ORLX Policies

ORLX is for everyone regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, religion, etc.. We are committed to providing a safe environment for all attendees. Throughout the weekend, the event staff, including the Care Team, will be working hard to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.

We do not tolerate harassment of any kind. Harassing behavior can include but is not limited to: offensive verbal comments (related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion), sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. If you are asked to stop any harassing behavior, you are expected to comply immediately.

At any time during the event, if you experience or witness something you would like to report, please find a care team representative or take your concern to the front desk volunteers who will locate someone on the care team, and they will work with you to resolve the issue. Appropriate solutions can range from bringing the behavior to the person’s attention and requesting they stop to expulsion from the event and, if needed, contacting law enforcement authorities.

To report something, you can:

1. Find a Care Team member: TBD

2. Bring it to the attention of the front desk volunteer or event organizer, who will then get in touch with a Care Team member.

3. E-mail: orlxcareteam@gmail.com

4. Call/Text: (407) 205-2186

Each incident will be treated with the utmost discretion and confidentiality, and the Care Team will work with you to help you feel safe and comfortable.

We expect all attendees to comply with requests and policies made by the Care Team and the event organizers, and to work together for a fun and safe ORLX experience!



Dancers

Dance exchange weekends are a social gathering for the purpose of enjoying the company and dancing of friends and new friends alike. As such, it is not our place (nor anyone else’s) to tell you how to enjoy your weekend! Dance! Socialize! Go out to eat! Explore! Do what you want to do to make the best of your weekend! BUT…..

Aerials: Unless you are part of a performance or are in a jam circle, it is generally unacceptable to perform aerials on a social dance floor. Other dancers who aren’t as practiced might feel it is okay to do so and potentially injure one another, or you may potentially injure someone else on a crowded floor. A good rule if you aren’t performing is this: Keep feet beneath the head and keep your body within 2 feet of the ground!

Food and Drink: Most venues allow outside food and drink, and we will let you know if they don’t. Proper etiquette is that if you drop food or spill your drink (ESPECIALLY ON THE DANCE FLOOR), find an organizer or volunteer to help get it cleaned up. We don’t mind; we know it happens, but dancers DO mind when they step on your cake, or their suede shoes get soda on them. Have someone stand guard while you find assistance!

Alcohol:  Many venues allow alcohol if you are over the age of 21, and we will let you know which venues do not. Venues commonly don’t have liquor licenses, so you are asked to keep it under control and out of sight. Sharing alcohol with other dancers is up to you; just make sure that you understand that underage drinking (or providing alcohol to underage drinkers) is ILLEGAL. Many repercussions can come of this!


Volunteers

Exchanges like ORLX can’t happen without volunteers. Countless hours are put in by willing souls to make these amazing events come to fruition, and all they get is satisfaction and a steal dance! It goes without saying that we love anyone willing to offer their time to help make ORLX amazing. BUT…..

Shifts: Volunteers at ORLX are really more like employees (without all the legal stuff..). We offer to reimburse you $10/hour in return for helping out either by working registration tables, helping with setup or cleanup, or by running errands and such. It is VITALLY important that you make each of your assigned shifts, even if you “no longer need the money” or “don’t mind missing a shift”. When volunteers don’t show up, other people (dancers and organizers) have to scramble to try to make something happen, and that affects the quality of our event. If you know you can’t make a shift, find a replacement AND notify the volunteer coordinator as soon as you can!

Contact: Volunteers are provided a list of organizers and other volunteers to contact. If you need to swap shifts, please contact the other volunteers to find a possible solution before contacting the volunteer coordinator. If something comes up and you aren’t quite sure how to handle it, please contact an organizer. We trust your judgment, but some things are the way they are for a reason that only we know!

Transportation: One of the only requirements to volunteering is access to reliable transportation. It is the responsibility of the volunteer, not their friend/host/mother to get you to your shift, so please plan accordingly with other dancers/volunteers/hosts.


Guests

Coming in from out of town, you need a place to stay! And Orlando is one of the friendliest places to find a host! (Or so we think) We’d be happy to host you in our homes! BUT…

Supplies: Guests should come fully prepared to create their own bed. That means bring an air mattress, sheets, pillow, whatever you need to feel comfy. And a towel (hitchhikers guide anyone?). Your host has offered a space on the floor for you and a shower to shower in, maybe more if you are really lucky!

Cleanliness: Hosts have made an effort to clean their houses for you, so make sure you take every effort to keep it that way! Keep your clothes in a neat pile, wash the dishes you use, and maybe even offer to help clean other things!

Food: Hosts sometimes will offer food to their guests, that is awesome. Sometimes they’ll give you fridge space for you to store your food, also awesome. You may even go out to eat with your host, really awesome! But none of this is expected from either of you 🙂

Host Gifts: It is pretty customary to get your host a small gift of some sort to show your appreciation for a place to crash. This can be something small and meaningful, maybe a funny keychain from your hometown, or a little more, like a bottle of your host’s favorite alcohol or food. Or just maybe, your host amazed you, and you want to return the favor. Take them out to a dinner! At the very least, be outwardly appreciative to your host!


Hosts

You are all awesome for opening your homes to (potential) strangers! ORLX and those dancers thank you very much! We ask very little of you for hosting, BUT…..

Expectations: We tell guests that you are giving them a floor space and a shower. That is all you “agree” to when hosting guests for ORLX. But, Orlando has a certain level of awesomeness when it comes to hospitality, and we’d like to keep that going. This really means just being a good communicator with your guests. Let them know if you do/don’t have supplies like sheets/pillows/futons/couches/fridge space. The clearer you are with them before they show up, the easier it will be to host them!

Contact: Let your guests know how you plan on letting them into your house. Give them your cell phone number so they can call you, coordinate when you are going home, etc. You can even give them a key, but that is up to you (only if you trust them). If you have any concerns about a guest, please feel free to contact Clare, the Housing Coordinator.

Food/Cleanliness: Guests may need space to bring their own food, so consider providing some fridge space. Consider cleaning up your house, because that will encourage guests to help keep it clean. Guests tend to reciprocate any effort you put into hosting, so be an awesome host and chances are they will be awesome guests!


COVID-19

We are following CDC and WHO updates in regards to the COVID-19 situation. We are currently still planning to hold the event, but with the recent news that COVID-19 has reached Florida, we will be keeping an eye on its progression and make any necessary adjustments in the coming weeks. The health and safety of our attendees, staff, and volunteers is our priority, and we will email our registered attendees and staff within the next few days as well as post any updates that we have as the event approaches. Below are some general tips and prevention strategies:

Stay home if you are sick. Social dancing and exchange weekends involve lots of human interaction and, consequently, plenty of germ sharing.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. We will have hand sanitizer readily available during the event, but make sure to wash your hands as often as you can and as is necessary.

Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

If you need to cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue away immediately. 

Take care of yourself! It can be easy to deprive yourself of sleep or eat junk food during event weekends, but lack of rest can make your body more prone to illness.

Thank you for your cooperation, and make sure to keep an eye on our event page for any updates.