Policies

SAFEGUARD & CHILD PROTECTION

Team Canada Dance (TCD), the National Member Organization (NMO) for the International Dance Organization (IDO), has adopted the following safeguarding and child protection policy with the aim of ensuring that all those involved in dance with children have a moral and legal obligation to share, endeavour and practice the highest possible standard of behaviour, care and responsibility for the safety and welfare of children, young people and pupils (every human being below the age of 18 years is considered as child).

TCD and IDO both believe that all children involved in dance have a fundamental right to be protected so that they can enjoy dance free from all forms of abuse and exploitation, and have a right to have their voices heard, regardless of time and place. In that spirit, TCD & IDO are fully committed to safeguarding and supporting the safety and welfare of children in dance. The children welfare is paramount. TCD & IDO expect all involved in dance to share this commitment.

IDO SAFEGUARD AND CHILD PROTECTION CONTACT EMAIL:

Within Canada: contact@teamcanadadance.ca

International Competitions: emergency@ido-dance.com

All children, regardless of any personal characteristic including their age, gender, language, skin colour, ability, any disability they may have, nationality, culture, racial origin, religious belief, political or other opinion, socio/economic background, pace or type of residence, sexual identity and preference have the same rights to feel safe and protected from any form of abuse, harassment and neglect, and have the right to take part in dance in a safe, healthy, fair, inclusive, non-violent, positive, respectful and enjoyable environment, in all capacities and at all levels.

The health, welfare and safeguarding of children is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of the country we are from or the role we hold in dance. This means that everyone in dance has a duty to respond to any concerns that they or others, may have about a child, or the behaviour of an adult. This relates to concerns, which arise both within, and, outside of the dance environment. Children safeguarding includes both preventive actions to minimize the chances of harm occurring and responsive actions aimed at ensuring that, if concerns arise, they are handled appropriately.

When does borrowing become Cultural appropriation in dance?

Cultural appropriation and cultural exchange are distinct processes,

with appropriation often involving the problematic taking of cultural elements without proper context or respect, while exchange is a mutual and respectful sharing of cultural practices. Cultural appropriation can be characterized by exploitation and a lack of acknowledgement of the original creators' background, whereas cultural exchange involves understanding and appreciating the history and significance of cultural elements. Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Cultural Exchange:

Cultural Appropriation:

• Mutual and respectful:

It involves sharing and learning from one another's cultures in a way that

acknowledges and respects the origin and meaning of cultural practices.

• Focus on understanding:

It encourages broadening perspectives, connecting with others, and appreciating

different cultural traditions.

• Reciprocity:

It involves a willingness to share one's own culture and learn about others, creating

a two-way street of understanding and appreciation.

• Examples:

Research, or participating in cultural celebrations with mutual respect and

understanding. Cultural Festivals are great for a better understanding.

Cultural Appropriation:

• Lack of respect:

It involves taking elements of another culture without proper context, permission, or

recognition of the original creators' background.

• Potential for harm:

It can lead to the trivialization or exploitation of cultural practices and can

perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

• Power dynamics:

It often involves a dominant culture taking elements from a marginalized culture,

which can reinforce existing power imbalances.

• Examples:

Wearing a Native American headdress as part of your costume without

understanding and respecting its sacred significance.

Key Differences:

Cultural Appropriation:

Key Differences:

• Consent/Permission:

Cultural exchange typically involves consent or permission to share cultural

elements, this is where your research is valuable, while appropriation often lacks

this.

• Context/Meaning:

Exchange acknowledges and respects the history and significance of cultural

elements, while appropriation may ignore or distort their meaning.

• Power Dynamics:

Exchange can be a process of mutual learning and respect, while appropriation can

perpetuate power imbalances.

What Can You Do?

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Key Differences:

Be Mindful

One of the best things you can do to avoid appropriating from other cultures is pay

attention and be mindful. Critically think about your choices. Ask yourself: Do they play

into racial or cultural stereotypes? Are you profiting off of someone else’s culture? Is

someone else profiting off of a culture that is not their own? If you are wearing a fashion or

piece of clothing from another culture, reflect and think how it got to be in your wardrobe.

