The Empowered Dancers Podcast

1 in 3 women. 1 in 4 men. At work, at the gym, in any social context, gender-based violence is present in our lives and you may not even consider it all that often. But what if you did? What if you stepped onto the dance floor or into your lesson with an understanding of what gender-based violence is, who is at risk of it and the questions you can ask yourself to ensure that you are not making som...

A dance lesson with two equal teachers. A mindset that expects respect and rejects stereotypes. A dance floor where sexualisation and objectification aren’t entertained. There are teachers and spaces that are working hard to create safer spaces and a huge contributor to that growth are the teachers behind Role Rotation in bachata - Felipe Ramirez and Tiago Adegas. We put Role Rotation to the test...

How do you protect dancers across the SBK scene? You take their safety into account when planning your event. You talk about safety at your event. You give people knowledge about how to keep themselves safe. You take their experiences seriously when talking to them. That outdated line of “If I don’t hear about it, I can pretend it didn’t happen” is not going to cut it anymore - Jason Potell has be...

“Why didn’t she report it to the police?” “This is not my problem, this belongs with the police.” We are hearing these comments in the salsa, bachata and kizomba spaces, where people are speaking from a point of little understanding of being a victim or survivor (and that’s great!) or little understanding of the official process of sexual assault cases. Rikki is a lawyer and a dancer, teacher and...

Raised to be aware of your privilege as a man in the SBK scene is not something many men can reflectively say. Cameron Holden gives us a look at the salsa, bachata and kizomba  scene through a self-aware lens - the male privilege that is present and prevalent in our scene - from the attitude towards teaching followers (who are women in the majority),  to the way in which some men in positions of p...

Fuelled by the rise of social media, bachata has developed a very “cookie cutter” image. Hollywood slim, skin and sparkle is the heteronormative assumed default image of our teachers. But that isn’t representative of our community, is it? We come in all shapes and sizes with every personality under the sun. Natalie Walls joins us to not only challenge the current norms but also to challenge oursel...

Do salsa and bachata lessons serve dancers as well as they could? What core could we make to improve things? Thomas Martin is a teacher based in Manchester who share with us two brilliant areas he would see improve across the board in the SBK community. More than that though, as well as shaking up the way lessons are taught, Thomas also wants to see a space for LGBTQ dancers to feel welcomed into...

Christine joins us to talk about all things Jack and Jill at social dance events. As a social dancer herself, Christine loves the challenge and opportunity for growth that a Jack and Jill competition offers but unfortunately has experienced being denied the opportunity to to take part in a competition because she signed up to lead. The problem? She’s a woman. What to expect in this episode: (01:07...

DJ Angel Figueroa joins us from Chiba, Japan to share with us the value of diving deeper into salsa songs. From the political feeling at the time of writing, to the stories behind an artist’s motivation, Angel teaches us that, like all forms of art, the more we know about a piece, the better we can connect with it and enjoy it. Born into a family celebrating Caribbean rhythms from Jamaica and Cuba...

Sarah Balzat last joined us to talk about her entry into salsa and her focus on learning  about different body types in dancing. We are lucky to welcome Sarah back to talk this time about Embodied Philosophy - her toolkit for salsa teaching, dancing, choreographing and even everyday life. Embodied Philosophy seeks to create synergy between top down (verbal information) and bottom up (sensations th...

Tudor Sirbu is the teacher behind Sheffield Bachata Collective, a dance school that puts core values front and centre in its mission to provide quality bachata classes and events. Guided by Inclusivity, Respect and Growth, SBC is committed to actively teaching their values by welcoming and celebrating all dancers, handling inappropriate behaviour with respect and transparency and educating dancers...

Lynne Joyner started dancing salsa, bachata and kizomba in her 60s and it is safe to say that she has become thoroughly addicted over the last 1.5 years of dancing. Learning new skills, keeping active, making new friends, the SBK scene has become a core part of Lynne’s life and she is thriving. But her confidence is something she has had to learn as Lynne reflects on being an older woman entering...

Giulia Settomini has many years’ experience in competitive latin and ballroom as well as social salsa and bachata dancing and she sat down to share her experiences of gendered roles in latin dancing and the power we give ourselves when we remove gender from the equation. Society is peppered with situations that seek to cast men in a strong and dominant light, whilst objectifying or sexualising wom...

