commitment to equity

LAST UPDATED: SEP 29, 2023

Glow Studios Inc (Luminesque Dance) is committed to building an equitable, safer space for everyone - but especially underrepresented dancers - to celebrate expressions of self and sexuality through the platform of our dance programs and performances.

We recognize that systemic discrimination based on gender, age, race, cultural and/or linguistic background, ability, class, economic status, religion, and sexual orientation has contributed to a society, and specifically a dance industry, where many aspects and intersections of humanity are underrepresented in leadership, in studios, and onstage. Prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) creates a more vibrant and dynamic dance community that reflects the richness of the world we live in.

While our community and team are made up of many diverse humans, our company is owned by Vanessa and Emily, who are both white, cisgender, straight-sized, straight-presenting (albeit queer), able bodied (albeit neurodivergent) women. We recognize that having this privilege requires us to constantly learn, unlearn, listen, reflect, consult and collaborate in order to responsibly lead and cultivate a community made up of dancers of all ages, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, cultural backgrounds, body sizes, abilities, economic statuses, histories, and intersections. We are personally and professionally invested in anti-racism work, decolonizing and dismantling patriarchy through our spheres of influence (i.e. our business, our shows, our community), and using our positions of power and privilege to amplify, uplift and empower others.

CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE

COMMUNITY: We aim to create a diverse dance community where everyone feels accepted and valued just as they are.

PROGRAMS: We strive to hire staff and promote instructors from a variety of underrepresented backgrounds.
PRODUCTIONS: We are committed to building an artistic space where stories reflect our communities' diversity.

CALL TO COLLABORATE

This page is an invitation to join the work and conversations. We are specifically seeking to amplify marginalized voices and make space for perspectives different from our own.

Opportunities to get involved include, but are not limited to:

Submitting one-way feedback (can be anonymous) for our team to review

Engaging in dialogue with our team about how we can do better

Joining our JEDI community, made up of students + staff

Offering your services as a cultural consultant

Applying to join our teaching or HQ team

We are grateful to be joined by a diverse team that leads alongside us in our HQ, studios, and stages - and we are committed to supporting them in their work to become responsible, equitable leaders as well. We are also constantly seeking new people and perspectives to join our team and help us create a more equitable dance industry. We strive to reflect in our leadership not only the full diversity of the current Luminesque community but also the community we will grow to be as we expand. This includes hiring production and program leads, instructors, freelancers, paid interns, and volunteers, as well as our featured guest performers or workshop facilitators.

TRANSPARENCY + ACCOUNTABILITY

This page is also an effort to transparently share our current initiatives and goals, in an effort to remain accountable and to welcome continual feedback and open communication. This work is a practice, not a destination, so this represents where we are now, and we are always interested in hearing how we can do better.

We collect demographic data on our growing organizational makeup and continue to gather feedback from students and staff on opportunities to remove barriers to equity and diversity. We’ve chosen to make this information and our actionable strategies for improvement public, as a means of being accountable to our community. Our executive team is also accountable to the internal JEDI committee, which regularly meets to provide additional feedback to the studio and production operations of Luminesque.

invitation to join our j.e.d.i. committee

One of the opportunities to join us in our commitment to equity is to participate as a member or Chair of our J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) committee. The committee serves as a collective of staff, dancers, and members of community at large dedicated to continual dialogue and accountability around how Luminesque can continually promote equity. The J.E.D.I. committee is run by Chair(s) elected by the committee, and meets for discussions approximately every 2-3 months via Zoom.

GOAL

The purpose of the Luminesque J.E.D.I. committee is to further promote transparency, accountability, and continual conversation, by bringing more perspectives into key discussions relevant to our commitment to equity.

ROLE/ACTIVITIES

Create a space for more direct and continual dialogue with our community about what’s working and what needs more work.

Monitors current and decides on new J.E.D.I. goals, KPIs, and strategies for creating more equity, diversity, and inclusivity within our team and our community.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY + DIVERSITY

The application review process is designed to ensure the committee maintains diverse representation and prioritizes the safety of equity-seeking voices (i.e. BIPGM, LGBTQIA+, non-binary and trans folks, neurodivergent folks, folks with diverse body sizes, folks with disabilities or chronic illness, dancers of varying ages).

EXPECTATIONS

Attend and participate in virtual meetings every 2-3 months (to the best of your ability)

Actively engage in self-reflection on how marginalization and privilege impacts your experience in Luminesque.

