SDF House Rules

→ Treat everyone with respect and as equals
Welcome one another with openness, curiosity, and hospitality. Treat everyone with respect and as equals, both on and off the dance floor. Act with care, empathy, and consideration toward each other. Be especially considerate for children and minors.

→ Honor cultural differences
Embrace diversity and contribute to an inclusive festival where everyone feels they belong. If you feel unsure, it is always better to ask than to assume.

→ Stay healthy
We encourage everyone to take good care of themselves: sleep well, drink plenty of water, and nourish your body. Please protect your hearing, bring your own ear plugs or get them at Paradiso. This is even more important for children and minors. Listen to your limits, and look out for one another. First aid for dancers is available at the Paradiso reception if you need support.

→ Zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, or violence
Summer Dance Forever does not tolerate harassment, violence or discriminatory behaviour. We are committed to ensuring a safer space for all attendees, regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, background, ethnicity, religion, or any other aspect of identity. This includes online harassment, publishing of private information and data, AI-generated photos or videos, or the misuse of images connected to the SDF festival.

→ Consent first: only yes means yes
Our goal is for every person to feel respected, included, and able to fully enjoy the positive energy of dancing together. Consent is central to how we move and connect as a community. All interactions should be based on mutual agreement; listen to one another and take care of one another’s personal boundaries. This also applies to taking photos or videos of others; respect each other’s privacy and always ask for consent.

→ Care for the community
Looking out for one another helps keep our community strong and safe. Those who take on visible roles within the community — as role models, leaders, or pillars — are held to a higher standard of responsibility. Leadership is not defined by titles or words, but by actions. We expect individuals in these positions to lead by example at all times, through their behavior, decisions, and accountability.

→ Speak up
If you witness or experience behavior that feels unsafe or uncomfortable, for yourself or others, we encourage you to speak up. Please reach out to the awareness team present during the event (recognisable by their pink vest). During the event you can also reach them via: +31 629997041 (WhatsApp only). Or find support at the Paradiso reception or with a member of the Summer Dance Forever team.

Thank you for helping us create a safer festival where everyone can dance and connect.

Please be aware of the Paradiso house rules which also apply to all Summer Dance Forever events in Paradiso.

During the event you can reach out to the awareness team (see house rule ‘Speak up’ for more information) or find support at the reception desk at Paradiso or with a member of the Summer Dance Forever team. 

If reaching someone on site is not possible or you have suggestions on how we can improve the safety of our festival, send an email to: safe@summerdanceforever.com. This email is monitored by the Managing Director of Summer Dance Forever and everything will be handled confidentially.

You can also report inappropriate behaviour anonymously through this form. We offer this option because we are committed to your safety and the safety of the community, and we understand that people might hesitate to report because of fear of retaliation, social consequences, or not being believed. Reporting anonymously does limit our ability to intervene in real time or follow up directly. But we will take the report seriously and look for patterns or risks.

In the event of non-compliance with these house rules, Summer Dance Forever reserves the right to take any necessary measures, including disqualification or being removed from the event.

What happens after someone shows inappropriate behaviour?
The awareness team is present during the festival to observe, provide support to those who need it and to address inappropriate behaviour. Responses from the awareness team and security staff depend on the level of inappropriate behaviour:

Level 1 (Low):
Behaviour that is inappropriate but appears unintentional, situational, or correctable once addressed.

Examples: disrespectful language or tone, ignoring dance floor etiquette (e.g. excessive space-taking, unsafe movement) and minor boundary issues after clear norms have been communicated.
Response: The person displaying the behaviour will be informed and addressed about their behaviour. A warning may be given if necessary.

Level 2 (Moderate):
Repeated Level 1 behaviour or more serious conduct that negatively impacts others’ safety, comfort, or the event atmosphere.

Examples: repeatedly ignoring feedback or warnings, intoxication that affects behaviour or safety, inappropriate touching, repeatedly invading personal space.
Response: The person displaying the behaviour will be confronted about their behaviour and given a final warning. Temporary removal from specific activities (e.g. dance floor, battle, cypher) may apply.

Level 3 (High):
Severe misconduct or failure to comply after a Level 2 warning.

Examples: aggression, sexual violence, physical violence, threats or discriminatory or hateful behaviour.
Response: Security staff will be called, and the person displaying the behaviour will be removed from the event. Wristband or accreditation revoked and no refund issued. Designated members of the organisation jointly assess possible next steps following unsafe situations, including contacting authorities if necessary.

Digital spaces:
Summer Dance Forever will remove remarks which are not in line with our house rules. Repeated inappropriate remarks will lead to a warning. Failure to comply after a warning will lead to the individual being blocked. And if necessary the individual will be reported to the digital platform.

Who does the awareness team report to?
The awareness team reports to the Paradiso house managers and the Summer Dance Forever Managing Director. The Summer Dance Forever artistic curator of that specific programme can also be involved in the reporting.

How is confidentiality handled?
Reports of inappropriate behaviour are treated with care and confidentiality. Information is shared only with designated members of the organization or safety team and only when necessary to address the situation or ensure safety. Wherever possible, we respect the wishes of the reporting person regarding what is shared and with whom.

Protection Against Retaliation
We understand that people sometimes worry about negative reactions or retaliation after reporting. We do not share your name or identifying details unless it is necessary for safety and only with your consent whenever possible. You decide how much information you share and whether you want follow-up. We take steps to prevent retaliation, but if there is an immediate safety risk, we may need to act. Retaliation against anyone who reports is not tolerated and will be treated as a serious safety issue.