TED 38 | Are you willing to risk leaving dangerous people on the dance floor? with Jason Potell

The Empowered Dancers Podcast

How do you protect dancers across the SBK scene? You take their safety into account when planning your event. You talk about safety at your event. You give people knowledge about how to keep themselves safe. You take their experiences seriously when talking to them. That outdated line of “If I don’t hear about it, I can pretend it didn’t happen” is not going to cut it anymore - Jason Potell has been an active part of safer spaces for over 20 years and has combined his work and learning in that space with the dance space: his events in LA are attract less inappropriate behaviour. Why is that? Because he takes safety seriously. Isn’t it time everyone did?
What to expect in this episode:
(01:06) From Michael Jackson, to swing, to salsa!
(03:00) Reports of abuse + misconduct: there is something different in the water this time
(08:08) Safer spaces overlapping with dance spaces
(09:59) The role of Safer Dance Spaces for organisers
(13:22) How Jason and his team protect his attendees: from getting safely to your car to reporting inappropriate behaviour during the event
(14:38) Zero tolerance MEANS ZERO TOLERANCE
(16:29) How Jason deals with false reports - erring on the side of safety
(23:53) Safety beyond the dance floor - it permeates the lives of everyone
(27:19) It’s hard to hold people accountable
(30:42) Moving from conversations to action: surround yourself with people who are trying
(33:42) Organiser or social dancer - vote with your feet and your money
About Jason Potell
Jason Potell been dancing for around 25 years, as well as being a part of safer spaces conversations for about the same amount of time. In terms of style, Jason dips into a little bit of everything: from swing to salsa even. Jason spent many years as a full time instructor and organiser, and as a result of the COVID pandemic, Jason, like all teachers in affected countries, took a step back. Now Jason is back to running the Melty Micro microfusion event, and teaches and DJs around LA. Also a big board gamer, singer and movie enthusiast and safety is a core value that permeates all aspects of Jason’s life.
Connect with Jason
https://www.facebook.com/fuseandmuse

Connect with Safer Dance Spaces:
https://www.instagram.com/saferdancespaces/

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 boundaries, 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
Practice saying NO on the dance floor: empowereddancers.com/no
Connect with Bobbie Miles
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast
Find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8pcAq9lXttVf9w9lDb1bQ?sub_confirmation=1