Note: While members are free to leave the committee at any time, it is our desire to have members commit to year-long terms to support long-term goal setting and continuity within the group discussions.

COMPENSATION

Luminesque provides members compensation in the form of discounted or free private sessions with the Luminesque Executive team, in acknowledgment of and exchange for the mental and emotional labour the committee requires of its members, and the time dedicated to meetings and reviewing materials.

APPLICATION PROCESS

New member are encouraged to apply through a short application. The applications are reviewed by the Chair(s), and new member requests are approved or denied based on the information given and the current size and needs of the committee. (We recognize that the Chairs have implicit biases that may impact our decisions, but will work diligently to be aware of and mitigate those when forming the committee.)

how we aim to create equity

The dance industry (of which Luminesque is a part) requires much active work to increase equity and representation - awareness alone is not enough. We strive to continuously improve our programs and productions with this lens, and believe that through this work, the Luminesque community can achieve a sense of belonging for all in our studios and on stage. The following information is here to inform the community what specific actions we are taking or intending to take to fulfill our commitment to equity. Many of our initiatives are deliberately intersectional, meaning they seek to dismantle multiple aspects of oppression for several groups at once.

ACTIONS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION

We are committed to a learning journey of Reconciliation and the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. We are committed specifically to the TRC Call to Action #92, and strive to be a business and community committed to reconciliation.

Our studios and productions exist on stolen territories of the of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, as well as the traditional territories of the (lək̓ʷəŋən) Lekwungen Peoples, known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

It is our standard practice to acknowledge this and encourage reflection about the lands and territories upon which we all live, work, and dance at all internal and external events.

We also recognize that dancers in the Global Majority (BIPOC), and specifically Indigenous dancers in so-called British Columbia, face more sexualized violence than their white peers. We take extra care through intake forms, subsidized counselling, staff training, personalized coaching, and creative considerations to ensure these dancers receive additional support in their journey to (re)claim self confidence, bodily autonomy, sexual sovereignty, and celebrate and express their sexuality in ways that feel safer.

ACTIONS TO AVOID + EDUCATE ABOUT CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

We also call to attention that dance is so much more than practiced moves. It is art and cultural practice performed on stolen land. Heels dance specifically is informed by cultures from the African Diaspora, Latin American cultures, queer culture, kink culture, and the sex work profession. Beginning our programs and shows with this awareness is a first step towards dismantling oppression and erasing appropriation.

ACTIONS TO SUPPORT DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS OF GENDER + SEXUALITY

Our mission is to celebrate underrepresented expressions of self and sexuality, and thus we aim to center/prioritize more marginalized identities (i.e. femme, queer, BIPOC, fat, neurodiverse, etc) in our programming and productions. We’ve removed gendered language from our merchandise, marketing and program materials. It is our policy to begin programs and classes with staff sharing their pronouns, and inviting students to do the same if they wish (with no obligation).

ACTIONS TO FOSTER EQUITABLE WAYS OF BEING + SPEAKING

CODE OF CONDUCT

• Our Code of Conduct (signed by all members of our team and distributed to all students and the public via our website) includes provisions against racism, sexism, homophobia, fatphobia, classism and any other kind of divisive behaviour, including actions and language.

• Our programs are open to adults (19+) of all backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, and levels of fitness and/or dance experience – so long as they’re excited to support their fellow students regardless of any differences, and participate in the heels dance education we provide. If anyone is not abiding by our Code of Conduct (which includes continual enthusiastic consent before any touching or sexually-charged interactions), they are removed from our programs immediately.

• We do not allow our teachers (and intervene at any opportunity to ask our students not) to wear any culturally appropriative hairstyles, makeup styles or clothing in our classes or shows. Any breach in this contract is dealt with promptly, and will result in removal from our team or the program if not resolved.

RESPONSIBLE LANGUAGE

• Releases: We aim to deliver external marketing and internal communications in language that is gender neutral, anti-racist, and free of any culturally appropriative terms.

• Instruction: We educate our staff on how to facilitate dance classes that refrain from commenting about any individual’s body, fitness level, sexuality, background, ability, class or culture. Any language students use to criticize or comment on their own or other students’ bodies is immediately addressed. Bullying of any kind is not permitted in our community.

