The Empowered Dancers Podcast Bobbie Miles

Dancing is more than just movement; it's about confidence and feeling fantastic. However, taking those initial steps into the dance world can be quite challenging, especially if you lack prior experience.

From those first beginner steps into dance and now inspiring others to take their first steps into the bachata community, Coach Wil delves into confidence-building techniques, his own stories, and the personal growth and empowerment that comes from learning to dance, Wil offers listeners his insights into navigating the social dance floor with assurance and growth.

What to expect in this episode:
(0:00:00) -  Introduction
(0:02:20) -  A Champion For Beginner
(0:04:42) -  Primary Objective: Finding The "WHY"
(0:08:08) -  Dancing Is Teamwork
(0:12:14) -  The Best Thing For Beginners: Fundamentals
(0:16:30) -  Connecting With One's self first

About Coach Wil
With over a decade of experience dancing Bachata across Asia and Europe, Coach Wil brings knowledge and passion to the dance floor. From collaborating with a vibrant Bachata community in Bangkok to teaching and coaching in Switzerland, Coach Wil's expertise includes in-person and online instruction. Coach Wil's teaching style is a unique fusion of urban, sensual, and Dominican bachata styles, infused with his own personal background and experience. He strongly emphasizes mastering the fundamentals, basic steps, footwork, body movement, and arm movement, while also honing in on the essential element of musicality.
Connect with Coach Will
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_wil_84?igsh=ZHRlbHgzeDh5Nmhl
Website: https://rdfbeginneredition.carrd.co/

About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips

Connect with Bobbie Miles!
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast
Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer
Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1

Neurodiversity's impact on movement and social interaction, particularly within the context of dance, is a topic often overlooked.

This episode highlights the challenges faced by some neurodivergent individuals in society from moving to adulthood to dance spaces, particularly those who struggle following instructions. The discussion also opens the potential of dance as a safe and empowering outlet for self-expression through movement, especially for those who find verbal communication difficult.

In this episode, Helen and Bobbie dive into the world of neurodiversity and explore the intersection of neurodivergence and dance, as well as sensory processing and how the lack of understanding can impact how people interact with their environments, including dance spaces, and the eventual masking to fit in.

What to expect in this episode:
(0:00:00) -  Introduction.
(0:01:39) -  Advocating neurodivergence.
(0:01:53) -  School system creating a box.
(0:06:02) -  Celebrating creativity.
(0:07:15) -  ADHD and Autism.
(0:09:02) -  Neurodivergent leader and follower.
(0:11:20) -  Masking in the dance space.
(0:13:14) -  Multiple marginalized identities.
(0:16:30) -  The intention behind the words.
(0:18:29) -  Sensory divergence.

About Helen Daniel
Helen Daniel is a qualified autism and neurodiversity support practitioner passionate about helping neurodivergent families find radical self-acceptance. Helen empowers children and young people through workshops and resources, helping them understand their sensory profiles and develop self-advocacy skills. Helen brings expertise as a qualified teacher, mentor, and public speaker on neurosensory divergence, with a PGCert in teaching, an MA in progressive autism studies, and training in early communication strategies. Helen launched Outside the Box Sensory which promotes neurodivergent wellbeing and self-understanding.
 
Connect with Helen Daniel
Website https://outsidetheboxsensory.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/otbsensory/

About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips

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

Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer (https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer)

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

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

This episode discusses creating safer spaces in dancing communities, particularly focused on preventing sexual abuse.

Lara is a co-founder of the Safer Dance Spaces initiative and in this episode, she talks about the importance of education and bystander intervention in preventing abuse. Dancers are encouraged to speak up if they feel unsafe and to intervene if they witness inappropriate behavior.

Lara emphasizes that creating a safe dance space is a shared responsibility between organizers, dancers, and instructors. Organizers can demonstrate their commitment to safety by adopting a "safe rather than sorry" approach and having clear guidelines in place, thus creating a safer dance space for everyone.


What to expect in this episode:
(00:00) - Introduction.
(00:53) - Meeting new people through dancing.
(01:34) - All about Safer Dance Spaces.
(08:28) - Why join SDS?
(10:09) - Sharing knowledge in live workshops.
(12:42) - Collaboration promoting education mindset.
(15:00) - Active bystanders’ intervention.
(17:50) - Changing culture for safer and braver space.
(20:35) - Involving dancers and organizers.
(22:23) - Empowering voices of both men and women.
(25:35) - Sexual abuse is taboo for men.
(26:55) - Creating space that upholds respect.


