Hey dancers! This episode is a call to action: follows are not passive passengers, social dancing isn’t a one-way street and toxic masculinity is tiring AF. From the old dance tropes of “dance dummies,” and the idea of “don’t think, just follow,” the dance world has a lot to unpack. Treating follows like props is just the tip of the iceberg—and it fosters the darker, more psychologically and physically unsafe elements of dance spaces for some, especially women. We dig into how follows co-create the dance, why so many leads default to control of female bodies, and what true collaboration can feel like when both partners bring their full artistry to the dance. Lou gets into the Euro roots of partner dance, how patriarchy shaped the roles we inherited, and what’s shifting as dance communities face their own #MeToo movements. More and more people are speaking out—including our hero, Frankie Martinez (mentioned in this episode), one of the few men in the scene calling for change. This conversation is for everyone who cares about social dance—and we hope it inspires more men to start listening and speaking up too. Let’s go!

5, 6, 7, 8!

Hey dancers! In this episode we dive into what it really feels like to social dance as a genderqueer or queer person — the joy, the tension, the resistance, and the magic. We unpack how traditional partner dancing often reinforces binary roles, and what it means to disrupt that system just by showing up in our full, fluid selves. From the awkwardness of being miscast into “leader” or “follower” roles to the liberation of queering the dance floor, we explore how queerness can expand, reimagine, and even heal dance spaces. We also talk about how to create intentional, affirming environments where all bodies, all expressions, and all identities can move freely. Because queerness doesn’t just fit into dance — it transforms it. Let’s get into it.5, 6, 7, 8!

Hey dancers! In this episode, we're diving into somatics—what it is, how it differs from traditional dance training, and why it’s such a powerful tool for reconnecting with your body, soul and wider community! We share personal stories from our own therapeutic and somatic journeys, reflecting on how these practices have helped us push back against hustle culture and rediscover a more grounded, sustainable relationship with movement.

We also unpack how somatics invites us to move from sensation instead of shape—and how that shift can make dance more accessible, more human, and more meaningful. This episode is a reminder that dance isn’t just for the “technically trained” - it’s for anyone with a body and a desire to move. It’s not about how good you look; it’s about how deeply you feel. Also for anyone interested in books to read instead of The Body Keeps The Score, which is very traumatic to read and written by an abuser, check out: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Daniel Maté and Gabor Maté, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, or literally anything by Bell Hooks to name a few💕

Hey dancers! Welcome back to The Degender Dance Podcast.In this episode, we’re diving into a big, messy, important conversation: what it means to be white dancers running a dance business centered around African diaspora partner dance forms. Spoiler alert—it’s complicated, and yes, it’s problematic.We’re talking about whiteness, cultural appropriation, accountability, privilege, and what it means to be in integrity with the communities and histories these dances come from.We don’t have all the answers, but we’re ready to get uncomfortable.So if you’re into unpacking hard stuff with honesty and care—tune in.5, 6, 7, 8!

Hey dancers! Welcome to The Degender Dance Podcast. This whole thing actually started in Lou’s Subaru—after dance class, talking for hours- we figured why not hit record! In this little intro episode, you can get to know your hosts—Kate and Lou. We’re dance buddies who love talking about gender, movement, queerness, dismantling the patriarchy, and all the weird stuff in between. You’ll hear how we met, what we’re into, and probably a few tangents along the way. 5,6,7,8!