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Survival Kit
Be honest and true with yourself and those around you. Consider the dance scene your workout, or aerobics session, that's all. Don't make it your rat’s nest infested with one broken heart after another. "You" have a choice. You can either make it beautiful, or you can allow it to be hell on earth.
Watch out for signs of jealousy, rage, drama, and sometimes violence in your dance partnerships. Jealousy will rage even if you've never been jealous before. Combat these by choosing not to be jealous. Choosing to run the opposite direction, choosing to dance with someone else, and ultimately, choosing to leave your partner.
Unless there is a honesty, trust, a mutual respect for each other,
common goals, and a pure relationship with God in both of your lives,
your relationship will be over before it starts.
To withstand the test of time, each has to feel completely safe, and secure, alone, without the dependence or depending on anyone else financially or emotionally. Feeling completely at ease and comfortable with yourself ALONE, is key to preparing yourself for a healthy relationship, whether it’s on the dance floor or not.
Respect, honesty, and a mutual relationship with God are the foundations of a solid relationship. Try living them day in, and day out. Only then will you see just how difficult it is, and hence how difficult it will be, to find a life long mate looking for, and living those same values.
Remember, it's just dancing. Remind yourself of this when you're tempted. Lighten up on yourselves and the partners you dance with. Dance freely together, and with others. Get into the music again. Enjoy the art of dance itself. We all need each other to enjoy this art. Appreciate each other for this, and for this alone.
If you find yourself falling for a man or woman heavily involved in the dance community, think hard before you take the next step. Once you take it there may be no turning back. Consider keeping your personal life outside of the dance scene. Find yourself, find a higher source of understanding, read, meditate, pray, and enjoy time alone for a while. Know what you want, and what you don't want. Time is the ultimate test. Write a letter to yourself, and stick it in the mail. When you receive it, pretend it was from someone else, and give him or her your best advice. Write your own "Survival Guide", follow it, and see what happens.
Edie, The Salsa FREAK, is Co-Founder, and Editor-In-Chief of Salsaweb.com, Inc., The World’s Largest Latin Entertainment Online Magazine. Click here to contact her.