The Round Table
The Social Media Talks: the voices of the bachata community, live at one table.
And this year, you decide who takes the mic.
Eight voices, one table, no filters
Every year, the Round Table brings the community into one room to debate the things we usually only discuss in hallways and WhatsApp groups. After "How to Create a Better Dance Scene Together" and "Bachata in Motion: Trends & Challenges in the Bachata scene", this edition is The Social Media Talks: the voices you follow online, live at one table.
Eight speakers and a moderator take the topics that move our scene and debate them openly, with no scripts and no untouchables. And the table is bigger than the stage: raise your hand, take the mic, and jump into the conversation at any moment.
What is on the table?
We leave the topics open on purpose. The final themes take shape once we know who is sitting at the table, and the audience brings its own questions on the day. One thing is guaranteed: the conversations the scene is already having, out loud.
This year, you build the panel
Until now, we picked the speakers. From this edition, half the table belongs to the community: you apply, you vote, you decide who represents you. The other half is invited by the organization to keep the table balanced.
Community seats
Chosen by public vote. Anyone can apply, everyone can vote: the most voted candidates take a seat at the table.
Invited artists
Hand-picked by the organization to balance the table: different roles, scenes, and points of view.
Moderator
Keeps the conversation flowing, fair, and on time. And makes sure the audience gets the mic too.
Voting is one ballot per person: pick up to 3 candidates, and the three with the most votes are in.
How it works
Small schedule update: preparing the ballot took a little longer than planned, so voting runs from 15 July to 29 July and the panel is announced on 12 August.
Apply to speak
17 June - 28 June
Tell us who you are and what you would bring to the table. Creator, activist, community builder, teacher, DJ, organizer: if your voice moves the community, this is your seat.
We prepare the ballot
29 June - 14 July
We review the applications and prepare the candidate list. If there are more candidates than a ballot can hold, we curate a balanced shortlist, and we say so openly.
The community votes
1 - 12 July15 July - 29 July
Vote for up to 3 candidates on Kadens. One ballot per person, and every vote counts the same.
Meet the panel
15 July12 August
The five most voted candidates join the invited artists and the moderator. See you at the table on 10 October.
The panel is set
You voted, and the five community seats are taken. Join us at the table on Saturday 10 October at 14:00 in Salle K.
Open to everyone in the bachata community. Voting needs a free Kadens account: that is what keeps it one ballot per person.
Questions? Email info@bachatagenevafestival.com
Meet the panel
Voted in by the community, from 1,054 ballots. See you at the table.
The community seats
Chosen by public vote
You turned out in numbers we did not expect, and the support was spread across far more voices than three seats could hold. So we grew the table: all five community seats go to the most voted candidates. Thank you to everyone who stood, and to everyone who voted.
See all 12 candidates who stood
Pierre Henry
London, United Kingdom
Bachata Dinosaur
21 years experience as a Bachata dancer, teacher, DJ, and musician.
@BachataAddictUK
Demi Alvanis
London, United Kingdom
Calisthenics & bodyweight movement expert
I would like to bring an essential perspective around bodily health and safety to Geneva. Most professional and social dancers do not recover or train properly, let alone at all. Individually, we struggle with injury and joint pain, and within our dancing, it affects our spatial awareness and understanding of our body. The subject deserves to be spoken about on the biggest platform, from the shoes we wear to our training routines.
@demi.bars
Iman Anwar
London, United Kingdom
Dancer, Teacher & Organiser
My journey has never been defined by where I started, but by the choices I made along the way. Choosing authenticity over expectation, love over fear, and purpose over comfort has shaped both my life and career. I would love to share a story that reminds others their greatest strength is not where they begin, it is having the courage to become who they are meant to be.
@imxnanwxr
Dennis Nedelko
Kyiv, Ukraine
Uniting people through dance, even in the toughest times
Since 2017, I have built one of Ukraine’s largest Bachata and Salsa festivals, founded the Federation of Latin American Dances, and helped unite the dance community through challenging times. I bring firsthand experience in community building, event growth, and social media impact. I believe our scene grows strongest through collaboration, authenticity, and creating real value both online and on the dance floor.
@dennisnedelko
Sibel Caglayan
Tampere, Finland
Safer, inclusive & equal spaces advocate
Our dance scene does not exist in a vacuum. As the world around us evolves, so do the expectations we bring into our communities. Since 2022, I have been advocating for safer, more equal and inclusive dance spaces. I have already seen how conversations can lead to real change, and I would love to sit down and explore where our dance community goes from here. The future is inevitable. The exciting part is that we get to shape it.
@thequeenchataOur invited artists
Artists invited by the organization
Becky Devia
United States
Social dancer, social media, and social context lover
I want to encourage dancers to stay curious about context in the dance world, and to remember that there are realities beyond their own. Dance can be learned, interpreted and expressed, like so many things in life, in countless ways, but sometimes things get lost in transit, and preferences or styles begin to be treated as absolutes. I believe there’s beauty in understanding the intention behind what we see, teach and feel, and in improving communication within a culture we’re all trying to be part of. With more context, dancers can move through the dance world with more kindness while choosing what is meant for them.
@beckydevia
Gatica
Barcelona, Spain
Artist, Rule-Bender & Advocate for Freedom in Dance
I want to empower dancers to embrace their individuality, freedom and artistic expression, and to dare to explore, evolve and create their own path. What motivates me the most is inspiring women to take ownership of their dance, their expression and their voice, instead of simply fitting into roles that have traditionally been given to us. I want us to protect the dance floor as a safe space for creativity, vulnerability and emotion, where people dare to explore, challenge and create something of their own.
@by_gatica
Samy El Mágico
Troyes, France
Culture & Roots
I come to this table to speak for the culture and the roots. Bachata is living a great moment, and I want to celebrate that while defending the Dominican culture it was born from: its history, its sound, its way of feeling the music. Evolution is part of any living dance, and I welcome it, but it means so much more when we know and respect where it all comes from.
@samyelmagicoAt the head of the table
Keeps the conversation moving, and makes sure the audience gets the mic
Eva
Geneva, Switzerland
Artist
We are all artists, and we all have the power to create the community that we want. But what is it that we want, actually? This is what we will explore together. Half human rights lawyer, half dancer, I’ll make sure to be a tactful devil’s advocate. Don’t expect simple solutions to complex problems. Expect an open conversation from different perspectives, and from that shared vision we can create change, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
The community seats are for the voices of the community: content creators, activists, community builders, commentators, teachers, DJs, organizers. You do not need a huge following, you need something to say and to represent the community in a good way. Applications are open to everyone, whether or not you have a festival pass yet.
Take part
Your scene, your voices
The Round Table only works because people show up with opinions. Apply, vote, or just come and say what you think: the table is yours too.