International Dancers.

Ran into another Club Dancer who accused me of being an International Dancer. Us, the Social, Recreational, Cultural dancers have not found our right terminology or niche yet. Most of us know where we are at but the "outsiders" don't know. They just ain't wid it yet. Eventually they will pick up on the action. And we are definitely the biggest group of dancers on this island and we dance.

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.

And believe that everything happens for a reason ...

If you get a chance - take it;  if it changes your life let it.

Nobody said it would be easy ... And it's going to end.

They just promised that it would be worth it.

The International Dancers look down on us as being junk dancers. And the other dancers brand everyone one that does not dance exactly as they as "International Dancers." Of course they simply do not know. International dancers are ballroom dancers and they usually require a ballroom. In the last ten years, (this century) the Internationals have seized the term for themselves, and rightfully so. It belongs to them, not "us." They consider themselves art.

So we are definitely in the middle of this dancesphere along with 60% of the dancers on this island. So how you like them potatoes? Sixty Per Cent! The problem is we are having to define ourselves first, and we will eventually find the acceptable terminology. We dance primarily American style of dance, not the International Style of dance. By primarily, I mean that many of us can modify any movement in it, if and when we damn well please. Somebody have a problem with that?

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"   ...   José Feliciano

The competition and exhibition dancers dance only the International style of dance and they try according to their strict rules, which may be engraved on stone. And yes, everyone knows that some will take International dance classes for years, but would never make a dent in a competition. They have to live through that, it's their problem.

In our cultural dance group, we do not have to dance in ballrooms. We dance to our music, in libraries, gas stations, malls, school cafeterias, district parks and community centers, that's our culture. And if you see us dancing in a gas station, please don't call us gas station dancers. We have even been known to dance in Night Clubs and very nicely I may add, except in places where they force us to drink alcohol. We are gradually defining ourselves and taking a little pride in it.  Watch it, we may be Da Reel Teeng!

We are so fortunate that on this Island we have some of the best American Style dance teachers in the US. Now if we can just find a nice place in the West where they appreciate what we are, we can dance up a storm and enjoy life to the fullest! May I have this dance?