| Bellydance Code of Ethics from the Middle Eastern Dance Instructors' Association (MEDIA) |
Members (of MEDIA) shall keep the physical and
mental wellbeing of students as a primary
consideration. For instance: Members will not
restrict information about seminars or workshop
events from their students when the instructor,
sponsor, and material presented are ethical,
accurate, and appropriate to the level of the
student. Members may not forbid their students
from studying with others.
mental wellbeing of students as a primary
consideration. For instance: Members will not
restrict information about seminars or workshop
events from their students when the instructor,
sponsor, and material presented are ethical,
accurate, and appropriate to the level of the
student. Members may not forbid their students
from studying with others.
Members who are instructors shall agree to keep
the students first. For example: Members shall
never view students as 'competition' but instead
should help mentor those students with talent,
interest, motivation and ethics into future peers
who will be a credit to the field, and in general try
to guide, help and address concerns. No one
who is concerned about being "passed" by a
student should teach. Being exceeded is what
we all hope so that the next generation will rise
higher.
the students first. For example: Members shall
never view students as 'competition' but instead
should help mentor those students with talent,
interest, motivation and ethics into future peers
who will be a credit to the field, and in general try
to guide, help and address concerns. No one
who is concerned about being "passed" by a
student should teach. Being exceeded is what
we all hope so that the next generation will rise
higher.
Members shall extend professional courtesy to all
fellow professionals. For example, members shall
assiduously avoid scheduling events that conflict
with established events when possible.
fellow professionals. For example, members shall
assiduously avoid scheduling events that conflict
with established events when possible.
Members shall speak the truth about
professional experience. For example, members
shall refrain from making false claims to past
fame or affiliations. Members shall not falsify
credentials. Members shall not knowingly
disseminate unverified or unsupported pejorative
insinuations about another instructor.
professional experience. For example, members
shall refrain from making false claims to past
fame or affiliations. Members shall not falsify
credentials. Members shall not knowingly
disseminate unverified or unsupported pejorative
insinuations about another instructor.
Members shall not, through personal contact or
through representatives, attempt to recruit
students from another school or institution
through representatives, attempt to recruit
students from another school or institution
Members should keep MEDIA's "Standard of
Excellence" by continuing their dance education.
Excellence" by continuing their dance education.
Members shall respect the intellectual property of
others and not represent it as their own or
belonging to anyone other than the originator.
others and not represent it as their own or
belonging to anyone other than the originator.
Members agree to credit sources for
choreography, music, photography, and
intellectual property in general when possible.
choreography, music, photography, and
intellectual property in general when possible.
Members shall only offer services for which they
are trained and qualified to perform.
are trained and qualified to perform.
Members shall guard the individual rights and
personal dignity of each student and not engage
in discriminatory practices in regard to age,
weight, religion, disability, race, gender, or sexual
orientation.
personal dignity of each student and not engage
in discriminatory practices in regard to age,
weight, religion, disability, race, gender, or sexual
orientation.
Each dancer's behavior reflects on the public
perception of the dance. Therefore, while in
public and identifiable as a dancer, members
must avoid behavior that is clearly in violation of
accepted moral and legal standards.
perception of the dance. Therefore, while in
public and identifiable as a dancer, members
must avoid behavior that is clearly in violation of
accepted moral and legal standards.
Members shall not, under the auspices of Middle
Eastern dance, incorporate the behaviors or
practices of erotic dance, stripping, or related
fields. They agree to maintain boundaries
between these very separate vocations.
Eastern dance, incorporate the behaviors or
practices of erotic dance, stripping, or related
fields. They agree to maintain boundaries
between these very separate vocations.
Members agree to respect the privacy of all
students served and responsibly use personal
information gained from that relationship.
students served and responsibly use personal
information gained from that relationship.
Teacher members shall not monetarily
manipulate their students. For example,
teachers may not require their students to
purchase products or services from them at a
price that is substantially more than the market
rate as a condition of their remaining in class.
Members shall not promise students unrealistic
guarantees of work.
manipulate their students. For example,
teachers may not require their students to
purchase products or services from them at a
price that is substantially more than the market
rate as a condition of their remaining in class.
Members shall not promise students unrealistic
guarantees of work.
Members shall make every attempt to be aware
of workplace and payment standards and not
lower the standards of pay nor engage in
workplace practices that degrade the respect for
the art form, degrade working conditions, or
reward it based on factors other than merit and
ability in dance.
of workplace and payment standards and not
lower the standards of pay nor engage in
workplace practices that degrade the respect for
the art form, degrade working conditions, or
reward it based on factors other than merit and
ability in dance.
Members who adhere to the Code of Ethics, are
of high moral character, conduct themselves and
their practice in a professional and ethical
manner shall be conisdered and recommended
as members in good standing of MEDIA.
of high moral character, conduct themselves and
their practice in a professional and ethical
manner shall be conisdered and recommended
as members in good standing of MEDIA.
Members are obligated to report violations of the
Code of Ethics by fellow members to the
Committee. The Committee shall review any
reported incidents and shall determine whether
the offense rises to the level of a violation.
Code of Ethics by fellow members to the
Committee. The Committee shall review any
reported incidents and shall determine whether
the offense rises to the level of a violation.
Other violations not specified will be reviewed on
an individual basis.
an individual basis.
Applicants can be denied membership for a
continuous history of breaches in ethics.
Assessments of breach of ethics are done on a
case by case basis. Other penalties will be
decided on a case by case basis. The applicant
may or may not be able to re-apply. This is also
decided on a case by case basis by the
Committee.
continuous history of breaches in ethics.
Assessments of breach of ethics are done on a
case by case basis. Other penalties will be
decided on a case by case basis. The applicant
may or may not be able to re-apply. This is also
decided on a case by case basis by the
Committee.
Should a membership be revoked due to an
ethics violation, this will be announced by listing
the member's name with the word "revoked"
beside it. No details will be publicly revealed.
ethics violation, this will be announced by listing
the member's name with the word "revoked"
beside it. No details will be publicly revealed.