Code of Conduct

Best Practices “Child/minor protection” is a term used to describe policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures to protect children/minors both from intentional and unintentional harm. This definition reflects the duty of Encore – and the Encore team to act responsibly when associating with children/minors at Encore events. Working with children/minors comes with a huge amount of responsibility. The safety and well-being of all Encore participants is everyone’s job.

Professional Behavior and Conduct

1. Maintain positive and professional conduct of a role model for youth at all times. This includes behavior and choices online, at the competition venue, and at all times throughout the event (during professional and personal time while in public).
2. No contact with dancers alone including texts and private messaging on social media platforms. Absolutely never invite a dancer to your hotel room.
3. Avoid interactions that could create a perceived power differential or conflict of interest with dancers that are 18 or older that are still competing/attending the event.
4. Maintain healthy boundaries with participants (past and present), parents, protégés and colleagues, being aware of power differentials.
5. Maintain appropriate interactions with co-workers/contractors.
6. No drugs or alcohol during work hours. This includes before work, judging, etc. No smelling of nicotine or THC when working.

Language

1. Use encouraging and positive language when giving feedback and interacting with others. Do not use words that embarrass, degrade, make fun of, or demean others. This includes with your colleagues on headset or text messages during competition.
2. Refrain from shaming (or over praising) people’s bodies and/or food choices and generalizing as good or bad.
3. Never use profanity when conversing with students and colleagues in public. Utilize appropriate, professional language at all times.
4. Do not use language that sexualizes or objectifies others (including yourself).
5. Use proper terms of endearment when referencing dancers; avoid calling them “Doll”, “Love”, “Miss Thing”, etc.

Protégé’s

1. Treat protégés with respect remembering you are the mentor.
2. Please avoid:
a. Oversharing personal information, relying on them for emotional support, and any other interaction that breaks a healthy boundary between the mentor/mentee relationship.
b. Engaging with them as “friends”. You are a supervisor not a buddy/playmate
3. Always remember that you are an adult interacting with a minor.

Release of Liability Waiver

By registering, attending, viewing or participating in an Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event or entering this venue, you acknowledge full responsibility and forever release and discharge Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and venues/theaters from any and all contracts, claims, suits, actions, and liabilities arising from or relating to injuries, illnesses, accidents or damages from participating or viewing this event. If injury or illness occur, you understand that Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and venues/theaters are NOT financially responsible and will NOT offer any reimbursement. By registering, attending, viewing or participating in an Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event or entering this venue, you release all liability and agree with all policies set by Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. By registering, attending, viewing or participating in an Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event, it is agreed that your own insurance policy will be the only source of any reimbursement in case of injury, illness, or any other instance. You acknowledge Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and its contractors, have the right to use any forms of media including but not limited to photographs and video in any and all promotional related materials indefinitely.

COVID-19 RELEASE: The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. has put in place the preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. cannot guarantee that you or your child(ren) will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, attending Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. in-person will increase your risk and your child(ren)’s risk of contracting COVID-19.

I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that my child(ren) and I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. in-person events, and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. Although Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. has taken measures to keep all guests, attendees, and participants safe, I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 at Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, venues/theaters, other dancers and their families.

I voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury to my child(ren) or myself (including but not limited to personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense of any kind, that I or my child(ren) may experience or incur in connection with my child(ren)’s attendance at an Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event. On my behalf, and on behalf of my children, I hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and venues/theaters of and from the Claims including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expense of any kind arising out of or relating thereto. I understand and agree that this release includes any Claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, and venues/theaters whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after participation in an Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event.

I agree that myself, my child(ren), and any guests are NOT:

• Experiencing cold/flu symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, cough or sore throat
• Positive for COVID-19
• Awaiting COVID-19 test results

Parties agree that any and all claims, causes of actions or lawsuits arising out of or relating to this agreement shall be litigated only in the state or federal courts sitting in Tarrant County, Texas, and each party hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each of such courts for such purposes. In connection with any litigation arising from this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover all costs incurred, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees for such litigation and any subsequent appeals. The parties waive any right to assert any claims against the other party as a representative or member in any class or representative action, except where such waiver is prohibited by law or deemed by a court of law to be against public policy.

I agree to abide by all rules and regulations pertaining to Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and companies and contractors that work with Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. and agrees to all terms and rules for their child(ren) and they are aware of all policies. The undersigned agrees all policies will be those of Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. and the laws of the state of Texas only. Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. may change or adjust policies as needed. A signature below means that all policies, procedures, and releases are understood and agreed to.

I acknowledge that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending any Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc. event, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc., and any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, or venues/theaters liable for any illness or injury.

All attendees and Legal Guardians of participants will be required to sign an Event Release Form prior to attending any event hosted/sponsored/produced by Encore Performing Arts Showcase, Inc.