Trust Yourself and Be The Leader of Your Personal Safety
Techniques, Tools and Resources to support your personal safety skillsets for Life!
“Connect, Relax and Celebrate;” “Have a Good Time, Feel Comfortable, Be Safe.” – safe bars
Set yourself up for success: decide on your mood and what you want to experience for a night out dancing! “Fun, Activity, meet new friends, meet a potential love interest!” Having an intention will help you sort out other people’s intetions and energy from your own. Affirmations become an anchor for energy. If a stranger (or friend) approaches you and their energy doesn’t match your intentions for the evening, it’s a clear sign to give them some space, and focus on enjoying your evening with trusted allies.
Go with groups: Those of us who dance here, have all experienced the excitement and pull of the drive to DANCE! However, all the benefits of dance come with challenges and risk. Even one other person who knows your venue of choice for the night is an added layer of safety and personal protection against the “dark forces of the night.”
Opportunitic predators capitalize on your vulnabiltiy and joy in a moment of a night out. They may attach themselves to or ride out your jpy, absorb themselves into your friend group., ingratie by dancing, being fun and playful, engagement with peers and other girlfriends, in order to gain access and to wear down your walls.
Personal Protection & Power-Based Personal Violence
Risk can take many forms:
Interpersonal and relational risk
Psychological and emotional risk
Financial and Resource Risk
Experiencing a night out in Austin, risks are heightened through street and venue exposure, alcohol use, overconsumption, abuse or leveraging, as well as subtle and direct harassment and assault.
Specifically in the dance community, you are most likely to experience the following:
Financial risks such as theft, mugging, car theft, having your things or your bag taken at the venue, etc.
Psychological and emotional risk via exclusion, social pressure,
Relational risk
How can regular dancers help?
Many of us have been in this scene for some time. We’ve observed its changes, its nuances, and its inherent risks. When new people enter our space, serving as a temporary Host and Guide, INCLUDING setting potential victims up for success, is paramount to supporting a safe and fun community for everyone.
In our Dance Safety Survey results, one of the biggest pain points was the lack of communication and trust within our community, and the fission of new dancers vs seasoned dancers. New dancers often feel it is difficult to “break in” to the cliques that naturally form in a broad mixed social scene. Seasoned dancers feel unsafe when an inexperienced dancer doesn’t understand and adhere to the safety and social etiquette they are used to.
This gap leaves new dancers vulnerable to the individuals who are eager to step in and fill the role of Rescuer, Hero, Guide, Teacher: Predators. Opportunistic predatory behavior is primed to target vulnerable individuals. Some caretaking of those new to our scene, awareness of the bad actors, and open conversations about behaviors we observe and mitigate will hold a safer space for all involved.
When a predator knows they are being observed, their behavior will naturally adjust. An opportunistic predator will likely avoid scrutiny. These individuals will come in and out of the scene, looking for windows of higher vulnerability. They may appear every 1- 3- 6- 9- or 12 months, create drama and harm, then vanish again. They exhibit clear patterns because their behaviors are laregyl instinctual and unrehearsed.
FUNDAMENTAL RULE OF SELF PROTECTION: NO ONE is responsible for your wellbeing but YOU!