Danser pour lutter contre l’exclusion | Chloé Louisin & Pauline Terestchenko | TEDxLaRochelle

Quick Overview

Chloé Louisin and Pauline Terestchenko successfully created Swag Outside, an association using dance to combat exclusion and build social cohesion among marginalized groups, including migrants, refugees, and those facing discrimination based on gender or origin, by providing accessible spaces for self-expression.

Key Points: Chloé Louisin grew up in a Christian Orthodox family with six children and was always told dancing was vulgar and that she had to find her place in the world. Pauline Terestchenko was raised in a context where expressing her body through dance was seen as inappropriate, leading her to feel confined and experience imposter syndrome. They founded Swag Outside in September 2020 after meeting in a shared apartment in Paris, aiming to create a space accessible to beginners. Swag Outside focuses on amplifying the voices and art of dancers from marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+, Afro, Latino, immigrant, refugee, and Guinean backgrounds. The organization operates through accessible dance classes in various locations, including community centers, the street, and in partnership with organizations like KaraColle. The duo emphasizes that dance is a universal language and a tool for social cohesion, allowing participants to reclaim their stories and express emotions without judgment. The presentation concluded with a dynamic performance involving the speakers and dancers, showcasing the joy and community built through their mission.

Context: Chloé Louisin and Pauline Terestchenko presented their initiative, Swag Outside, at a TEDxLaRochelle event. Their talk centered on how dance—specifically street styles like hip-hop and electro—became a powerful medium for them to overcome personal feelings of constraint, self-judgment, and exclusion, which were rooted in their differing upbringings (one religious/restrictive, the other feeling marginalized due to cultural background).

Detailed Analysis

Chloé Louisin shared that growing up in a Christian Orthodox family with six siblings meant she was discouraged from dancing, feeling that movement was vulgar and that she needed to 'find her place' in society. Pauline Terestchenko related, sharing that her upbringing made her feel constrained and that moving her body was considered improper, leading to imposter syndrome. They met in 2020 in a shared apartment in Paris and realized they shared a common desire to create a space for dance that was accessible to everyone, especially beginners who might feel intimidated. They founded the association Swag Outside to teach various dance styles, including Afro, Hip-Hop, and Electro, to marginalized communities. The project aims to give visibility and a platform to dancers from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+, Afro, Latino, immigrant, refugee, Guinean, and Chilean individuals. They emphasize that dance is a 'cement' for society and a political language for expressing emotions without fear of judgment, allowing people to reclaim their narratives. They have organized events in Paris, Marseille, and Rochelle, working with dancers from 23 different countries. The presentation concluded with the speakers and some of their associated dancers performing a routine on stage to celebrate the community and empowerment they foster.