If you take the classes, expect rotations and dancing with everyone in the class. If it happens that you don’t want to dance with someone in the rotation, step out of the circle and wait for the next rotation while practising the moves by yourself. After each rotation, introduce yourself and wait until it’s time to dance to touch your partner. If it is an ambi class (where everyone learns to lead and follow at the same time), ask your partner which role they'd like to do first. After the class, don’t hesitate to ask your classmates, your teachers and other people to dance. Dancing with as many different people as possible is the best way to improve!

Consent is important in our community - as you can see in our Safety, Consent, and Inclusion Policy. We encourage everyone to dance with as many people, of whatever gender, as possible but:

1. Make sure to always ask a specific person to dance (no grabbing people and dragging them to the dance floor).

2. If the person says no, accept it graciously and ask someone else.

3. Everyone has the right to say no, and does not have to state a reason.

4. Every move is an invitation, not an order. At any moment, you can stop, change a move or hold that feels uncomfortable or unsafe to you. Be attentive to your partner. If they look uncomfortable, check in with them.

5. Do not bring people into a close embrace, unless you know it is ok with them.

In our dance scene, we encourage people to dance with whomever they choose, regardless of gender. It is also encouraged to dance solo, by yourself or as part of a group solo jam if others want to join in the solo dancing fun! Don’t ask people to partner dance while they are doing this - they are already dancing.

It is the capacity to dance while not stepping or bumping into each other. It is everyone’s responsibility and it’s especially important when:

• Stepping, kicking, and walking backwards.

• Sending someone or being sent out into open position (away from your partner).

• The dance floor is very crowded.

• You see someone getting too close or coming at you and your partner.

As much as we try, accidents do happen. Make sure to apologize if /when they do and ensure the others are okay. In cases of serious injury, please notify an exec member or an SCI volunteer!

If you're around long enough, you may learn several solo mob dances, some that exist since the 1930s! At OSDS, we do "the Shim Sham" every Friday night. It’s usually danced on the song “T’ain’t What You Do”. When it starts playing you’ll see dancers forming in rows, getting ready. Feel free to sit and watch, or get up and try to join in by copying what the others are doing. The end involves people partnering up to partner dance. Feel free to join or simply walk off the dance floor. Some other mob dances include; the Big Apple, the Tranky Doo, Trickeration, the Mamas Stew, and more.

At OSDS, once per night, we usually do a celebratory jam. It’s traditionally for people celebrating their birthday (usually in the same week), visiting from out of town, celebrating an important event or leaving for/coming back from a long absence. (Let the host making the announcements know what you're celebrating.) The people being celebrated go inside a circle formed by the other dancers (or in the case of a live band ideally a horseshoe shape as the band forms the rest of the circle) and people try to “steal into dance” with them (they are often called steal jams for that reason). Everyone whether witnessing or jumping into the circle is participating! Support the jam by clapping to the beat. Vocally appreciating any especially cool moves, or especially smooth/cool swap ins or outs. Moving supportively with shuffles, stomps, doing basic solo jazz steps while watching the action of the main jam dance.

The spirit of a celebratory jam is to celebrate the people inside the circle. It is not your moment to try to show off. It is all about them, making them feel good and giving them a moment to shine. Everyone wants to feel good during those jams. No one wants to get stuck with only one or two partners. If you notice that they don't have a great deal of people trying to jump in please take it upon yourself to get in there! While you're in there, introduce yourself, let them know its nice to meet them or something nice like that and/or congratulate them, welcome them back, wish them a happy birthday, etc. whatever is appropriate and/or congratulate them, welcome them back, wish them a happy birthday, etc. whatever is appropriate - basically be nice.

If you want to go into the circle, it's good to observe how it's done before jumping in. Be careful not to hurt anyone when trying to steal into a dance. It is customary to wait for two eights of music before stealing. (Being able to count musical phrases can take some time so just make sure to not steal a dance right after someone did it.) Consent is not as obvious here because people being jammed do not get to choose who jumps into a dance with them. Be mindful of that. Do not use this as an opportunity to dance with someone you know does not want to dance with you - for example, because of a personal conflict or because they have said no to you earlier that evening.

It is custom to thank your partner if all went well. If you had a great time, feel free to let them know! In our dance scene, when you ask a person to dance, you are asking for one song. If you'd like to dance with them again, ask them for a second dance. Do not hold on to your partner and assume that they will keep dancing with you.

No. OSDS is a dry environment. If you show up intoxicated, or you drink at the venue, you will be asked to leave.