These Guidelines were drafted by the teaching team from CI+/- 2024.

They’re offered as a starting point — something we can collectively refer to as we move and explore with one another throughout the week. These guidelines are rooted in attentiveness: to self, to others, and to physical safety.

During CI+/- 2025, we’ll have large sheets of butcher paper available for participants to add, or revise the guidelines in real time. Like all things in Contact Improvisation, this is an evolving, collaborative process — not a set of rules carved in stone.

If you're interested in helping update the guidelines after the Festival based on shared feedback, we invite you to join our annual update meeting, held in July or August.

Safety and Consent

• For safety, please wear clothing that will not scratch or poke other dancers, and please remove jewelry where possible. If you need to leave jewelry on, be mindful of it in your dancing so as not to injure yourself or others. 

• Please refrain from wearing scented products in consideration of those who have chemical sensitivities, and please also remove pet dander from your clothes. Please stay home if you have an infectious illness. 

• Practice taking responsibility for your own behavior as well as the safety of your fellow dancers. Avoid clutching or restricting the limbs of your partner because that limits their ability to fall safely. Maintain an awareness of your surroundings, and avoid using substances that impair that ability before and during the classes and jams.

• This is a space to practice honoring your yes’ and no’s and those of our dance partner(s). Nothing is compulsory, and consent is dynamic, anyone can change their minds at any time. Practice continuously checking with your dance partner(s) for consent - to ensure that they feel emotionally and physically safe in the dance. If in doubt, ask.

• This is a platonic space. This is not a space for interactions that are sexual in nature. This is not a place to seek or explore sexual chemistry. If you experience arousal, do not pursue it, just notice it and let it pass. It may be appropriate to leave the dance. 

• You are encouraged to talk to a jam facilitator or festival organizer about boundary violations or inappropriate behavior. We do not condone or tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

General Etiquette

• Sounding and using your voice to check in / communicate your needs and boundaries is welcome. Please be mindful of your volume and the amount of space and energy you are taking up with your sounding. Save conversations that don’t relate to your dancing for off the dance floor.

• Children are welcome at the festival. Note that they should be closely supervised at all times for their own safety and for the safety of others. Caregivers are responsible for ensuring that the energy, activity and movement of children is appropriate for the session.