About Lara Tabet & Safer Dance Spaces
Lara Tabet is a salsa and kizomba dancer who champions speaking up and creating spaces where women and men feel equally safe and respected. She is a co-founder of Safer Dance Spaces, an initiative that drives cultural change in dance communities through education and access to information. The SDS steering group is made up of dedicated volunteers, who believe that everyone can and should play an active role in creating safer and braver spaces for all dancers.

Connect with Lara Tabet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saferdancespaces/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saferdancespaces/
Events: https://www.facebook.com/events/1914812198971037


About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night!
https://empowereddancers.com/5tips


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

Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer

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

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

In this second part of Bobbie's interview with Diana Liu, they talk about her experiences, performance dancing, and joining a competition.

Diana shares about her first time auditioning and joining competitions, how it helped her understand the differences from social dancing, and how it made her more confident to take on future auditions.

Gaining more wisdom from that experience, she confidently shares tips on keeping the motivation to continue with your goal of becoming a better dancer.

What to expect in this episode:
(00:00) - Introduction.
(00:31) - Performance dancing and competition is a commitment.
(07:05) - Investing time rehearsing at home before class.
(09:37) - Team aspect and keeping motivation and fun.
(12:05) - Audition and competition experiences.
(16:18) - Jack and Jill partner dancing.

About Diana Liu
Diana is a dancer and festival guru and has a brilliant knack for combining travel and dance. She has been traveling Europe with dance as her compass over the last couple of years now.

Connect with Diana Liu:
https://www.instagram.com/diana.l888/


About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night!
https://empowereddancers.com/5tips


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

Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer

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

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

Diana and Bobbie catch up and talk about their festival tips and tricks and how they keep their energy alive to have a good time and for a memorable social dance experience.

Prepare to make a list of Diana’s practical tips from preparing for the festivals to selecting the sessions to join and enjoying the social dance events.

Listen to this chill conversation as if you’re sitting down with your friends as they chat and share personal yet relatable experiences.

What to expect in this episode:
(00:00) -  Introduction
(01:07) -  Meeting Diana.
(02:51) -  Experiencing social pressure bullying.
(07:39) -  Ego of dancers.
(10:54) -  Having a fun mindset.
(14:50) -  Festival experiences and tips.

About Diana Liu:
Diana is a dancer and festival guru and has a brilliant knack for combining travel and dance.
She has been traveling Europe with dance as her compass over the last couple of years now.

Connect with Diana Liu:
https://www.instagram.com/diana.l888/


About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night!
https://empowereddancers.com/5tips


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

Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer

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

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

Creating safe spaces and boundaries is the responsibility of the instructors of the class.

But how aware are the instructors and how do we open up this uncomfortable topic of conversation to help create a safe environment for dancers?

In this episode, Vanessa and Bobbie share their thoughts about the roles of the teacher and their responsibility in creating a safe environment that will keep dancers coming back for more. This is a subject not frequently talked about and this episode gives us an avenue that encourages us to start the dialogue.

What to expect in this episode:
(00:00) - Introduction.
(03:54) - Learning salsa and bachata.
(04:51) - Dancing scene in Valencia, Spain.
(05:54) - Natural dancing vs choreographed styles.
(06:54) - Creating safe space and boundaries.
(12:00) - Teachers’ role when conducting class.
(19:55) - Building support and community.
(25:00) - Validation for instructors and leads.
(29:00) - Communication and etiquette in class framework.
(33:07) - Conversations about elevating the scene.

About Vanessa Bright
Vanessa Bright is an up-and-coming British Mauritian independent soul musician and independent Singer/Songwriter. Soul Chart hits include “Movin’ On” & “Keep Your Spirits High” with Tom Browne. Vanessa is also a life coach and has been a salsa, bachata, and kizomba dancer for the last several years.

Connect with Vanessa Bright
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbright11
Website: www.vanessabright.co.uk


About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realised that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.

Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night!
https://empowereddancers.com/5tips


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

Follow me on Instagram @bobbiemilesdancer https://www.instagram.com/bobbiemilesdancer

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

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