We Advance

Rarely does a restaurant delivery guy hope to make his career delivering food. Rarely does a sales clerk hope to remain a sales clerk. Rarely does the entry-level manual laborer hope to stay in that job forever. In our dancing circles, high-level dancers tend to attract high-level praise. Bronze level dancers often feel invisible; an unseen, unnoticed, unappreciated cog in the machine. But they are committed to get better.

 "Our sun may set this afternoon, but it will be sure to rise again tomorrow."

And that's a shame, because every dancer -- and every person -- deserves to be treated with respect. In our dance circles we don't have "Ala Wai dancers," or "Junk dancers. Every level of dancing is important and should be allowed to be enjoyed. Every dancer is important. So pick someone at your club. Or pick someone outside your dance community, and let them know that they are doing just fine.

"Shores of Haleiwa" by Loyal Garner

"Suerte [Whenever, wherever]" by Shakira

Doesn't matter. Just don't just offer a throwaway, "Good." Say "Good" and mean it. Or any sincere compliment will do. Or ask a question that shows respect for what that person does. For that moment, make sure the other person knows you see and appreciate them as a person, not just as a lost low level dancer.

We are going to be real social dancers in the real meaning of the word.