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 and unpicked how this tool is empowering dancers around the world and creating safer and more respectful dance spaces.

In this episode:
01:06 Finding the world of dance
02:46 What is Role Rotation?
05:48 How does Role Rotation encourage teachers to include etiquette into their classes?
13:20 Rough leaders and heavy followers - how can Role Rotation help with this?
15:20 Why do Role Rotation classes create more engaged learning environments?
23:50 Isn’t it time we ditched “may styling” and “lady styling”?
25:05 Not yet? Okay, what is masculine and feminine?
28:20 What are the limitations of sex-based styling classes?
34:04 How can we remove barriers to learning in our dance scene?
38:07 The responsibility of teachers - the key filter for dancers entering the community

About Felipe and Tiago
Felipe and Tiago are both professional dancers with rich backgrounds in dance styles such as jazz and ballroom. After developing as bachata dancers and teachers individually, they began teaching together in 2019. Felipe and Tiago teach through the method of Role Rotation, where dancers rotate within a couple at any given point during a song. Born in Spain and Portugal respectively, Felipe and Tiago are based in Madrid, where they run weekly bachata classes, teach around the world at weekends and organise the twice yearly Terra Livre Role Rotation festival. Through their work, Felipe and Tiago have brought Role Rotation teaching to more than 30 countries worldwide!

About Role Rotation
Felipe and Tiago are the teachers behind Role Rotation in bachata - a tool that seeks to empower dancers to learn faster, dance with more confidence and with more respect. A beginner of bachata starting out in a Role Rotation class can expect to start learning both the roles of leader and follower from Day 1. True Role Rotation values remove gender, sexualisation and stereotypes from dance and create a space where bad intentions become harder to hide and getting to know everyone in the room becomes easier and more fun.

Connect with Felipe and Tiago
https://rolerotationacademy.com/
https://terralivredancefestival.com/
https://www.in

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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 been an active part of safer spaces for over 20 years and has combined his work and learning in that space with the dance space: his events in LA are attract less inappropriate behaviour. Why is that? Because he takes safety seriously. Isn’t it time everyone did?

What to expect in this episode:
(01:06) From Michael Jackson, to swing, to salsa!
(03:00) Reports of abuse + misconduct: there is something different in the water this time
(08:08) Safer spaces overlapping with dance spaces
(09:59) The role of Safer Dance Spaces for organisers
(13:22) How Jason and his team protect his attendees: from getting safely to your car to reporting inappropriate behaviour during the event
(14:38) Zero tolerance MEANS ZERO TOLERANCE
(16:29) How Jason deals with false reports - erring on the side of safety
(23:53) Safety beyond the dance floor - it permeates the lives of everyone
(27:19) It’s hard to hold people accountable
(30:42) Moving from conversations to action: surround yourself with people who are trying
(33:42) Organiser or social dancer - vote with your feet and your money

About Jason Potell
Jason Potell been dancing for around 25 years, as well as being a part of safer spaces conversations for about the same amount of time. In terms of style, Jason dips into a little bit of everything: from swing to salsa even. Jason spent many years as a full time instructor and organiser, and as a result of the COVID pandemic, Jason, like all teachers in affected countries, took a step back. Now Jason is back to running the Melty Micro microfusion event, and teaches and DJs around LA. Also a big board gamer, singer and movie enthusiast and safety is a core value that permeates all aspects of Jason’s life.

Connect with Jason
https://www.facebook.com/fuseandmuse

Connect with Safer Dance Spaces:
https://www.instagram.com/saferdancespaces/

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

“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 organiser who also volunteers by supporting victims of sexual assault and she walks us through how to remove people from an event and the process of what a person may expect and be prepared for when reporting a case of sexual assault or assault.

What to expect in this episode:
(00:56) From salsa follower to kizomba leader
(03:33) Teaching and creating safer spaces: it goes hand in hand and it’s a responsibility
(05:37) “Oh, he’s just like that” - Rikki does NOT accept this
(11:35) What is the point of reporting to an organiser who won’t do anything? First reactions are critical.
(15:47) The ACTUAL process of reporting sexual assault to the police is
(18:32) Be clear about your “why” for reporting - it can be healing, but it’s a tough process
(22:03) Rikki can support you if you have questions or thinking about making a public or police statement
(23:17) You need to be prepared there may not be enough evidence to conclude the case
(26:20) Why didn’t she just go to the police?
(27:37) Not “believing” someone until there is a police report

