Code of Conduct

Dear Kolo Festival attendees, past and future,

Below is the Code of Conduct for the Kolo Festival. Please take a few minutes to review it so we are all on the same page regarding roles, responsibilities, and expectations as board members, teachers, musicians, dancers, volunteers, workers and attendees.

Code of Conduct & Policy on Harassment and Discrimination

The California Kolo Festival is committed to fostering a welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and safe environment where people can come together to celebrate Balkan folk dance, music, and cultural traditions.

This Code of Conduct applies to everyone involved in California Kolo Festival activities, including attendees, dancers, teachers, musicians, employees, contractors, volunteers, organizers, and board members. All participants are expected to uphold these standards at festival events and in their interactions related to the festival.

We recognize that folk dance and music bring together people of different generations, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Everyone shares responsibility for creating an environment where people feel respected, valued, and free to participate without fear of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation.

1. Expected Behavior: Respect, Consent, and Inclusion

All participants are expected to:

Respect Boundaries and Consent

Ask for consent before initiating physical contact beyond what is reasonably expected in a dance, including close holds, dips, or other physical movements.
Respect verbal and nonverbal cues indicating discomfort or a desire to stop.
Stop immediately when someone withdraws consent or indicates that contact or attention is unwelcome.
Understand that silence, lack of resistance, or participation in a dance does not automatically constitute consent to other physical contact or advances.

Practice Cultural Sensitivity

Respect the diverse cultural traditions, backgrounds, and interpretations represented within the Balkan folk dance and music community.
Engage with others in a manner that promotes cultural appreciation, learning, and mutual respect.

Contribute to a Supportive Environment

Encourage participation and treat fellow dancers, musicians, teachers, volunteers, and attendees with courtesy and consideration.
Communicate disagreements respectfully and refrain from personal attacks, intimidation, or humiliating behavior.
Follow reasonable instructions from festival organizers and designated staff concerning safety and event operations.

Act with Professionalism and Integrity

Maintain appropriate boundaries in interactions with others, including when there are differences in age, authority, experience, or organizational position.
Recognize that board members, teachers, musicians, staff, and volunteers are equally responsible for following this Code of Conduct.

2. Prohibited Conduct: Harassment, Discrimination, and Misconduct

The California Kolo Festival does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, intimidation, threats, or other conduct that compromises the safety and dignity of its community members.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

Harassment and Discrimination

Slurs, derogatory remarks, insults, name-calling, or demeaning jokes.
Discriminatory or harassing conduct based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Unwelcome comments about a person's body, appearance, clothing, relationships, or sexuality.
Conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive environment.

Sexual Harassment and Unwelcome Conduct

Unwanted sexual advances, propositions, or suggestive comments.
Unwelcome touching, sexual gestures, or other inappropriate physical contact.
Repeated flirting, requests for attention, or personal contact after someone has indicated that the attention is unwelcome.
Misusing a position of authority, influence, or trust to pursue unwanted personal or sexual attention.

Threats, Violence, and Intimidation

Physical aggression, threats of violence, stalking, or intimidation.
Abusive or threatening verbal conduct.
Attempts to silence, pressure, or intimidate someone who raises a concern or participates in an investigation.

Disruptive or Unsafe Behavior

Conduct that substantially interferes with others' ability to dance, learn, perform, play music, volunteer, or enjoy festival activities.
Excessive intoxication or substance-related behavior that compromises safety or disrupts the event.
Illegal substance use or other unlawful conduct.
Smoking inside festival venues or in any other area where smoking is prohibited by law or venue rules.

These standards apply regardless of a person's role, seniority, reputation, length of involvement, or contribution to the festival.

3. Alcohol and Substance Use

Alcohol, where permitted, must be consumed legally and responsibly. Participants are expected to respect others, remain mindful of their conduct, and avoid behavior that compromises safety or interferes with festival activities.

Festival organizers may intervene when intoxication or substance-related behavior creates a safety concern or violates this Code of Conduct or applicable venue rules.

4. Reporting Concerns and Violations

Anyone who experiences, witnesses, or becomes aware of possible harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct is encouraged to report the concern as soon as reasonably possible.

Who to Contact

Reports may be made to any California Kolo Festival board member or to another designated festival representative responsible for receiving complaints.

If the concern involves the person to whom a report would ordinarily be made, or if that person is involved in the alleged conduct, the report should be directed to another board member or designated representative who is not involved.

Reports may be made in person, by email, by text message, or by phone. Individuals may identify themselves or request to remain anonymous.

5. Reports Involving Minors

The California Kolo Festival is committed to protecting children and young people who participate in its activities.

Concerns involving the harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or safety of a minor should be reported promptly to a board member or designated festival representative who is not implicated in the concern.

A parent or legal guardian should be notified and involved as appropriate, consistent with the minor's safety, privacy, and applicable legal requirements. The festival will take appropriate steps to protect the minor and respond to the report.

When conduct may constitute abuse, assault, or another crime, the festival may contact or encourage contact with the appropriate authorities, consistent with applicable law. Nothing in this policy prevents anyone from contacting law enforcement or other appropriate authorities directly.

6. Protection Against Retaliation

Retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, reports a concern, seeks advice about a possible violation, provides information, participates in an investigation, or supports another person making a report is prohibited.

Retaliation may include intimidation, threats, harassment, exclusion, adverse treatment, or attempts to damage someone's standing in the festival community because they raised a concern or participated in a review.

Anyone who believes they have experienced retaliation should report it through the same reporting channels described above.

Knowingly making a materially false report or deliberately providing false information during an investigation may result in disciplinary action. A report will not be considered false simply because it cannot be substantiated or because the available evidence is inconclusive.

7. Enforcement and Consequences

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in corrective or disciplinary action appropriate to the nature, severity, frequency, and circumstances of the conduct.

Possible consequences include:

A verbal or written warning.
A directive to stop the conduct or comply with specified boundaries.
Removal from a class, activity, performance, or festival event.
Suspension or exclusion from future festival activities.
Removal from a volunteer, staff, teaching, musical, leadership, or board-related role, where applicable and consistent with governing documents and procedures.
Referral to venue management, law enforcement, or other appropriate authorities when warranted.

Serious misconduct may result in immediate removal or other protective action without a prior warning. The festival may also refuse future participation or admission when warranted by prior conduct and applicable policies.

Enforcement decisions will be made by the appropriate festival representatives, taking into account the available information, participant safety, the seriousness of the conduct, and applicable organizational procedures. Anyone whose own conduct is the subject of a complaint should not control the review or decision concerning that complaint.

8. Our Commitment

The California Kolo Festival exists to celebrate Balkan folk dance, music, and cultural heritage while bringing people together across generations and backgrounds.

We are committed to maintaining an environment where everyone can participate with dignity, enjoy the traditions we share, and contribute to a vibrant and welcoming community.

Every participant has a role in upholding these standards. Respect, consent, accountability, and care for one another are essential to preserving the spirit of the California Kolo Festival.

By participating in festival activities, all attendees, staff, musicians, teachers, volunteers, organizers, and board members are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Thank you.

Yours truly,
The California Kolo Festival Board