill and comfort in both roles. Many classes include partner rotation and opportunities to switch roles. We do our best to maintain reasonable role balance, particularly for guest teacher workshops and classes that require registration. We cannot guarantee an exact balance of roles or partners for drop-in classes.
Partner rotation is encouraged in group classes because dancing with different people is an important part of learning social tango. If you attend with a partner and prefer to remain together, you are welcome to do so.
No student is ever required to dance with a particular person.
STUDIO ETIQUETTE
- Footwear: Please change out of outdoor footwear before entering the dance floor. Clean indoor dance shoes or other suitable footwear are welcome. Shoes that are wet or dirty may damage the floor.
- Hygiene: Because tango is danced in close proximity, please arrive in clean clothing and be considerate about personal hygiene and strong fragrances.
- Belongings: Please store coats, shoes, bags, and other belongings in designated areas and keep the dance floor and walkways clear. Siempre Tango Ottawa is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items. Please take all belongings with you when you leave.
HEALTH
- Please do not attend classes or events if you are ill, experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, or believe you may be contagious.
- Return when you are feeling well and are no longer likely to transmit illness to others.
- Masks are always welcome.
CONSENT AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS
These standards apply to everyone attending Siempre Tango Ottawa classes and events.
- You are always free to decline an invitation to dance, change partners, adjust an embrace, or stop dancing at any time. No explanation is required.
- Dancers are encouraged to communicate their preferences regarding embrace, proximity, movements, and physical comfort. Those preferences may be expressed before or during a dance and should always be respected. Verbal and non-verbal indications that someone is uncomfortable must not be ignored.
- Be welcoming and respectful toward the people you share the floor with.
- Discrimination or harassment based on characteristics such as age, race or ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, profession, dance experience, or dance role is not acceptable.
- Harassment, whether verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, or online, is not tolerated. This includes intimidation, stalking, unwanted sexual attention, harassing photography or recording, persistent disruption, or continuing behaviour after someone has asked you to stop.
- Physical contact should be appropriate to the dance or activity and respectful of the other person’s boundaries. Unwanted, sexual, intimate, or otherwise unnecessary touching is not acceptable. Anyone may adjust or end an embrace at any time.
Safety comes first. It’s impossible to have fun if we don’t feel safe. Any behavior that endangers our partner, other participants, or the organizers will be addressed immediately.
LEARNING TOGETHER
During classes and prácticas, please do not teach or give unsolicited corrections to other dancers unless you are an instructor or teaching assistant. Partners are always welcome to communicate about comfort, safety, timing, or what they need in order to complete a given exercise. Everyone should adapt to create a comfortable embrace and an atmosphere of respect.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Siempre Tango Ottawa occasionally takes photographs or video during classes and events for promotional purposes. We respect participants’ privacy and will honour requests not to be photographed or filmed. Participants taking their own photos or video should be considerate of others. Please obtain permission before publicly posting identifiable images of another person.
ORGANIZER AUTHORITY
Siempre Tango Ottawa’s instructors and organizers reserve the right to intervene when behaviour compromises the safety, comfort, or enjoyment of others. Depending on the circumstances, this may include speaking with the person involved, asking someone to sit out, asking someone to leave, or restricting future participation. Serious violations may result in immediate removal without refund.