About Rikki Archibald
Rikki Archibald is a passionate dance educator and advocate, currently specialising in Urban Kiz and Ginga ladies' workshops. With years of experience teaching, Rikki’s goal has always been to empower individuals to reconnect with their bodies and celebrate their unique expression through dance. Alongside her teaching, Rikki is dedicated to promoting a respectful and safe dance environment and this comes through in her approach to teaching, organising and attending events. Rikki is also an Australian lawyer with years of experience working in courts, tribunals, and women’s refuges, supporting victims of sexual and domestic violence. She combines her legal expertise, dance knowledge, and trauma-informed approach in the work that she does in the dance community to address inappropriate conduct. Rikki is also host of The Empress Podcast, where she shares practical tips for healing from trauma.

Connect with Rikki
https://open.spotify.com/show/0mPj3OGeliYLJIEZfDZ23B
https://www.instagram.com/riktoria_andalucia/

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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 power (this includes leading) take advantage of women, to the threats and “bros club” culture that exists in our scene, Cameron offers a perspective that we should all take the time to hear, reflect on and learn from.

What to expect in this episode:

(01:04) Leaving the army, joining the dance community
(02:24) Raised to understand male privilege
(06:13) Seeing male privilege in the dance scene
(09:47) Teachers: A duty of care to teach etiquette
(11:47) Examples of misogyny in the scene
(16:47) What needs to change? Let’s talk about solo women teachers
(17:55) The “old boys” club - speaking up and being threatened as a result: Cameron’s experience
(23:03) A brick wall: This is why we don’t hear so many reports on the dance scene
(26:25) We NEED to see more accountability
(28:35) It’s not a rise in assault and similar crimes, its a rise in reporting

About Cameron Holden
Cameron Holden is a passionate bachata salsa and urban kiz dancer, and a teacher of salsa, bachata and a certified role-rotation teacher. Activist for equality and woman's safety within the dance scene, Cameron uses his voice to call out bad behaviour and the deep-running misogyny in the SBK scene. He promotes awareness of the risks to women’s safety in the dance scene and also to call on us all to do better. Beyond dancing, Cameron is a veteran of the Afghanistan conflict, he is an educator, teaching engineers on apprenticeships and he also enjoys writing poetry.

Connect with Cameron Holden
https://www.instagram.com/gu_salsa?igsh=MTRndXV0ZDA0bzRpZw==

Episode Mentions:
Safer Dance Spaces: https://www.instagram.com/saferdancespaces/
Hear Sindi’s story: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEDepUbi6iv/?hl=en

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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 ourselves. We are the sum of our lived experiences and also the sum of our education - our experiences are fixed, but we each of us always have the capacity to learn. Have you ever judged a fellow social dancer? Assumed they won’t be fun to dance with? Why did you assume that? Natalie has some great tips on how we can learn more about ourselves and grow not only as dancers, but people too.

What to expect in this episode:

(01:01) Social dancing, hanging out with Mum
(03:00) Learning bachata with a high values teacher: Tiago Degas
(04:42) Bachata as a space to focus the mind and connect with other people
(07:41) The current image of bachata: the typical cookie-cutter couple
(13:20) Teachers platforming other teachers and mindful marketing
(15:55) Snap judgements - students and social dancers: acknowledge your preconceptions, maybe even challenge them!
(19:10) How can YOU question your own preconceptions
(22:57) What are we making these snap judgements?
(27:14) Leader and follower - language matters!

About Natalie Walls
Natalie is an experienced social dancer, and a bachata and latin commercial teacher based in Cambridge in the UK. A and certified Role Rotation instructor, Natalie is an inclusivity advocate in our dance scene. Her work focuses on creating inclusive spaces where all dancers are welcomed, accepted and celebrated.

Connect with Natalie Walls
https://www.instagram.com/nataliewalls93/
https://www.instagram.com/bachatacambridge/

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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 the SBK scene without a second thought. This is why he set about creating such a space in his home city of Manchester, with the LGBTQ Afro-Latin Dance MCR.

