Tudor Sirbu is the teacher behind Sheffield Bachata Collective, a dance school that puts core values front and centre in its mission to provide quality bachata classes and events. Guided by Inclusivity, Respect and Growth, SBC is committed to actively teaching their values by welcoming and celebrating all dancers, handling inappropriate behaviour with respect and transparency and educating dancers on all aspects of social dancing. In this conversation Tudor shares with us how Bachata Sheffield Collective has developed their values and how embodying these may look in action, both from the perspective of a teacher and also on the social dance floor.
What to expect in this episode:
(01:01) - Trying out salsa and bachata
(03:24) - The inspiration behind Bachata Sheffield Collective
(04:38) - Sharing expectations regularly from Day 1
(08:01) - What is a safer dance space?
(10:27) - A teacher’s responsibility in lessons
(14:20) - Safer spaces + inclusivity at SBC
(15:37) - Dealing with an inappropriate touch in lessons
(19:22) - A transparent approach to dealing with bad behaviour
(20:57) - A bachata teacher is also an educator, not just a dance teacher
(23:09) - Cross pollinating the dance scene with higher expectations

About Tudor Sirbu
Tudor Sirbu has been an active member of the bachata scene for over 8 years, starting out in Sheffield and Nottingham. He is always looking to improve his skills both as a dancer and teacher through training in the UK and internationally, seeking out people who have inspired him through their perspective on dancing or on their impact on the dance community. After completing his Role Rotation instructor certification, Tudor set up Sheffield Bachata Collective, an exciting new space for lessons and parties in Sheffield.
About Sheffield Bachata Collective
Set up in 2024 by Tudor Sirbu, Sheffield Bachata Collective is a dance school with a difference - before even welcoming its first students through the door, Sheffield Bachata Collective has shared and celebrated its 3 core values that are guiding it right from the start: Inclusivity, Respect, Growth. Through these values it seeks to create a safer dance space that welcomes everyone equally, promotes transparency and accountability within the dance scene and celebrates the differences that make us who we are.
Connect with Tudor Sirbu & Sheffield Bachata Collective
Instagram Sheffield Bachata Collective: https://www.instagram.com/sheffieldbachatacollective/
Instagram Tudor: https://www.instagram.com/tu

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
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