The Empowered Dancers Podcast
A Salsa Bachata and Kizomba Podcast for all things empowerment in SBK latin dancing! TED Podcast is a space for different voices in our dance scene to be celebrated and have conversations that matter in order to promote more understanding, accountability and responsibility in our dance scene through the value we share with listeners. Creating safer spaces, building confidence, setting boundaries, respecting culture, whether you dance salsa, bachata, kizomba or all three, on this podcast we hear from dancers with all sorts of backgrounds and interests - teachers, organisers, DJs and social dancers alike - every dancer has a story to tell, be it through events, lessons, teaching, organising, socials, friendships, dating, support, abuse, power. Whether you have been dancing for 20 minutes or 20 years, we all deserve to dance on our own terms, and shine our own light.
Episodes
41 episodes
TED 40 | Understanding gender-based violence in the SBK scene with Dabney Evans
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 less...
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TED 39 | Felipe & Tiago: Is Role Rotation a tool towards safer spaces?
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...
TED 38 | Are you willing to risk leaving dangerous people on the dance floor? with Jason Potell
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...
TED 37 | Why didn’t she report it to the police? with Rikki Archibald
“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 ...
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TED 36 | Male privilege and an insight into threats in the SBK scene with Cameron Holden
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 p...
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TED 35 | What snap judgements are you making about other dancers? with Natalie Walls
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 co...
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TED 34 | What are 2 key ways we can improve how lessons are taught? with Thomas Martin
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 c...
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TED 33 | Would you be allowed to take part in Jack & Jill competitions? with Christine Walsh
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 bei...
TED 32 | What you can gain by understanding the context of Salsa Music with Angel Figueroa
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...
TED 31 | Why Embodied Philosophy is a Must-Have Salsa Tool with Sarah Balzat
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 teachin...
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TED 30 | Why are Values Important in Bachata Classes? with Tudor Sirbu & Sheffield Bachata Collective
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 a...
TED 29 Is Ageism Present in Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba? with Lynne Joyner
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 beco...
TED 28 | Removing Gendered Roles Benefits EVERYONE in Dancing with Giulia Settomini
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 remov...
TED 27 | Challenging Cultural Expectations through Bachata with Anna Kan
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...
TED 26 | Enabling ALL Body Types in Salsa with Sarah Balzat
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...
TED 25 | How Vinyl Music Contributes to Salsa with DJ Eddie Hunt
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 h...
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TED 24 | The Psychological Value of Connecting to Yourself with Fiorella The Dancing Psychologist
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....
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TED 23 | Why You Should Care about Language in Lessons with Bobbie Miles
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”...
TED 22 | Finding Communities in New Cities Through Bachata with Naheul Salem
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 ...
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TED 21 | An Intersection of Music, Dance and Confidence with Sherony Lock
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 jou...
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TED 20 | The Brain, The Soul, The Culture - The Value Behind the Dance with Lucy Woodham
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 psyc...
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TED 19 | She Says Selfish, I Say Inspired: A Conversation With Rasa
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 k...
TED 18 | Role Rotation: A Path to Inclusivity on the Dance Floor with Lea Avrany
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 Bob...
TED 17 | A Learning Mindset & The Culture of Salsa with Deaglán Gibbons
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 w...