Be mindful of items that may be culturally sensitive or spiritual.

Be an Ally

Speak up when you see someone being insensitive and appropriating another culture. Use your power to engage in conversations about appropriation. Be kind and thoughtful when you speak, chances are that choreographer is not educated and not aware of what was considered cultural appropriation. Be an educator, not an agitator.

Examine your intentions

As a choreographer, reflect and examine if you are being genuine and sincere in your

appreciation. Do you just want to engage with it because it’s different or goes well with a

piece of music you found? Or are you doing the work to learn about the culture and

practices?

Remember that these cultures still exist!

All too often, people think of Native or indigenous people as only existing in the past. They mentally delegate them to history books. This could not be more wrong! Native people are still around. Remember that you can appreciate these cultures in real time. Attend events hosted by tribes, visit their museums, buy arts and crafts from Native artisans, and meet people! Instead of learning about them from careless, stereotypical representations, show up and learn from them yourself.

While cultural appropriation is a heavy topic, it is an important one to discuss. Talking

about issues like this is imperative for working towards a more respectful, honoring, and

inclusive world. Like when purchasing Native arts and crafts, the most important thing you

can do is be a critical thinker about your own actions. Take responsibility for what you do.

Best of all, do the work to learn and engage with other cultures in a respectful and

appreciative manner.

But ultimately it is still important to allow heritage to be flexible, and to incorporate change and give people the freedom to create. Mash-ups like Hiplett – a combination of hip-hop and ballet – have shown just how vital dance exploration can be to encourage new dancers to take up the moves and keep them alive.

Remember that these cultures still exist!

*****In essence, cultural exchange is about building bridges and fostering

understanding, while cultural appropriation can be a harmful act that disregards

cultural contexts and perpetuates inequality.

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE

We understand concerns about viruses such as the flu, COVID, RSV, etc., are top of mind, and we want to be as transparent as possible and share information about what we are doing to prepare for the IDO World Championships and other Team Canada Dance / IDO Canada events.

It is an ever-evolving situation, not just domestically, but internationally. Many of the IDO Championships are back to usual without many health restrictions.

Meanwhile, we want to assure you of the following:

Our top priority is focused on the health and safety of all participants at Team Canada, including dancers, family, staff, industry partners, and others involved in the organizations.
We will proceed as planned to attend safe Championships unless otherwise noted
We will be in contact with the organizers to be sure there are not recent outbreaks in said areas.
Auditions / Teams have resumed with strict screening protocols. PLEASE DO NOT attend any auditions, rehearsals, or related team events if you have symptoms of illness. Please let Melissa at the Team Canada office AND your choreographer know and stay home. IF you have been recently sick but are feeling better, please think about others on the team and wear a mask. Always wash your hands thoroughly and use sanitizer when necessary. Use your elbow to sneeze/cough.

We know that our time together is precious and that you may not want to miss a rehearsal due to illness, but there are others on the team that could get ill. Last year, we had two teams affected by illness right at the time of departure, plus another team come home from the Championships sick.

Ultimately, we encourage everyone to make responsible decisions and stay home if they are sick. We generally have several parents that are nurses and physicians who travel with our teams who will be helpful to navigate us through this. Please note that infection prevention and control is for everyday, not just during outbreaks!

We will monitor the situation and report any updates.

POLICIES

SAFEGUARD & CHILD PROTECTION

When does borrowing become Cultural appropriation in dance?

Cultural appropriation and cultural exchange are distinct processes,

Cultural Exchange:

Cultural Appropriation:

Cultural Appropriation:

Cultural Appropriation:

Cultural Appropriation:

Cultural Appropriation:

Key Differences:

Cultural Appropriation:

Key Differences:

What Can You Do?

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Key Differences:

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Remember that these cultures still exist!

Remember that these cultures still exist!

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE