Is partner dancing losing its roots? What happens when we stop caring or asking about where a dance came from?
This week, we're joined by Dave Harris for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've had on the podcast. We dive into the intersections of dance, culture, history, identity, and what it really means to create an “inclusive place” - not just in theory, but in actual practice.
This isn't a surface-level conversation. It's an invitation to get curious on why there aren’t enough people of color in dance, challenge assumptions, and think more deeply about the future of fusion dance.
What we talk about in this episode:
1) Why aren't more people of color in partner dance?
The barriers that often go unseen.
Why saying "everyone is welcome" is *not* always enough.
Practical ways organizers and communities can create spaces where more people genuinely feel they belong.
2) Why dance, cooking, writing, and even sex have more in common than you think
3) When does fusion become colonial without organizers & teachers realizing it?
A thoughtful discussion on cultural exchange versus cultural extraction.
Why intention matters - but education matters too.
How honoring history can actually make us better dancers and humans
What gets lost when we separate a dance from the culture that helped shape it.
4) The hidden mental load of being "the only one"
What it's like to walk into a room where you're the minority.
The invisible emotional labor many dancers carry before they even step onto the dance floor.
Why belonging is about far more than receiving an invitation.
How empathy begins by listening to experiences different from our own.
5) Questions every dance community should be asking:
This conversation may challenge you. It may make you uncomfortable in moments. And honestly? That's okay.
Some of the most meaningful growth happens when we're willing to stay curious instead of becoming defensive.
Whether you're a dancer, teacher, DJ, organizer, or someone who simply cares about building a stronger dance scene, we hope this episode sparks important and much needed conversations.
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