• Music: We censor out any racist or homophobic slurs in all of the songs we play at our shows. We do our best to censor any racist, sexist or homophobic slurs in the songs played in our classes; and if we anticipate that we may inadvertently expose students to offensive language in a particular class, we mark it as “explicit” and inform students they may be exposed to offensive language. If at any point a student expresses they are uncomfortable with the language in a song, we will promptly change the song and remove it from any playlists. We maintain an internal list of artists that are not to be played in our studios/shows, when they’ve

ACTIONS TOWARDS EQUITABLE HIRING + DIVERSE REPRESENTATION

HQ + TEACHING TEAMS

As an employer, Luminesque strives to foster a welcoming, low-barrier environment for both new and seasoned instructors to grow and thrive, especially those from underrepresented groups.

We post all paid employment opportunities on our HQ team publicly on our website and promote them on our social media, through printed materials at our studios, and in community groups online in hopes of attracting a wide variety of applicants

We have an open posting on our website for new instructors at all times, and review the applications annually before our team training summit.

We accept cover letters and voice recordings as equally valid representations of why someone is fit for a position.

We do not require post-secondary education to work at our company (and value lived experience as an equivalent), as we recognize marginalized folks often face barriers (financial or otherwise) when seeking institutionalized education.

We actively mentor students within our community from equity-seeking groups, in an effort to provide them access to skills development opportunities that would increase their chances of paid employment with us in future.

CASTING FOR SHOWS

Our co-owners invested in Inclusive Casting education through IDC Professionals in an effort to educate ourselves about implicit bias in casting and job postings.

Casting Calls and Job Postings are reviewed by our J.E.D.I. committee and cultural consultants before they are posted, in an effort to combat implicit bias.

We distribute notices in a variety of external places (social media, websites, job boards) in hopes of casting a wide net for applicants to discover opportunities.

systems of support

Equity is offering additional support to those who face additional barriers in our society. As our internal team and student community continue to grow, we recognize the need to continually expand our ability to offer support within the community. We invest in training, resources, and programs that uphold our values and commitment to equity.

SUPPORT WITH PERSONAL/CREATIVE EXPRESSION: INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH TO EQUITABLE COSTUMING

Costuming, hair styling, and makeup styling are major opportunities to create meaningful change in the dance industry. Traditionally dance studios are prescriptive - and often appropriative - in their costume/hair/makeup guidelines.

APPROACH + INTENT

We have chosen instead to offer an open-ended approach to costuming and makeup guidelines, wherein we deliberately avoid mandating consistent or particular looks, and instead provide universal guidelines open to interpretation (i.e. colour ranges, creative themes, desired textures).

We hope this allows dancers to feel empowered to create a look they feel aligns with their character AND allows them to represent their gender, sexuality, body shape, culture, and personality how they wish.

We do not prescribe any limitations for modesty or nudity beyond protecting against accidental or deliberately explicit nudity (genitals must be securely covered).

STANDARDIZED SUPPLIES

When providing supplies for creating costuming, we choose raw materials and accessories that can be incorporated in a variety of ways. When providing fabric, we specify minimum/maximum quantities in a range and cut fabric/trims in person with the students, in an effort to allow dancers with diverse body sizes to take what they need to achieve the look they desire (vs. giving everyone the same amount by default).

SIGNIFICANCE OF HAIR

Hairstyling is a deeply cultural practice, which has been historically and is currently a devastating site of oppression for folks in the Global Majority, especially Black and Indigenous folks. We believe mandating particular hairstyles within the dance industry not only alienates BIPOC and/or appropriates BIPOC culture, but actively reinforces white supremacy and colonization.

We do not prescribe any particular hair styles for our performances, beyond encouraging students to interpret for themselves how they wish to represent their character in the show through personal styling. We wish to allow dancers to express themselves authentically through their hair in ways that make them feel celebrated as they are.

We do however, encourage students with privilege to educate themselves about the origins of cultural hairstyles (i.e. braids, headdresses, etc.) and ensure they do not appropriate any styles that aren’t their own. We intervene when we see harm being done, and seek to educate students who may inadvertently be appropriating culture.

REPRESENTATION + VISIBILITY

When providing costume inspiration boards or reference guides, we make every effort to have diverse representation (skin tones, eye shapes, body shapes, gender expressions, etc.) and/or abstract imagery (patterns, illustrations, etc) so that everyone has the opportunity to see themselves represented in the materials.

We have hired and continue to hire a BIPOC non-binary professional makeup artist and drag performer (Tiana Swan) to create new bespoke makeup tutorials that speak to the particular theme/intent of that term’s show. These are added to a larger library of all materials created over the years, on our portal, alongside a crowd-sourced resource library online of video tutorials and reference images created to assist (esp. marginalized folks) with crafting a look that feels attainable and authentic.

