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 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

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