Ina Vandebroek: Salsa Dancer

(Typewriter typing) - [Instructor] Music time, one, two, three five, six, seven.

- Salsa dancing is something where you're no longer a researcher.

You're a woman.

(upbeat music) And, of course, as a researcher I'm very used to taking the lead.

Whereas in salsa, as a woman, you have to be submissive.

You have to follow.

- Remember you're supposed to let the guy do everything.

- Our main teacher, his name is Eddie.

He was dancing with me and he said to me, "no, no, not this way, young lady" "Now I'm gonna lead you."

So I was like, okay, I tried but after a while I start to lead myself again and he says "no, no, mommy, not like this."

"I am the boss here.

You're my woman."

"You follow me, okay?"

I love that.

- What you're doing is a regular turn.

That's it.

I do everything else.

No, I do everything else.

- Now, as a scientist, you have to be neutral.

You have to be critical.

You have to be analytical.

So I feel salsa dancing taps into my emotional side versus the rational side.

And I love being rational.

It feels good being rational.

When I'm in the field, I always try to learn more about other cultures and I cherish all those moments.

And salsa dancing gives me a window into another culture, another life, another possibility.

I do not feel Belgian when I dance salsa.