Zero Tolerance Anti‑Harassment & Non‑Violence Policy
Zero Tolerance Anti‑Harassment & Non‑Violence Policy
We have zero tolerance for harassment, violence, or discrimination of any kind. No warnings. No second chances. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, guest artists, volunteers, renters, and anyone present in our studios, virtual classes, events, or official online spaces.
Prohibited Conduct:
Bullying & belittling – Yelling, mocking, name‑calling, or putting down someone’s skill level (e.g., “you don’t belong here”).
Discriminatory or body‑focused comments – Unwanted remarks about someone’s body, appearance, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, disability, or dancing ability.
Non‑consensual recording – Photographing or recording anyone without their explicit permission.
Physical violence – Fighting, shoving, hitting, or any unwanted physical contact.
Threats – Words or gestures that could reasonably cause fear of harm.
Sexual harassment – Unwanted touching, sexual jokes, repeated date requests, sharing explicit images, leering, or sexualised “compliments.”
Stalking & unwanted communication – Following someone or repeatedly contacting them after being asked to stop.
Retaliation – Punishing, excluding, or speaking badly about someone for reporting an incident or supporting a reporter.
Zero tolerance — Any violation of this policy, regardless of intent or first offence status, will result in immediate and permanent removal from all Fifth Dance programs, spaces, and events, without refund, upon the completion of an internal investigation of any incident.
You belong here. Your safety is not negotiable.
The Fifth Dance is for every body, every level, every journey.
Reporting & Investigation Details
Last updated: April 2026
We have zero tolerance for harassment, violence, or discrimination. Learn exactly how reporting and investigation work.
How to Report (choose what feels safest)
In person – any staff or instructor. They will immediately connect you with the owner or designated safety lead.
Reporting form – you may choose to remain anonymous.
About anonymous reports: We will still document and look for patterns. However, we cannot communicate findings back to you or take certain actions without your contact information. If you are comfortable, please include a way to reach you.
What Happens After a Report
Immediate action (if safety is at risk)
The reported person will be asked to leave the premises at once, escorted by staff. We may also temporarily suspend them from all classes while we investigate. Suspension is a precaution, not a finding of guilt.
2. Investigation
Our owner or a designated lead will handle the case. No one with a personal conflict of interest will be involved.
Acknowledgment – We will acknowledge your report within 2 business days.
Timeline – Most investigations conclude within 10 business days. We will update you every 5 business days if more time is needed.
Standard of proof – We use the balance of probabilities (“more likely than not”). You do not need video, witnesses, or “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” We believe and support the impacted person first.
Your participation – You may withdraw your report at any time. However, if we believe there is ongoing risk to others, we may continue a limited investigation without your direct participation.
3. Zero‑tolerance outcome
If we find a violation occurred:
The violator’s registration is cancelled immediately.
They are permanently banned from all classes, events, online platforms, and social spaces.
No refund will be issued for any unused classes, memberships, or drop‑ins.
Appeal policy: Because this is zero tolerance, the decision to ban is final – there is no internal appeal.
Our Duty of Care
Confidentiality
Details of your report will only be shared with those who need to know to enforce this policy or protect safety. We do not gossip or disclose names unnecessarily.
No retaliation
Retaliation includes: excluding someone from social activities, spreading rumours, giving intentionally poor feedback in class, ostracism, or any form of punishment for making a report.
If you experience retaliation, tell us immediately – that itself is a violation of this policy and will result in the same zero‑tolerance consequence.
Pattern tracking
We keep confidential, non‑identifying records of all reports (including anonymous ones) to track repeated behaviour across different reporters. If we see a pattern involving the same person, we may act even if individual reports do not meet the full evidence threshold.
Who Investigates?
Investigations are conducted by the studio owner and any designated leads. Both are independent of any personal relationships with the parties involved.