I’ve been struggling lately with what to blog about because what I really want to talk about, what I really want to get off my chest involves personal frustrations related to specific people and how they impact my dancing and, most especially, how I feel about my dancing.

I was reminded today, when I read a friend’s Facebook page, how the things you say in a public forum about other people in the dance community can really make life in said dance community tense and uncomfortable. It depends on your comfort level with conflict I guess. And the social sacrifices you’re willing to make in order to say what you think.

I don’t think I’ve reached critical mass yet, and I’m more interested in repairing my bridges than burning them. But it’s tough sometimes. “Minnesota nice” is hard. Not that one is required to adhere to MN nice. No one demands that. But just because you don’t doesn’t mean that other people will understand. People assume you’re part of the “be nice” culture around here. A few harsh words come off very differently here than they might elsewhere.

So I’m holding my tongue, because I care more about my connections in the dance community than I care about speaking my mind.

And on that note, here’s something happy: some amazing dancing from the Youth Division at the IDSF Latin Championships. Note: They’re wearing a lot more clothes than I’m used to seeing in Latin. Love the feathers.