Code of Conduct

Health, Safety, and Conduct

Tango Gato is dedicated to providing a healthy, safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone regardless of dance skill, background, ability, or physical appearance.  Tango Gato will never discriminate against any patron on the basis of gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, or any characteristic or trait protected by law.

For the health and safety of our community, please do not attend Tango Gato events if you have COVID and are still within 10 days of testing positive, if you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID in the last 5 days, or if you are feeling unwell for any reason. This includes symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, headache, muscle or body aches, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Failure to comply may lead to immediate expulsion from the event. Healthy attendees may elect to wear facial coverings at any time.

Finding Help

If, while attending a Tango Gato event, you are injured, in need of medical attention, concerned about your safety or that of another, feel threatened or harassed, or become aware of inappropriate behavior, please immediately bring it to our attention.  You can speak with any of the Tango Gato organizers, instructors, DJs, door hosts, or staff.

Harassment

Harassment in any shape or form will not be tolerated. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate verbal comments, verbal abuse, abusive messages over any medium, deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention, or displaying sexual images in public spaces. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Anyone who engages in harassing or unsafe behavior, including excessive intoxication, is subject to immediate expulsion from the event without refund. 

Accepting “No”

We ask that participants use cabeceo to initiate dances. If the invited participant declines the invitation, their response shall be respected without question or need for explanation. If you choose verbal invitations for dancing, the same rule applies.

Dancer Distance

The distance between dancers, and the extent of their body contact, shall not be closer than what’s comfortable for BOTH dancers. If upper body contact is too close for you, adopt a more open stance or embrace and verbally communicate your desire for a more open stance or embrace to your partner. It's your partner’s responsibility to respect your choice. Leg contact is acceptable in the more contemporary styles of tango, but it also requires consent by both partners, and shall not be forced on anyone.

Photo & Video Policy

Tango Gato personnel may photograph, film or otherwise record patrons for training, instructional, safety or other lawful business purposes, such as for marketing and promotional reasons.  If you would like a photograph or video of you removed from Tango Gato’s website, its promotional materials, or any other Tango Gato-controlled medium, please inform Tango Gato immediately and we will make reasonable efforts to have that photograph or video removed.

With respect to patrons, Tango Gato asks that, before you photograph or film another patron, you first obtain that patron’s consent.  However, during tango events, it is common for patrons to photograph or film each other, and Tango Gato cannot be responsible for photographs or film taken without consent.

Tango Gato Release, Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement (“Release”)

In consideration of Tango Gato allowing me to participate in any Tango Gato events (including any dancing, classes, practicas, milongas, and any related activity, such as observing, participating in or volunteering for any of the foregoing, collectively, the “Activities”), now or in the future, I agree as follows:

1. I understand that dancing may be dangerous and there are known and unanticipated risks associated with participation in the Activities, such as: colliding with individuals and objects, surface hazards, use of equipment or materials provided by Tango Gato or others; the possibility of contracting COVID or any infectious disease, bodily injury, death, or damage to myself, my property, and to others and their property, which may be caused by my own or other’s actions or inactions, including the negligence or misconduct of any Releasee (defined below). I fully accept and assume all such risks associated with the Activities and all responsibility for Losses (defined below) that I or any third parties incur as a result of my participation in the Activities. I am participating in the Activities voluntarily and I am in good health, physically fit and otherwise prepared and able to participate in the Activities. 

2. I irrevocably release Tango Gato, the owner/lessee of the locations in which the Activities take place, all sponsors and organizers connected with the Activities, and any director, officer, employee, contractor, staff, volunteer, or agent of any of the foregoing, and other participants in the Activities (each a “Releasee”) from any and all liability, claims, demands, losses (including bodily injury or death), damages, costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) (collectively, “Losses”) to the maximum extent permitted by law arising out of or related to my participation in the Activities, including Losses caused in whole or in part by (a) the acts or omissions of any Releasee, (b) my own negligence, (c) any third party claim against any Releasee in connection with my participation in the Activities, or (d) any invasion of privacy, right of publicity or any other causes of action arising out of the use of my image, likeness, voice, and other personal attributes that identify me, including photographic representations of me (collectively, “Personal Attributes”). I will not sue any Releasee or cause any Releasee to be sued regarding any matter released above.  

3. I have read and understood the Health, Safety, and Conduct Code (“Code”) and Photo and Video Policy (“Policy”), and I will always abide by the Code during my participation in the Activities. I understand my failure to abide by the Code may result in Tango Gato suspending or terminating my participation in the Activities and I may be required to leave the location in which the Activities take place. I have read the Policy and understand that Tango Gato personnel may photograph, film or otherwise record patrons for training, instructional, safety or other lawful business purposes, such as for marketing and promotional reasons.

4. I intend this Release to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. I hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights to seek or obtain any injunctive or other equitable relief with respect to any matter within the scope of this Release, or to rescind, limit or disaffirm this Release. I further agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Releasee from and against any Loss regarding any matter within the scope of this Release.  If any provision of this Release is unenforceable, it shall be modified to the extent reasonably necessary to make the provision legal, valid and binding, and the remainder of this Release shall remain enforceable to the full extent allowed by law.  No statements regarding the effect of this Release, not contained in this Release, will modify the terms of the Release. The word “including” shall be construed to mean “including, without limitation”.

(1) I accept and agree to this release of liability and waiver of legal rights, (2) I accept the dangers and risks arising from participating in the Activities, which may not be readily foreseeable, including personal injury, death or property damage or loss, and (3) I have read and understood this release, I understand its contents and I voluntarily agree to its terms.

I am 18 years of age or older.