Dancing Around the Questions

In today's episode, we chat with Lara about her experiences in several dance communities - ballroom, Latin dancing, zouk, contact improv and ecstatic dance. We discuss the elements she enjoys from these many styles, her favorite event, and discover that pretty much any major city has a "Havana" restaurant with Latin dance nights. Next, laundromats...?

Send in your questions to [email protected] if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

Recorded on April 2, 2023, on location in Louisville. We bring together an all-star collection of Cuban dance instructors and fanatics - Paul, Chris, Rumi, Cindy, Andrea and Alexa - over some drinks to wind down after a wild weekend. There was so much ground to cover - how and where everyone got started, when you could call yourself "a dancer," the Mega Rueda Weekend itself, and the consumption and appreciation of the arts.

Bonus episode taken from this recording will be out soon! Follow us on Instagram @dancingatq, and shoot us an email at [email protected]!

Chinkee, the founder and leader of RVA Zouk Movement, joins us to discuss her origins in dance.  While mainly focused on Brazilian zouk now, she shares her experiences in both solo and partner dancing.  We discuss her very busy travel schedule and how dancers pretty much end up with huge numbers of dancing friends.

The talented artist, dancer, programmer and now traveler Lydia joins us to discuss her recent journey to Cali, Colombia.  As it turns out, there are lots of types of salsa dance and music, and you can put cheese in pretty much anything.  Also, contrary to popular opinion, bachata is hard!

Send in your questions to [email protected] if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

Editor's note: the episode title was suggested by our guest!  Warren Chang, one of the most-traveled dancers in Richmond, VA, joins us to discuss his many journeys.  We discuss why there are reasons to go out-of-town for dance instruction, how work and dance sometimes go together, and useful tips for inexperienced dance congress attendees!  Hint: you don't have to do *everything.*

Send in your questions to [email protected] if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

Globe-trotting zouk instructor Anna Hoekstra joined us for a chat as her ~2.5 month residency in Richmond, VA came to a close.  We discuss her origins as a dancer, how she came to be a travelling instructor, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected hers (and everyone's) ability to teach and learn.  Other topics include how the make up of a community affects the amount of female leads, the differing styles and energies of different dancers, and an ~international~ round of rapid-fire questions.

As always, follow us @dancingatq on Instagram, and send your feedback or questions there or to [email protected] .

This special, post-practica roundtable-format episode features dancers from Richmond and Charlottesville, VA discussing some of the hard parts of being at a social dance event.  After the Elevation 2021 Zouk Festival, there was some lively online discussion about not being asked to dance and/or being turned down when asking for dances.  We cover numerous factors that go into linking up for dances at an event, including skill level, what sort of things people are looking for in a dance, familiarity with attendees, and roles.  Many thanks to everyone who lent their thoughts to this episode:  Anna Hoekstra, Peri Oxford, Will Russ, Warren Holly, Mimi Garcia-Otero, Daisy Banta, Molly Rae Pearl, and George Banko!

Today, we have a relative newcomer to Richmond's dance music scene - DJ Sid!  In addition to chatting about his discovery of Latin partner dances, we find out when and why he got started in DJing, traveling fairly long distances for weeknight dancing, the STEM and dance connection, and life as an introvert in the dance scene.  Our "spicy topics" section includes some discussion of dating within the dance scene (or even outside?).

Send in your questions to [email protected] if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

In this continuation of our previous episode, guest Alyssa DeRaymond turns the tables and interrogates your host.  We go into what motivations and goals I have with this podcast (seriously or not), what makes you a "dancer" and what people think that means.  After taking back control of the interview, we discuss the cultural differences in some of the groups she's been a part of, some of her favorite dance music, and a series of shout outs to her, um, idol.

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In today's episode, we chat with Alyssa DeRaymond about her long and varied journey through ballet, modern, salsa, bachata, and numerous other dances.  We also talk about how first impressions in dance might be a terrible way of deciding if you hate someone.  Make sure to view our special contract for this episode on Instagram!

Send in your questions to [email protected] if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!