Role Rotation Canada

Breaking Gender Assumptions in Class

#1: For someone just entering the latin dance scene - being new and not knowing what to expect - most will tend to follow what their teacher and peers ask of them. So classes need to be all-inclusive right from the beginning, wherein students are made aware that anyone leads or follows and what dancing each role can be like.

#2: Separate dance roles from gender by consistently using gender-neutral terminology such as "leader" and "follower", even if there aren't any non-traditional leads/follows in the class.

#3: By dividing the class into leaders and followers [and 🌟BONUS: "both"🌟] first, every dancer has now chosen their role without any interference. The focus is towards the needs of each student instead of the needs of the class or others.

Do you know instructors who already apply the above? I've noticed and appreciated #2 and #3 from classes by and .gln at La Onda 🙌🏽

Can you think of other ways classes can be more equitable? Comment below and participate in the poll so we can have an idea of what supports are already in place and where we may be currently lacking. ✨️

📢 POLL QUESTION❗️
Based on this post and your own experiences, would you consider your school [previous if you're not in one atm] to be gender-inclusive?

I remember coming across this map last year and being overjoyed to see so many individuals/groups actively breaking dance barriers and promoting all over the world! Though what hit me was how bare Canada seemed. I knew it couldn't be true because I met several individuals like myself dancing both roles, degenderizing latin dance roles, advocating for more inclusion...so there had to be countless more.

I realized we were missing a single platform and consistent terminology that could help us find each other more easily - to connect, to collaborate, to be vocal, and to empower each other in our role-rotation journeys. So here it is! 🔥

Like, follow and share to grow our network 📈 Got a role-rotation video or collaboration idea? DM us! Tag and mention in your posts to add to Canada's rolerotation database.📍Let's represent Canada on that map eh?! 😉

An experience that really stirred me was competing in the pro-am heats at the Montreal Salsa Convention last year ✨️ Didn't realize it was even an option until a few weeks prior when suggested it! 🔥 This Heats division needs more visibility, and I wonder how many non-traditional leads and follows are encouraged to compete because I was the sole competitor for salsa and bachata 🤯 But I came back with incredible learnings, connections, and the fire to light this initiative🕯

is the act of switching between lead/follow roles in the middle of the song. It is "a social dance movement for change, equality, respect, inclusion and awareness in the dance world."

📸:

💞⚖️ is a community that strives to break traditional gender roles and expectations in partner dance. We intend to learn, teach, and promote rotating [leader/follower] roles in salsa and bachata as a step towards social equity and q***r inclusivity in the latin dancing world.

💡🎭 We are also exploring creative avenues with role-rotation for content and/or performance purposes to help establish as a widely recognized art form.

💫🎗 We welcome dancers of all levels who align with our values and are looking for a safe space for experimentation and self-expression. Let's unleash our creativity, be empowered, and fuel our inspiration together!

💞⚖️ #rolerotationcanada is a community that strives to break traditional gender roles and expectations in partner dance. We intend to learn, teach, and promote rotating [leader/follower] roles in salsa and bachata as a step towards social equity and q***r inclusivity in the latin dancing world. 💡🎭 We are also exploring creative avenues with role-rotation for content and/or performance purposes to help establish #rolerotation as a widely recognized art form. 💫🎗 We welcome dancers of all levels who align with our values and are looking for a safe space for experimentation and self-expression. Let's unleash our creativity, be empowered, and fuel our inspiration together! #everyoneleads #everyonefollows #partnerdance #genderequality #genderequity #degenderdanceroles #changetheworld #breakthemindset