Insight: Dancing & Ableism

A special dancing insight against prejudice & discrimination.

This article is linked with my dancing awareness feature "Embrace Dancing" and was orginally created for supporting Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day

Please note this article is written from my personal perspective. Although the information is mainly related to Latin dancing environments, some of the examples can apply to any dancing and music environments.

INTRODUCTION
Dancing is a positive, expressive and active environment which everyone should be able to do without barriers.

BACKGROUND
I have been dancing casually for a long time and have been active in Latin-related dancing as an activity for over a decade. Also, I became a participant in these environments for nearly a decade including being a volunteer and providing positive solutions for events like Motion City, Latinmotion NYE Fest. In addition, I also take part regularly in classes in the local community with "Salsa with Pauline", where I'm also in charge of marketing.

Back in 2022, I was honoured to be part of a community campaign for Birmingham City Council to celebrate the city's legacy since hosting the Commonwealth Games.

However, there is an unpleasant barrier which not only gets in the way not only for me but for others with hidden related difficulties. This is related to perceptive prejudice, ableism and discrimination.

This can occur during learning during classes or workshops. This also applies to taking part in social dancing, parties, festivals and dancing conventions.

As I am involved in latin dancing environments, I have observed, within recent years, a greater layer of unspoken expectations. Too many times I have seen too many times with an old-fashioned expectation that unless you are an average or a quicker learner, you are not only discredited but also a negative liability to others.

Though my experiences are unless you can progress your dancing through different dance levels within the average pace then you can be socially left behind. I have experienced this along with social separation which has affected my presence in these environments.

Some dancing steps and movements are harder than others regardless of what dancing levels you are at at classes and workshops. Also, for visual learners and those who suffer from short-term memory difficulties, it can be extra tough. This means a person needs extra time to master dance moves compared to an average person.


At parties, festivals and conventions
In these environments, it can be very competitive and very pressuring to survive the social environment. Especially if certain attendees are regarded as more desirable and appealing than others social as charisma, sense of humour as well and positive ratings for their dancing abilities

In a dancing environment which is made by leaders & followers, the pressure is on the men. Not only do they have to be able to lead well with a follower partner who is traditionally a woman, but they can memorise the dance steps, which might be harder for some with hidden differences if the pace of learning can be too fast with cramming too much on what is expected to learn. At parties, festivals and conventions, the pressures escalate for men to memorise a variety of dance moves, which must be impressive and not boring or predictable. As a tradition of men approaching women to dance, unless a man appears confident in dancing and socially, a man can be divided and excluded which can damage a person's motivation levels and presence

Changes since the pandemic
Since the worldwide pandemic, I have observed a massive change in the past few years in other people's attitudes and patient levels (except for the dancing environment in local communities). I have also noticed and experienced a change in society's mindset, which has affected the majority of the Latin dancing environment with negative implications.

At classes, if you are seen struggling in classes, then you are likely to be rejected not just for asking to dance but also socially.


Despite my involvement in Latin dancing as an activity for a decade, I have been given an unpleasant wake-up call recently with an increasing lack of acceptance in the past 12 to 18 months not just dancing and socially. I've experienced being socially divided and was forced to be socially engaged much less compared to other people. This has been due to the rejection of dancing requests at social parties and rejections. Rejection also applies when attempting to be socially engaged. This has disrupted my dancing motivation. This has forced me to leave parties and social dancing after classes much earlier. I felt that I was constantly pressured to be mentally quicker with my presence, including timing, approaching to request a woman to dance with and to socially engage with people. I would face marginalisation and low dancing motivation if I didn't follow my quicker mindset guidelines. This also occurs more often when I've been seeing on my own for too long and not able to form a social circle and when I face constant rejection.

In certain environments, I faced aggressive threats from male dancers who lacked spatial awareness and used up too much dance floor when dancing with a partner. What makes it worse is that I don't have to be too close to a particular dancing couple before receiving shouting threats from certain men in this matter. This example can damage anyone's dancing confidence.

My observation of the changing social climate has damaged my ability to dance in these social environments with confidence because of constantly being marginalised and excluded. However, this worsened at a New Year event into 2024 (at which I volunteered) when I received insulting ableist remarks against my intelligence at a dancing class. The situation worsened at the same event when I was constantly socially sidelined and alienated.

I feel the culture of ableism and one-sided perceptions and expectations in dancing have gone too far. People need to think carefully about the negative implications when we constantly divide others based on social vanity and perceptions of dancing environments.


THE CONSEQUENCES
If we do not pay attention to how we judge and treat others, then we could have a culture of discouraging individuals, including those with neurological difficulties (and those who experience anxiety), to dance less or not be viable in dancing environments. This means a person with difficulties is undervalued and is made to feel out of sight and out of mind.



WHAT HAS TO CHANGE
Attendees need to stop defining a person against their difficulties and stop making quick judgments about a person's ability. Also, event participants need to be responsive to prevent and reduce negative prejudice and ableism.

Don't be perceptive if you notice a person's difficulties, and do not exclude, marginalise, reject dancing and socialise with them.

Men Attendees
Don't take advantage of men with hidden difficulties by deliberately pulling a woman away they are engaging in.
Be spatial and more aware when dancing with a partner and never behave aggressively towards other men, related to dancing spaces.

Women attendees
Be more supportive and less judgemental when a male with hidden differences is present. This includes if they might be struggling in classes. Also, be less perceptive of a man's request to dance and try to be socially engaging.

All attendees
Some people may be more fortunate to have a social circle than others. This does not mean we should reject and exclude those who have a limited or no social circle. As mentioned, do not take advantage of their presence.

Teacher & event leaders
Be more supportive and discourage any type of discrimination and ableism. This means intervening when necessary and encouraging attendees to change how they judge a person if they live with specific difficulties.

STEPS FORWARD

Attendees
Be patient and encouraging at classes, workshops, and social parties.
See a person beyond their difficulties
Be welcoming and appreciating
Offer help if needed, especially if the person is struggling or a situation has occurred which forced a person to pull out of a class

Look out if an attendee has pulled out if they are made to pull out. It is very important not to divide a person if they are struggling to follow.

If the other attendee is struggling or is avoiding certain moves as it is too much never make any type of ableist or offensive remarks against their intelligence.

Teachers
Always Remind all students in classes to be supportive of some classes are struggling
Spend time with an attendee who may struggle

Everyone
Make sure to encourage others to approach to dance with those who might feel discouraged due to lack of a social circle or being made to dance much less.

FINAL POINT
A person with hidden differences along with other invisible disabilities should be able to dance equally without ableism, prejudice and rejection

Written by Keith Mckenzie
Click here to discover more about me

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