Safety

Meet the Safety Team

Anthony Chen

Anthony Chen (he/him)

Blake Morris

Blake Morris (he/him)

Irina Amzashvili by Jerry Almonte

Irina Amzashvili (she/her)

Kirsten Capunay

Kirsten Capunay (she/her)

Jessie Keefe

Jessie Keefe (all pronouns)

Who we are:

Members of the Utah Lindy Hop community dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable dance and class experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof). We are not police officers, paid security, lawyers, or therapists.

The Salt City Swing Code of Conduct outlines attendee expectations. The Safety Team’s purview is restricted to SCS events.

Report an Issue

If you are unable or uncomfortable bringing something directly to the safety team in person, you can submit your safety concern here with the option of remaining anonymous. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

Code of Conduct

All attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers at Salt City Swing and Salt City Special are required to comply with the following Code of Conduct. Organizers will enforce this code at every dance. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.

The Quick Version

Salt City Swing and Salt City Special are dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion (or lack thereof).

We do not tolerate harassment of our participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate at our venues or online. Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from our events without a refund at the discretion of the event organizers.

Full Code of Conduct

  • If you are noticeably intoxicated, under the influence, or carrying weapons, you will be asked to leave.
  • Respect the physical safety of those you dance with and those around you.
  • Air steps are prohibited at SCS unless done in a Jam (i.e. dancing with a trusted partner in the middle of a circle) or during performances.
  • Practice good floor craft and awareness of your surroundings.
  • If you or your partner collide with another couple, always apologize—even if it wasn’t your fault.
  • Respect the word “No.” If you ask someone to dance and they say no—even without giving an explanation—accept it politely and move on to ask someone else. No one is required to justify their choice of dance partners.
  • You can always say “No.” If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, it is completely okay to decline a dance or remove yourself from the interaction. Your safety and comfort come first.
  • Reckless dancing or otherwise aggressive behavior will result in a warning, and may lead to temporary or permanent expulsion.

We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form, in person or online. Harassment includes but is not limited to:

  • Offensive comments related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion
  • Sexual images in public spaces
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
  • Microaggressions
  • Harassing photography/recording
  • Sustained disruption of classes or events
  • Inappropriate physical contact or unwelcome sexual attention

SCS is not a pick-up venue—unsolicited romantic or sexual advances are not permitted. Participants are expected to respect the word “No.”

If you experience or witness harassment or unsafe behavior:

No matter the severity of the issue, if you feel uncomfortable, we want to hear from you about it. In addition to taking actions against the perpetrators of harassment, organizers will support you in whichever course of action you choose in order to feel safe at our events, including providing escorts, facilitating conversations, or contacting law enforcement. We will protect your identity if you wish.

If you engage in harassing or unsafe behavior, event organizers may (with or without warning):

  • Log the incident in a written report for permanent future reference
  • Issue a verbal and/or written warning
  • Temporarily or permanently expel you from events without a refund.
  • Notify nearby dance organizations of expulsions
  • Contact law enforcement if someone is in imminent danger
  • Remove board members or staff by majority vote if necessary

Even if incidents occur outside of events, we may act if your presence creates an unsafe or unwelcoming environment for others.

FAQ

Classes begin the first Wednesday or Thursday of each month unless otherwise specified.

Sign-ups for next month’s classes open in the middle of the current month.

Nope! You don’t need to bring a partner—in fact, most of our students come solo.

During class, we highly encourage rotating partners because it helps you learn faster and adapt to different leads or follows.

If you do come with a partner and prefer to stay together the whole class, that’s totally fine—you’re welcome to opt out of rotation.

All Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa lesson packages include 4 (or 8) classes, once a week, that build on material from the previous class.

Drop-ins are typically not allowed since each week builds on the last.

If you pay the full class rate, it includes a free dance pass for the month(except nights with live music).

We can catch you up! Just show up 15-20 minutes early before the next class and let us know!

Unused class credits do not count towards future months.

Yes! Repetition is key. Very often, taking a class just once isn’t enough for everything to stick.

We offer a “Retake” rate: if you’ve taken a series before and want a refresher, you can retake it for less than half price.

Many students retake series multiple times and gain a lot more the second or third time.Then they retake them again, this time in the opposite role.

Note: The Retake option does not include the dance pass.

Our events are casual—jeans are normal—but you’ll be dancing with lots of people, so aim to dress comfortably and neatly.

Wear clothes you can move in without worry that make you feel confident.

Choose flat-bottomed, secure, comfortable shoes with hard rubber, leather, or suede soles(avoid very sticky shoes).

We’re all dancing close together—please be considerate!

Wear deodorant and bring extra shirts or towels if you sweat a lot.

Mind your breath (we usually have mints at the front).

We strive for a safe, welcoming, and fun community.

  • Be respectful: We welcome dancers of all ages, genders, races, abilities, and backgrounds.Treat everyone with kindness. Spread the joy— invite dancers from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels to dance.
  • Play safe: Be aware of your surroundings. Aerials and lifts are absolutely not allowed during social dancing.
  • Teaching is for teachers: Enjoy the dance and leave the teaching to class time! Avoid giving tips or corrections unless your partner specifically asks—unsolicited advice can take the fun out of social dancing. If something feels uncomfortable or painful, though, absolutely speak up to keep both of you safe.
  • Have fun! Do what you can to make dancing enjoyable for everyone.

Yes! Full-time students, active military, and dancers 65+ get a $5 discount off the full price classes and $3 off of dances.

Please select the appropriate option when booking the class and bring valid ID when checking in.

We believe dance should be accessible to everyone. Email anthony@saltcityswing.org and we’ll try to work something out!

Absolutely! Private lessons let you move at your own speed, dive deep into what you’re curious about, and take your dancing to the next level. Contact us to set up a lesson whenever you’re ready.