SUPPORT WITH EMOTIONAL WELLBEING IN DANCE: SUBSIDIZED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

We recognize that dancers with marginalized identities face additional barriers to self confidence, safer sexual expression, and expendable income. While we are a dance company made up of dance instructors who are not qualified to support mental health, we acknowledge that dance and sexual themes can bring up difficult feelings for many. It is not our responsibility to directly help folks overcome trauma or mental health issues, but we do believe part of pursuing equity is ensuring they have access to that support.

As part of registration in our Progress program, our students receive access to subsidized mental health support sessions with a certified therapist who specializes in sexual abuse, trauma, gender identity, inclusivity, anxiety, self worth, and social justice. The intention of this service is to provide professional support for dancers who require help processing triggers/trauma that may arise in the dance environment. We acknowledge this is not meant as a replacement for ongoing in-depth therapy, but hope that it serves as a safer space to process any urgent concerns relevant to dance.

We recognize that while dance may be therapeutic and healing for some, that dance class is not group therapy - and we uphold boundaries around trauma-bonding in class. While our teachers are educated at our annual training summit on how to be trauma-informed, we acknowledge they are not trauma-educated or equipped to responsibly support students through traumatic experiences, and thus have professionals our team can refer students to if they require that support.

Our staff receive the same subsidized professional mental health support, but fully covered by Luminesque (vs. partially subsidized). This is because we understand the emotional labour it requires to lead a room full of adults undergoing transformation, especially around sexual/empowerment themes, and desire to support them in upholding their boundaries and advocating for their mental health.

Resources for suicide help lines, domestic violence support, and disordered eating support are all listed on our staff and student portals (private websites) for easy access.

SUPPORT WITH OVERCOMING FINANCIAL BARRIERS: SCHOLARSHIPS + FUNDRAISING TO PROMOTE EQUITY

SCHOLARSHIPS + BURSARIES

We provide bursaries every term funded out of our bottom line and in partnership with private contributors that we actively recruit - specifically so folks with less privilege can dance at Luminesque despite limitations society may put on them financially.

We currently offer dedicated bursaries for Indigenous dancers, dancers in the Global Majority (BIPOC), dancers in the Gender + Sexually Diverse communities (LGBTQIA+), foster parents, single mothers, and dancers in financial need.

Scholarship students are given the opportunity to be placed in programs before we open public registration, to ensure they receive the place in their ideal course.

FUNDRAISING + OUTREACH

We aim to give back to our local community and support marginalized groups through awareness raising and fundraising efforts. The organizations we support include but are not limited to QMUNITY, Pride Society, Native Women’s Association of Canada, Butterflies in Spirit, PEERS, PACE, and the Battered Women’s Support Services. We raise funds through 50/50 raffles, dance classes by donation, or by donating partial proceeds of classes and/or shows to these organizations.

It is our intention to partner more deeply with these and other organizations so we can develop meaningful relationships and collaborate with their teams to help where needed.

SUPPORT WITH CONTINUAL EDUCATION: TEAM TRAINING + EDUCATION SUBSIDIES

ANNUAL TEAM TRAINING SUMMIT

We host an annual in-person training summit and quarterly professional development workshops, wherein we pay for our HQ team, core teaching staff and rotating staff to participate in diversity and inclusivity training through organizations like Emily Anne Brant, Cicely Blain Consulting, Ketchdivybz, and Nahanee Creative. These consultants and organizations help us and our team decolonize through our business, and combat sexism, racism, fatphobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and cultural appropriation on an individual and policy level.

EDUCATION SUBSIDY

We subsidize the cost of additional professional development for all of our core teaching staff and HQ team, which can be used towards education regarding how best to support marginalized communities and/or how best to support the mental health of our students.

goals and metrics

SUMMARY OF GOALS

(Details on actions/metrics listed below)

1. Expand our dancer community to include more diverse identities

2. Expand our team to include more diverse perspectives and identities

3. Raise awareness and funds for charities supporting BIPOC, GSD + sex workers

4. Continually educate our team and ourselves about how to be more equitable

5. Write shows that center/celebrate marginalized identities through their storylines

goal 1: expand our dancer community to include more diverse identities

INITIATIVE: Award scholarships to marginalized folks so they can join the community

In SPRING 2023, we awarded scholarships in these amounts to the following groups:

• $4,700 in scholarships to LGBTQIA+ dancers

• $5,939 in scholarships to BIPOC dancers

• $2,054 in scholarships to others (single moms, foster parents, financial need)

INITIATIVE: Implement an intake form that provides an optional opportunity for students in a given class to share information about their identity, so we can track diversity in our student body.

