Trying to get the most from a title sorry,

Question is there such a dearth of talent within the British coloured community that there is no professional coloured dancers ?

and 2 nd to the teachers out there, where are the coloured kids taking up ballroom and latin hardly ever see coloured kids in any pics for ballroom dancing ?

Just curious

There aren't that many Brits of any colour among the pros. 😉

I remember seeing an Asian last year in the troupe

They're all in the US, Canada and Europe. I think those places are far more open and inclusive that the British ballroom scene.

I wonder if one of the ballroom people on this forum can explain why?

My Raison d'être

They have introduced more Brits Neil Jones, AJ and Chloe but yes only ever having one Black pro dancer in 12 years is sad.

of course there are black dancers in the UK - but not many that compete to a high level, just as there are no International Latin/Ballroom champs from the likes of Mexico or Brazil etc etc

I take exception that the British are not inclusive - can only give our school as an example we are inner city and in multicultural area we have kids from many different backgrounds many black kids dance ballroom and latin in the school but not many of them compete in this style - if they want to compete many choose other forms partly on cost and partly on preference, we have very few pupils from an Asian background as the types of dance they like we do not cover.

In the States can think of many many brilliant black dancers but not in ballroom and latin mainly in other styles particularly stage, hip hop, contemporary and tap

Agree - and the fabulous and beautiful Oti is South African and has competed in both World and European championships, as well as spending a lot of time training, dancing and living in Germany!

I rest my case.

South Africa has a big dance scene and has done for many years have many friends who travel out there regularly to teach, notable South African dancers besides Oti, Brian Watson (Karen Hardy's ex partner and world champ with Carmen) Nicole Cutler

Germany has nothing at all to do with Oti's dancing other than she lives there Her and Keo were latin champions when they were living in South Africa and more than likely trained by British teachers

Bendy I know we have spoken before on this subject then you mentioned the cost , seems such a shame , hope other dance teachers can join in and give some idea's also and if anything can be done to change the situation

I hope Oti goes far and can become a spur for some coloured kids to get more involved

The BBC has a policy of giving every opportunity for "inclusion," to all non whites in any field of TV.

If there were more non-white dancers of an adequate professional standard then the balance in Strictly would not be as it is.

Perhaps ballroom isn't "street" enough for a lot of non-white kids?

But you have just listed the reasons why the British scene isn't inclusive.

Surely if someone in the British ballroom scene recognises that it isn't happening for Black and Asian students, than something, including help towards costs, should be done.

Actually that simply can't be true , not least because Oti has 2 sisters that previously competed in the South African SCD. If they wanted to fill a quota they were available for years and I remember Oti saying both had hoped to come to the Uk and be on SCD, that she was delighted she had finally been chosen

However, setting aside Oti's family SCD is filmed world wide, whilst I do appreciate that differing dance styles are used, Argentina anyone , the basis is still a Latin and ballroom based show.

The Beeb seems to have no problem employing someone only proficient in one style of dance so why not bring in more ethnic minorities?

Cost does just not affect black kids - it affects all kids and puts many off competing, only a tiny percentage of those who learn to dance compete.

I do not think it is a question of the dance scene not being inclusive to be honest the whole subject makes me uneasy and to suggest it is because of kids are not being encouraged in the UK because of their colour is wrong -and to me offensive as i have said a lot of it is preference there are many many black dancers competing in the UK just not in ballroom and latin

How do you make kids prefer Ballroom and Latin?? in the dance competitive scene in the UK ballroom and latin probably has the least amount of kids of any colour dancing there are a vast amount of black dancers in the uk competing - they just don't choose to do it in ballroom and latin

Why do we have to go down to quotas for a dance show ??? it is simple world wide the vast majority of professionnal ballroom and latin dancers are white yes there are black professionals like Oti her sisters etc Oti is a great dancer and deserves her place on SCD through her dance skills would hate to see dancers picked to fill a quota and not on their skill.

It might be to do with culture more than colour. I don't have any insight into the teaching of ballroom or ballet as a profession. My perception (possibly wrong) is that these are the dance styles that tend to be commericaly taught by full time professionals.

However when it comes to the part time, semi professional end of the market there are plenty of teachers of Afro Caribbean origin who earn some part of their income from dance teaching. Most of the people who taught me salsa over the years were black (predominantly males).

My hunch is that the majority of dance teaching taking place is of the more informal - salsa or lindyhop class in a local pub or church hall than the more formal studio lead professional businesses.

Another aspect that might be germain to this discussion is my experience as a teaching assistant for Argentine Tango. (Something I do informally as a hobby). We have students of all nationalities come to our classes.

Many of the Afro Caribbeans I know from salsa have tried it at some time or another. However very few stick at it. They tell me the music doesn't do it for them and they get bored. Salsa in common with other Latin American music has that visceral beat driving it. It's like a heart beat and is intrinsically rhythmic (much is built on ancient African drum rhythmns). This seems to be the appeal for many of me friends of (more recent) African origin.

Argentine Tango does have a beat of course and so does the music of the Waltz, Foxtrot etc but they are quite different. It seems to me that European styles of music that underpin ballroom dances and that these tend not to be based on the gutsy drum riff that appeals to many of my salsa teaching friends. I am generalising of course.

Edit in italics - Actually now I come to reflect absolutely none of them have stuck it. Including my own 'dance partner' who I have tried to engage in AT many, many times.

agree much of it is preference - a latin adult class at the school is much more mixed than a ballroom one, salsa crosses all ethnic groups and ages

Well said Bendymixer. There are some people who would see all our lives proscribed and regulated. Let things develop - not everybody wants to do everything.

Delighted to have Oti who is totally incredible.

Of course it's true!

South Africa is a predominantly "black" country, so their line-up of Strictly will reflect more the balance of the population.

For the BBC to go to the lengths of including a Black South African dancer, when there should be no end of equally or more talented European dancers available, is more a reflection of the availability of suitable non-white dancers.

What is sad really , no one is saying I am wrong, or we have this girl or boy coming along who could breakthrough.

spot on

I don't want quotas, but would like to see a black male professional in the future. Don't care which country they come from.
Every year among the contestants they are Black, mixed race and Asian contestants. Some have won and some have reached the final.

What do you mean you don't want quotas?
It'd be the only way to achieve it.

Well I hope that if a black male dancer of the required standard is available he will be considered.