A combination of Giulia's expertise in choreography with Val's academic background in gender and queer studies has resulted in acclaimed presentations at international conferences and daring performances that explore what else Latin DanceSport could be. Together, they blend artistic practice with academic inquiry.
Research focus
Giulia Settomini and Val Meneau have collaborated extensively on research and artistic projects that challenge the heteronormative gender binary in DanceSport.
Pioneering Queer Feminist Transformation in DanceSport
Together, they have presented alternative approaches to Latin dance at conferences in Berlin, Trieste, and Graz. A particular highlight was a lecture demonstration exploring the fluidity of lead and follow roles in dance, and another on desexualising Latin DanceSport. In 2022, they worked on a photo shoot in London with Nuno Sabroso that visualised queering DanceSport.
Never ones to shy away from disrupting the status quo, their work blends academic discourse with artistic practice, using choreographic creations, performances, and visual media to challenge traditional dance norms.
How did we meet?
Their partnership began when Val interviewed Giulia for their dissertation. It then developed into a productive collaboration combining Giulia’s expertise in choreography, teaching, and performance with Val’s academic research on gender in dance.
03/2024
Presentation at the conference ‘Creative Bodies – Creative Minds,’ in Graz, Austria: ‘Desexualising Latin American competitive dancing – critically choosing constraints to creativity in choreography-making’
10/2022
Lecture demonstration at the Centre against Discrimination of the University Trieste, Italy: ‘Samba, Rumba and Cha Cha Cha: beyond gender stereotypes’
09/2022
Lecture demonstration at the symposium ‘Danzas, bailes, género: Role perceptions and systems of knowledge in dance, music and society,’ German Society for Musicology, Berlin, Germany: ‘Switching between lead and follow: choreographic possibilities to challenge the heteronormative gender binary in DanceSport’