Anna Kan is a bachata dancer who is no stranger to being in a cultural minority at dance events. In her open and welcoming way, Anna offers us a window into her rich cultural background and talks us through her bachata journey, including how it felt when she met her local east/southeast Asian bachata teacher, as well as experiencing places where other people of her culture see bachata dancing as t...

Despite starting out in singing, Sarah Balzat has been dancing most of her life. Sarah has an incredible mind when it comes to her approaches to teaching salsa and salsa dancing itself and today she joins us to talk about her unusual entry into salsa in Germany in the 90s  and the power of bringing philosophy and vulnerability onto the dance floor, both in terms of teaching and learning. With near...

Eddie Hunt is a salsa DJ and teacher based in Bristol and Clevedon in the UK. He has been dancing for over 20 years and DJing and teaching for over half that. Today Eddie joins me to chat about his journey as a DJ and the special place in his heart he has for vinyl music. Vinyl offers an insight into a deeper and wider experience of salsa music, of which so many of us have very little knowledge. T...

Today we sit down with Fiorella the Dancing Psychologist, a bachata teacher based in the Netherlands. Fiorella merges her expertise in psychology with her passion for bachata, helping dancers connect their mind and body for holistic well-being. Listen as she shares her journey, from techno dance floors in Amsterdam to discovering the magic of bachata in Spain. Fiorella discusses how dance helps pe...

Language is a powerful thing. We are dancers and movement is a big part of how we communicate on the social dance floor, but in lessons and workshops, words are the communication method of choice. So the words we choose matter. Using “men/guys” as interchangeable with “leaders” and “women/girls/ladies” as interchangeable with followers keeps all dancers in a box they never chose to be in and maint...

A dancer from Malaga, Spain, Nahuel discovered his love for dancing about a decade ago in Nottingham in the UK and it has since become his way to integrate into new communities, make friends, and explore different cultures. His journey through different cities has not only shaped his dance skills but also broadened his social horizons. He's navigated language barriers, particularly in places...

Sherony Lock has been dancing for over a decade and is both a skilled follower and leader. Dancing can be an incredible vehicle for personal growth and Sherony shares with us how salsa and bachata have been a part of her confidence-building journey. She also talks us through the language of dance and the conversation between leader follower and music. If you are in need of a dose of empowerment an...

Meet Lucy Woodham, a lifelong dancer and a seasoned physiotherapist with over a decade of experience in sports and complex rehab. Passionate about the connection between physical and psychological well-being, Lucy is pursuing a master’s in psychology. In this episode, Lucy challenges us to step away from the Western approach to wellbeing of separating physical and mental health and to instead cons...

Join us for a conversation with the incredible Rasa Pauzaite, a professional salsa and bachata dancer, teacher, and performer! With so many years of experience under her belt, Rasa has so much to share with dancers, she is a treasure trove of knowledge! Rasa the Dancer is a favourite at dance events in the UK and beyond, bringing joy and expertise to every class. In this episode, we explore the im...

We are welcoming back Lea Avrany, an advocate for safer dancing from Switzerland in the bachata scene. The episode  explores the concept of "rotation," where dancers switch roles mid-dance, enhancing connection and inclusivity. Lea and Bobbie share insights on overcoming traditional dance norms to create a more inclusive and empowering dance community.  Lea also discusses her role in cre...

Join us as we dive into the vibrant world of salsa with Déaglán Gibbons, a fellow Irishman and passionate salsa dancer right here in Bristol. Hear how moving from Ireland to England sparked his love for dance, and how salsa helped him connect with a new community. From casual social dancing to totally hooked, Déaglán's journey is inspiring and full of cultural richness. Whether you're a...

Today is all about Codes of Conduct. Join me to go through what a Code of Conduct is, its place in the salsa, bachata and kizomba scene and why it is worth having them across the board at dance events. What to expect in this episode: (00:00) - Introduction. (01:50) - What is a Code of Conduct? (03:50) - The Purpose of a Code of Conduct  (05.23) - "Having a bunch of rules isn't going to f...