Event Recap:
Thank you to everyone who attended our Where Fatphobia Lives event, presented by Rae Studios’ More Than Movement. Words cannot express how grateful we were for this insightful discussion about the ways fatphobia lives within us and how we can address fatphobia in the dance and fitness spaces. Thank you to all of our panelists and our moderator for volunteering their time to speak about this important topic. We look forward to hosting more conversations like these in the future! To learn more about this topic, visit our More Than Movement Resources Page.
Moderated by Taylor Washington (she/they), our panelists engaged in a discussion about body image journeys, definitions and historical context of fatphobia, education in the classroom, and their vision for what dance and fitness spaces could look like. Watch the full conversation below:
Watch the full video here!
Timestamps:
0:00 - 8:11: Opening
8:11 - 23:46: Panelist and Moderator Introductions
23:47 - 53:12: Relationship with the Body
53:13 - 1:13:15: Education
1:13:16 - 1:39:55: Vision
Highlights:
“When you start to recognize the historical context behind it [fatphobia] and really start to gather that educational piece from it, then you can make it a little more personal for yourself… there are things about you that are beautiful.” - Diamond Jarrell (she/her)
“Bodies moving to music is glorious, it’s the best thing ever.” - Jordan Singletary (she/her)
“Fat is life at the most basic level… Fat is everything, it’s essential” - Solasta McIntyre Ethridge (they/them)
“Without fat, we wouldn’t be alive right now.” - Adam Hameed (he/him)
“Regardless of your body size, regardless of your past experience, it’s always important to treat everyone with the same respect and treat everyone as if they’re there for the first time but still motivate and move them further.” - Jessica Rae (she/her)
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Credits:
Our Panelists:
Adam Hameed (he/him): @askcoachadam
Diamond Jarrell (she/her) @dia.mondgenesis
Jessica Rae (she/her): @jraesf
Jordan Singletary (she/her): @ohlordyitsjordy
Solasta McIntyre Ethridge (they/them): @solasta_mcintyre_ethridge
Our Moderator:
Taylor Washington (she/they): @xotaylorrae
Event Staff: Lexi (she/her) and Kristie (she/her) of the More Than Movement Committee for hosting the event
Operations Team: Jessica (she/her), Kevin (he/him), and Andy (he/him) behind the scenes
-Past Event Information-
What are the ways fatphobia lives within us, and how does that translate to the way we educate our students and ourselves about movement? This event is intended to bring fat into the conversation of embodiment practices and educate how fat is a resource for energy, power, and creativity.
Moderator: Taylor Washington (she/they)
Panelists: Adam Hameed (he/him), Diamond Jarrell (she/her), Jessica Rae (she/her), Jordan Singletary (she/her), Solasta McIntyre (they/them)
IG: @xotaylorrae, @askcoachadam, @dia.mondgenesis, @jraesf, @ohlordyitsjordy, @solasta_mcintyre_ethridge
Zoom Link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 833 1738 8399
Passcode: 412900
About the event: The purpose of this event is to educate Rae Studios’ instructors and the larger Rae Studios community about how conversations around fatphobia are crucial in any space where people work with bodies. We aim to educate on inclusive language, best practices for modifications, and shifting our mindset about how we see fat.
Date: Saturday, May 21st, 2022 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm PT
Location: Online livestream via ZOOM
Hosted by the More Than Movement Committee. Learn more about their work.
Tickets: Register on Eventbrite About Our Panelists:
Adam Hameed (he/him) is a Personal Trainer/Online Coach from Manchester, United Kingdom. After working in the fitness industry for over a decade, Adam has a multitude of experience working with people from regaining strength post cancer treatment/strokes to athletes wanting to win championships.
Adam has a successful presence across multiple social media platforms trying to create impact by calling out BS in the fitness industry and always challenging people to think differently and be the best version of themselves.
Since the start of her tenure at Rae Studios as a Studio Host, Diamond Jarrell (she/her) has also begun her dance journey. From taking classes like Beginner Hip Hop, Pop Jam, Brazilian Pop and more she has grown a love for dance as well as a passion for creating an inclusive environment where everyone can feel comfortable and be their most confident selfs.
