---

Please read the Code of Conduct below before attending our event! By purchasing a pass to Divergence Zouk Festival, you are agreeing to abide by our Code of Conduct during the entirety of the event. Thanks in advance for helping us to create a safe space!

---

Divergence Code of Conduct

💙 Respect one another’s boundaries. If someone says no to a dance, please respectfully accept their no. If someone doesn’t want to do head motion or would prefer to dance in open position for example, please respect their request. 

💙 Consent for a dance is not consent for sexual touch. Zouk can be a very intimate dance, but dance intimacy is different from sexual intimacy. Do NOT take liberties such as groping, pressing genitals, kissing, caressing, or even massaging someone without their express consent. If you are interested in someone beyond dance, ask them OFF the dance floor if the feelings are mutual.

💙 Head motion is led from the CHEST/BACK. Do not lead head motion from the neck or traps ever. This includes catching a cambre by the neck! The neck is a very delicate part of the body and you can easily injure someone doing this. You might see some professionals utilize the neck in interesting ways, but they have trained it countless times and have consented to it. 

💙 Take care of one another’s bodies! As a leader, only use the minimum amount of force required to do a movement. The best way to get an understanding of your levels of force is to ask for feedback. As a follower, do not give the leader your weight unless they have given a clear signal to do so. Be very aware of your surroundings as both a leader and a follower to prevent any accidental collisions! 

💙 Take care of your own body! Drink plenty of water, don’t forget to eat, and rest when you need to! Luckily we give you plenty of time to sleep during this event so please take advantage! Respect your own desires by utilizing your yes and your no authentically.

💙 If you ever feel unsafe, please speak to Sabrina or any one of our wonderful volunteers! 

💙 If you violate the Divergence code of conduct, depending on the severity, you may be given a warning or you may be removed from the event. Please read more about inappropriate behavior and the consequences thereof on the Austin Brazilian Zouk Safety Committee’s Policies and Procedures document.  

Rules of the Space

💙 Baby powder will NOT be allowed at this event. Baby powder is a safety hazard as it causes extremely slippery floors. These floors are made for dancing so when paired with dance shoes, they offer the perfect slip to grip ratio! Remember that sneakers are made to grip strongly! Be sure to wear dance shoes rather than sneakers if you don’t want too much grip!

💙 Absolutely NO outside food or drink in the hotel lobby, restaurant, or ballroom! You are welcome to DoorDash/UberEats but please eat in your room. Alternatively, the hotel restaurant is a great food option! This is a hotel policy and we want to respect this gorgeous hotel! Drinks with a sealed lid and dry snacks such as protein bars are fine to eat in the ballroom. Water will also be provided at the hotel.

💙 No smoking or vaping in the hotel whatsoever. Please step outside if you would like to smoke or vape. Please also be mindful to not spray perfume, aerosols, or other strong orders in the ballroom.