What to expect in this episode:

(01:36) An LGBTQ salsa dance school
(03:36) Why “partner up” is a negative instruction in lessons
(09:42) EVERYONE should start their dancing as a follower
(14:48) The reason why women are more likely to stick at dancing: gendered roles
(17:36) Why Thomas does NOT reach routines - consider cross-body style lessons vs Cuban style lessons
(21:49) Why are we fixated on routines in lessons??
(26:03) Ask questions of your teachers - start conversations :)


About Thomas Martin
Thomas is a UK based dancer from Ireland who is a voice for growth and inclusion in the SBK scene. He is the founder and current chairperson of the LGBTQ Afro-Latin Dance MCR based in Manchester: a space within the dance community where anyone can feel welcome to take their first steps into dancing and not have to worry about the pressure of gender norms and biases in their dance lessons. He teaches salsa and bachata with a mix of beginners + experienced dancers to give beginners a better experience early on. Thomas has a very growth-based mindset and this allows him to be reflective and progressive in his role as a teacher in the dance community.

Connect with LGBTQ Afro-Latin Dance MCR and Thomas Martin
@lgbtq_aldm
https://linktr.ee/lgbtq_aldm

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to the Empowered Dancers YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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) Introducing Christine Walsh
(02:27) Jack and Jill competitions - their place in the social dance scene
(06:19) Denied access to a competition for being a woman
(10:50) Why organisers should be making changes
(14:08) Why do we have a fear of dancing with someone of the same sex?
(16:33) Boundaries: don’t get it twisted!
(19:03) Feeling Safe: The effect of competitive rules on an event
(21:36) Are separate events/categories the answer?
(31:20) Competition, community, lessons, they are all connected


About Christine Walsh
Christine is an Australian dancer and emerging social media activist who has recently set up home in London. From 9-5, Christine works as a Diversity and Inclusion Project Manager and she brings her expertise to the dancefloor with a goal to have conversations that build safer, more inclusive dance communities.
Christine grew up spending a lot of time in dance studios and began teaching almost 10 years ago. From her foundations within jazz, tap and contemporary, she has worked as a dance teacher for universities, dancers with Down Syndrome and more recently moved towards bachata, within which she is certified as a Role Rotation teacher.

Sign the petition
https://www.change.org/SocialDanceCompEquality

Connect with Christine Walsh
@christinew.dance
https://www.instagram.com/christinew.dance/

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

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, Angel grew up with salsa music around him. From starting out his DJing journey in Korea to becoming a part of the growth of the community in Osaka for 17 years, Angel is still an active DJ in his now local scene near Tokyo, Japan.

What to expect in this episode:
(01:22) - A tale of two islands: Jamaica and Cuba linked through the radio
(02.53) - Becoming salsa DJ in Korea and Japan
(04:34) - Contributing to the growth of salsa in Osaka
(08:14) - COVID and the Co-Beat Party - sharing salsa direct into people’s homes
(11:26) - Hosting a salsa radio show online - Encanto Tropical
(14:27) - The empowerment from knowing lyrics and the social-cultural dynamics of songs
(15:24) - Songs in context: Otra Oportunidad - Jimmy Bosch, No Vale La Pena Enamorarse - Ray Sepúlveda, Indistructibe - Ray Barretto, Anacaona - Tite Curet Alonso (sung by Chey Feliciano)
(21:17) - Enabling more learning through academia

Errata
There are two points should be mentioned as post-interview edits:
1. 9am instead of 9pm was mistakenly said by Angel when referring to his 8-hour DJ sets.
2. Jimmy Bosch was incorrectly described as the singer in his song "Otra Oportunidad". Of course, the vocalist is Herman Olivera; Angel meant to say Bosch is the lyricist, as Olivera is singing his words.

About Angel Figueroa
Angel Figueroa is an assistant professor of English, Spanish, and language acquisition at Josai International University in Japan. His research fields extend to include Latin American music, diving deep into the culture and social complexities of salsa music. As a salsa DJ and collector with more than 25 years experience, Currently based near the Tokyo area where he DJs regularly, Angel also hosts the twice-monthly show “Encanto Tropical” on WorldSalsaRadio.com. Among his projects is to write a book explaining the lyrics and contexts of certain salsa songs to non-Spanish speakers.

Connect with Angel Figueroa
Online: www.an-fi.online/dj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj.angel_/
Encanto Tropical Show: www.an-fi.onlin

About Bobbie Miles:
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and empowerment coach in the salsa, bachata, and kizomba scene. Dancing is a happy place for Bobbie, as it is for so many. In order to foster safer dance spaces for all dancers, Bobbie is on a mission to promote more accountability and responsibility surrounding boundaries, consent and safety within the community through education and conversations that matter. Bobbie is a coach and advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and promoting respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a coach and public speaker, she focuses on boundary setting and respect in practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips to boost your confidence on any dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no

Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast

Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1