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 women. The SBK and latin and ballroom dance scenes are not exempt from this and Giulia, as an active researcher into the topic of dismantling gendered roles from dance scenes offers some reflective insights into her work.
What to expect in this episode:
(01:00) - Her parents footsteps: competing at 6 years of age!
(02:59) - Unlearning the detrimental behaviours in competitive dancing
(04:40) - Challenging heteronormative roles in latin dances
(07:27) - The almost apologetic constraint in “taking the lead”
(10:42) - The power of cross-dressing in bachata
(14:14) - Competitive dress regulations for men vs women
(16:52) - Italy’s first un-gendered latin dance lessons
(18:29) - The freedom of removing gender and dancing both roles
About Giulia Settomini
Giulia Settomini (she/her) is an Italian ex-competitive Latin dancer. She holds an MA in Choreography from Trinity Laban in London and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths University of London, focusing on female leadership and competitive paradigms. Giulia has worked as a choreographer and dancer for ITV (UK), London 2012 Olympics, EXPO Milan 2015, and Dancing With The Stars in Panama. She was co-researcher in dismantling gender roles in Latin dance, presenting at Humboldt University, University of Trieste, and hosting Italy’s first gender-neutral Latin dance course. Recently, she conducted “Queering Partner Dance” research in Berlin, funded by Culture Moves Europe.
Connect with Giulia Settomini
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giuliasettomini/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoUGtcvqL70

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
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Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
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