Who We Are
The B.A.D. Mission
To create an inclusive and safe space for others to experience joy and appreciate what their body can do within a supportive community of shared values.
To create curriculum with safe techniques and thoughtful progressions to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
To build a sustainable business that can weather life’s challenges and continue to gives back to the larger community.
Our Values
Community - We work hard to curate strong relationships within and outside of the studio for an active and supportive community. Our community is a safe and welcoming space for those that share our values regardless of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, national origin, marital status, parental status, religion, physical or mental ability.
All Bodies - Our studio is a safe space to explore movement styles, flow and creativity regardless of body type or goals.
Balance - The ability to dance and move for many years means balance within your movement. Our classes and curriculum focus on skills, strength, and mobility to facilitate balance in your practice and body.
Play - We are committed to the playful exploration and growth of our students and staff. We will consistently encourage playful exploration of new movement and evolve our curriculum and space to support this.
Safety - We work hard to ensure the physical and emotional safety of our students and staff. We want a space where the members of our community can feel safe, heard and respected.
Code of Conduct
Bellingham Aerial and Dance is a queer-owned studio rooted in the values of Community, All Bodies, Balance, Play, and Safety. We are committed to creating a space that celebrates and uplifts our community and actively rejects all forms of discrimination.
We honor that our studio resides on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe. We acknowledge this with gratitude and responsibility, striving to cultivate a space grounded in respect, care, and connection.
We honor and respect that pole dance was/is born from strippers. This art - in all forms - would not exist without strippers and the path they paved for us. We acknowledge this and are grateful for the privilege to practice.
Our Code of Conduct exists to protect this environment and ensure that everyone who enters our space can move, create, and connect with respect and joy.
Inclusivity and Belonging
We are a body-neutral, LGBTQIA+ celebrating, anti-racist, and accessible space. We do not comment on others' bodies.
Respect each person’s pronouns, identities, and lived experiences.
If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, correct it, and learn—grace and accountability are essential to community care.
Respect for Self and Others
Treat all community members, instructors, staff, and yourself with kindness, patience, and care.
Self-deprecating jokes are still harmful to you and those around you.
Celebrate differences in experience, body type, ability, background, and expression—all bodies are valued here.
Any form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying—verbal, physical, or online—will not be tolerated in or outside of the studio space.
Practice empathy and assume good intent while staying accountable for your impact.
There is no space for diet culture and body shaming in this space.
Consent and Personal Boundaries
Always ask for and receive consent before making physical contact or offering assistance.
Respect a “no” immediately and without pressure.
Recognize that everyone’s comfort level with touch, conversation, and interaction is different and can vary from day to day.
Confidentiality
What’s shared in the studio—personal stories, fears, breakthroughs—stays in the studio.
Growth Focused
Support others’ journeys without comparison or unsolicited advice; we all grow at different paces. We all have different goals.
Celebrate the small wins and big milestones—encourage play, curiosity, and creativity in yourself and others.
Communication
We encourage open communication to support growth, exploration, and continuous improvement—for students and instructors alike.
We believe that all bodies hold wisdom, and we encourage every student and instructor to listen to and advocate for their own bodies—in their movement, boundaries, needs, and growth.
Feedback is welcomed when given with care, curiosity, and respect.
If you have concerns, bring them directly to an instructor or studio leadership.
Safety in Movement
Follow instructor guidance and progressions to ensure safe, sustainable practice.
Use mats, equipment, and rigging only as directed—never modify equipment without permission.
Notify your instructor if you are injured, unwell, or unsure about a skill; balance in the body is a long-term practice and we support moving mindfully.
Spotting or hands-on assistance should only be done under instructor direction to maintain a safe training environment.
For your safety, and those around you, please refrain from teaching, spotting, or coaching your fellow students in class or during open gym.
Studio Care & Respect
Arrive on time and prepared to move; late arrivals may not be permitted for the safety of you and those around you. Please see our late policy for more details.
Silence cell phones during class (exceptions can be made for emergencies).
Clean up after yourself, respect the shared space, and help maintain an environment where everyone can practice comfortably.
Avoid strong scents and be mindful of hygiene, especially when sharing aerial apparatus.
Accountability
Violations of this Code will result in a verbal warning, suspension, or removal from the community, depending on severity.
Our goal is always education and repair first, whenever possible.
We are committed to maintaining a physically and emotionally safe studio for all.
Our Shared Commitment
By being part of Bellingham Aerial and Dance, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct and embody our studio values: Community, All Bodies, Balance, Play, and Safety.
Together, we create a community where everyone can move, explore, grow and belong—
and where creativity, courage, identity, and connection can thrive.