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 maintains the social limitations of everyday life that so many of us are trying so hard to overcome. Have a think about what you’re hearing in class, have a look around. Gendered language affects whether a dancer will try out the opposite role in that lesson or how long it will take them to muster the courage to step out of their “lane”.
What to expect in this episode:
(00:00:00) - Men = leaders, women = followers?
(00:10:10) - But most leaders are men, most followers are women…
(00:01:52) - De-gendering dancing and moving with the times
(00:04:00) - That old line of “but you know what I mean!”
(00:06:32) - Why gendered roles belong in the past
(00:08:34) - Understanding why women find it “brave” to lead
(00:09:51) - Examples of the limitations of gendered roles in social dancing
(00:11:44) - The challenge for next time…!

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
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