Presence is more than just being there. ~ Malcolm S. Forbes, 1917-1990, American Publisher

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. ~ George Halas, 1895-1983, Hall of Fame American Football Player/Coach/Owner

It is not the destination, it is the journey. ~ Common wisdom

It is not about the steps, it is about the connection. ~ Andrew Weitzen

At Machol Miami, for the partner sets, there were at least 50 couples on the floor and moving fast. Couples come at you from all directions, from left and right, and from the inside and outside. Go the wrong way, and you crash. Even when you are going the right way, you have to be careful not to collide with someone else. More than once, couples came at me from both sides at the same time and we were caught in a squeeze.

http://www.weitzen.info/video/S7000444.AVI See this video from Machol Miami. It is big, 44 mb, so after you click the link, you may need to wait several minutes for the video to start.

Once a partner set starts, the music keeps playing and everyone is moving. There are no time outs. You either move with everyone or you get crushed.

I danced partner sets with Ariela and Veronica. Most of the dances, Ariela and Veronica did not know. We were not in the safety of our little room. There is no stopping the music to try again and no place to hide. At Machol Miami, the tune is dance or get trampled. I am happy to report, they both danced every dance and did really well.

You all know my theories on partner dancing. We had been training a year and a half for that moment. Everything we had been talking about was put to the test in those sets. The most important thing was connection.

The connection with your partner is crucial to your mutual survival. That alone is not enough. All the couples must connect with one another to assure a smooth flow across the dance floor. The better our connection, the more fluid we can be.

Our connections happen on many levels: physical, emotional, through our music and heritage, with our family, friends and even strangers.

Dancing is not about steps. Dancing, like life, is about connections.

The deeper and more meaningful are our connections, the more enriching is our dancing and our lives.

As the dawn of the new year approaches, we can take a moment to appreciate something we all know, of which dancing is one expression, our connections and relationships with others is what gives us happiness and meaning.

Thank you for a meaningful 2006,
Andy