• We intend to implement this as of Fall 2023

• Will allow us to quantifiably track diversity in our student body as a whole

• Will also allow us to provide bespoke support on a class-by-class basis each term

goal 2: expand our team to include more diverse perspectives and identities

INITIATIVE: Provide employment opportunities (HQ staff, teachers, choreographers, paid actors, volunteers), to create visibility and representation within our leadership/teaching team.

We make every effort to prioritize job opportunities for team members with equity-seeking identities.

As of SEPTEMBER 2023, our HQ team employs staff who have voluntarily disclosed to our Executive team that they identify as the following:

• 30% Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour

• 90% Gender + Sexually Diverse

• 40% Plus Size, Fat, or Bigger Bodied

• 70% Neurodivergent or Disabled

In SPRING 2023, our Progress program was taught by staff who have voluntarily disclosed to our Executive team that they identify as the following:

VANCOUVER

• 38.9% Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour

• 75.9% Gender + Sexually Diverse

• 33.3% Plus Size, Fat, or Bigger Bodied

• 44.4% Neurodivergent or Disabled

SQUAMISH

• 30.0% Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour

• 15.0% Gender + Sexually Diverse

• 0.0% Plus Size, Fat, or Bigger Bodied

• 55.0% Neurodivergent or Disabled

VICTORIA

• 29.4% Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour

• 29.4% Gender + Sexually Diverse

• 11.8% Plus Size, Fat, or Bigger Bodied

• 29.4% Neurodivergent or Disabled

INITIATIVE: Hire guest workshop facilitators for team training + student programs

We do not want to limit ourselves to working solely with educators who wish to be employed by us on a long-term basis. Therefore, we engage with guest facilitators on a one-off basis, allowing us to expand the perspectives our team and students can access.

In the past term, 100% of the guest workshop facilitators we’ve hired to educate our team, work with our staff in Collective or work with our Company dancers voluntarily disclosed that they were members of the Global Majority (BIPOC), and over 75% of them also identified as members of Gender and Sexually Diverse (LGBTQIA2S+) communities.

goal 3: raise awareness and funds for charities supporting BIPOC, GSD + sex workers

INITIATIVE: Host fundraisers for local charities that support these marginalized groups

Since AUGUST 2022, we have raised $4,941.77 to support PACE, PEERS, and the Battered Women’s Support Services.

goal 4: continually educate our team and ourselves about how to be more inclusive

INITIATIVE: Invest in educational resources and professionals to support this goal

Since AUGUST 2022, we have invested in the following educational resources:

• Emily Anne Brant workshops about decolonizing coaching + transformation work

• Nahanee Creative workshops (2) about decolonizing self & business practices

• Virtual seminar with Raymond Jordan Johnson-Brown (EDI Educator) on providing inclusive dance spaces for Gender + Sexuality Diverse and Indigenous Dancers

• Virtual seminar with Sophia Faria (Somatic Sex & Relationship Coach) on how to facilitate consent-based safe(r) spaces for explorations of sexuality through dance

• Sessions at Team Training about: LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, inclusive cueing, inclusive language, and creating safe(r) community led by our HQ team

goal 5: write shows that center/celebrate marginalized identities through their storylines

INITIATIVE: Write a show about a neurodivergent’s lived experience + cast inclusively

For SPRING 2023, our show “Wild Show” is written about a neurodivergent’s lived experience of the world (with the script authored + edited by neurodivergents), and we cast 3 paid leads from within and beyond our Luminesque community, all of which openly identify as non-binary and several of which identify as neurodivergent.

we’re here to listen

We offer this page not only as a means of providing transparency and accountability surrounding our initiatives, but also as an invitation to create dialogue and engage others in our collective effort to make Luminesque (and the world) a better place for everyone. We are always here with open hearts and minds to receive any feedback and/or ideas regarding how we can do better.

CONTACT HQ:

glow[at]luminesquedance.com

CONTACT VANESSA (Founder)

vanessa[at]luminesquedance.com

CONTACT EMILY (CEO + Co-Owner)

emily[at]luminesquedance.com