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 dancingquestions@gmail.com if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

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 dancingquestions@gmail.com 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 dancingquestions@gmail.com 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 dancingquestions@gmail.com .

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 dancingquestions@gmail.com!

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 dancingquestions@gmail.com 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. SMASH THAT FOLLOW BUTTON to get notifications for new episodes!  And follow us on Instagram @dancingatq for more news!

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 dancingquestions@gmail.com if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

In this episode, we sit down (virtually) with G. Allen.  Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, he began his dancing journey at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and has travelled extensively and trained in many styles.  Among the topics we cover are initial versus later motivations to keep dancing, favorite dances and songs, and being a mature adult when there are people you don't want to interact with in the community. Send in your questions to dancingquestions@gmail.com if you want us to cover any particular topics!  Follow us on Instagram (@dancingatq) for quick videos and pictures of our guests!

Janey Guillen of River City Rueda joins us to talk about the challenges of getting into dance as an introvert, sneaking into places while underage, and the joy of simple motions with a partner.  Also, getting kicked out from a venue after a performance for a mysterious convention.

In this misnomer of an episode, Daisy Banta of the Richmond Zouk community discusses her beginnings as a dancer while studying abroad in Brazil, overcoming a serious injury, and how dance helped bring a new joy (or perhaps fun?) to exercise and body movement.  Gerardo gets a little snobby about music education (his heart's in the right place), and we dig a little bit into why dancing is still a rather niche activity in the United States. Send over your thoughts and questions to Dancingquestions@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram @DancingAtQ !

In our first full interview, Mimi Garcia-Otero of the Richmond Latin Dance and Zouk communities shares her beginnings as an elementary school dance team reject over some wine and (sometimes extremely gooey) chocolate.  We discuss learning, favorite venues, pet peeves, and consent, among other topics in this extended conversation!  Please note - there is a story about inappropriate behavior from about 1:04 to 1:05; if you are not comfortable due to prior experiences, you may wish to skip past this segment. As always, send over your thoughts and questions to Dancingquestions@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram @DancingAtQ

This is the first episode of Dancing Around the Questions!  This interview-based podcast is all about the people in the world of social dance, from their beginnings as dancers to their current exploits.  We will also cover anything and everything related to the human experience in dance, including culture, languages, learning, and relationships. Your host, Gerardo, starts us off by quickly recapping his early days (which weren't so early) at William & Mary's (award-winning) Salsa Club, and several other points along the way to settling down in Richmond, Virginia. Send us your comments, questions, stories and even interview requests to dancingquestions@gmail.com !  We'll try to include you in future episodes!  Follow us on Instagram at DancingAtQ for releases and other news!