As a Black trans woman, she strives everyday to push the barrier of what is normal or conventional and do whatever it takes to live happily and in her truth. In the world of art, she considers herself to be a jack of all trades having experience in drawing, painting, printmaking and most recently make-up, fashion and dance. Over the course of the past few years since discovering her trans identity, Diamond has dealt with body dysmorphia and it was a big challenge to overcome as a dancer. Overtime dance has helped her to realize her femininity and really helped her to find her sexy, something she believes every woman should be allowed to experience.
Jessica Rae (she/her) is a Filipino business owner and educator around dance, fitness and entrepreneurship. She is the founder and CEO of Rae Model & Talent Agency LLC and Rae Studios, a brick and mortar dance studio and talent agency in downtown San Francisco, California. Jessica is a graduate from San Francisco State University with a BA in Speech and Communications.
Her career as a fitness and dance teacher started at an early age with Crunch gym and later furthered her education as a group fitness teacher with her AFAA, First Aid and CPR certification. Her emphasis includes cardio dance, CIZE Live, pound pro, barre, kickboxing and dance choreography. Her preferred dance styles are commercial work inspired by jazz funk, latin dance and hip hop culture. Jessica has been seen teaching weekly and popup classes for companies/brands like Gap/Athleta HQ, Bay Club, Studiomix, Crunch Gym, PAAM Arts Academy, Francisco Middle School, DaretoBare, William Sonoma, Airbnb, Facebook, Lorna Jane, Lucy, Marriott. In addition to her teaching background, Jessica has also been seen dancing for celebrity artists like Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Kid Rock, E-40 and Too Short.
Currently Jessica teaches weekly at Rae Studios and Equinox. Check out her weekly classes in: Barre, Cardio Dance, Kickboxing and Commercial Dance Styles.
Jordan Singletary (she/her) is a powerhouse of versatility and passion. After high school, she spent 4 years on NBA’s Phoenix Suns pro dance team and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad. The experience allowed her to travel overseas, choreograph routines, and host live game entertainment. She proceeded to acquire her 200 hr yoga certification and dove deeply into the philosophies and benefits of yoga. She now teaches dance and yoga classes in the Bay Area. She blends her background of dance and yoga into artfully articulated classes. In any style class, students will expect to be challenged in a safe, supportive, and uplifting environment. Guiding others on how to get out of their heads, and into their bodies.
Solasta McIntyre Ethridge (they/them) is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of CA. They received their Masters in Clinical Counseling and Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. They specialize in trans-affirming trauma-informed care for perfectionists, overachievers, and overthinkers. Through their own personal recovery experience and professional work in ED treatment centers, they have gained a wealth of knowledge about disordered eating, body shame, and internalized white supremacy. They are also a member of the Fed Up Collective: a Trans and Intersex Eating Disorder Advocacy organization where they provide trainings and consultation. In 2016 they founded a dance organization - No Mirror Movement whose mission is to get dancers out of the mirror and back into their bodies. With nearly three decades worth of experience in dance, performance, and teaching, they are passionate about making dance accessible to everyone and provide consultation and training to fitness, dance, and production companies. They run a queer artist collective called Rainbow Connection Club and live between NY and California.
To follow their work join their monthly(ish) mailing list at www.fullandplentyjoy.com
To work with them contact them at hello@fullandplentyjoy.com
Tickets: Register on Eventbrite Zoom Link Here | Meeting ID: 833 1738 8399 | Passcode: 412900Date: Saturday, May 21st, 2022 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm PT
Location: Online livestream via ZOOM
Ticketing is a donations based only system
Hosted by the More Than Movement Committee. Learn more about their work.
Registration and proof of vaccination are required for this event.
Eventbrite: https://wherefatphobialives.eventbrite.com
Tickets: Register on Eventbrite Tickets: Register on EventbriteZoom Link Here | Meeting ID: 833 1738 8399 | Passcode: 412900