MYSTERY OF THE TEXAS TWOSTEP

CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE:

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Written by Rick Archer 

LIMBO MONTH NINETEEN
JANUARY 1981

SLOW DANCE LEADS TO ROMANCE

 

Six years ago I stumbled upon The Mistress Book with its immortal words of advice... women love to dance.  For this reason, the author insisted Dance was one of the easiest ways to gain a lady's interest.  See a pretty girl, ask her to dance.  Slow Dance was sure to lead to Romance. 

Over the years I had noticed how men were constantly surprised at how effective dancing was.  To me, it was shocking that more men did not take the time to master this invaluable skill.  That left it to me to set everyone straight.  In my new role as Leader of the Pack, I spoke up.  In every class, I preached to the men the stakes of the game compared to the effort involved dictated every man should commit to dance lessons.  And not just one class either, but stick with it until the skill became automatic.  Women love to dance so much that any guy who can make it fun for them possessed a huge advantage.  Although dancing by itself would not make a girl fall in love with a guy, it definitely made a lady receptive to a prolonged conversation afterwards.  Dancing would open the door.  Sharing this advice was like sprinkling aphrodisiac in the air.  At the end of my pep talk, I could see my advice explode like TNT in the minds of every man. 

"According to Rick, any man who can dance has a chance.  Why didn't I think of this sooner?  I need to concentrate on my dancing!"

The value of the Mistress Book to my dance career was incalculable.  There was no longer any doubt that the book's advice on dance was correct.  The dance suggestion made so much sense it was mind-boggling.  I was certain my discovery of this odd little book had been a Supernatural Event. 

Due to the success of my Western dance program, I had accidentally become the owner of the most dynamic singles organization in the city.  The potent combination of Urban Cowboy and TGIS had my classes jammed to the gills with countless students, most of them single.  My Captivity allowed me to become a social worker of sorts.  Totally by accident, I discovered the power of inviting my students to go dancing with me after class.  This service was pure dynamite.  My dance program became a tempestuous cauldron of hyperactive singles who were falling in love right and left.

The grapevine abounded with whispers that Rick Archer's dance classes were the easiest place in the city to find love.  Once a couple fell in love, they often left the dance scene.  However, before leaving, they typically passed the secret on to their single friends.  Scintillating rumors about my studio as Houston's premier Happy Hunting Ground guaranteed there was always another lovelorn ready to take their place.  Word of mouth brought countless new students to my program.  Indeed, my program had reached that enviable point where previous success automatically generated future success.

This dating frenzy had a side benefit.  My popularity elevated my status as an eligible bachelor.  Once upon a time, I had been labeled a loser by Patricia and Victoria.  Angry that I did not make enough money to support the lifestyle of their dreams, they took turns berating me for wasting my education on something frivolous like teaching dance.  That negative perception had shifted.  Previously I was considered foolish for squandering my education.  Now I was seen as the owner of a lucrative business. 

Recalling the painful criticism from Patricia and Victoria, it gave me considerable satisfaction to see what I had accomplished.  However, success is a funny thing.  Now that I had tasted it, I was desperate to hang onto it.  The Disco scars were still there.  Knowing that dance fads come and dance fads go, I feared it could all be gone tomorrow.  Bound and determined to make my Magic Carpet Ride last forever, it was imperative that I keep my foot on the gas pedal. 

Every one of these people were dance students

JANUARY 1981

VICTORIA'S WORLD

 

My dance program was doing fantastic business thanks to the Western Swing Synchronicity.  Now that I had moved to Dance Arts and secured Leisure Learning as my new patron, I had the perfect place to offer classes to my unending supply of new students.  I had no business worries other than over-crowding.  This was a problem any business owner would love to have.

That left Limbo Captivity as my only regret.  In February 1981, Victoria's divorce would be final.  I was curious to see if this would affect my prisoner status.  After all, for the past year I had pegged this event as our likely breakup date.  Did she want to get more serious?  Or, better yet, would she consider setting me free?  Once Victoria was divorced, she would be in a position to date me conscience-free.  In the likely event she was given full custody of her daughter, Victoria would no longer have to worry about shielding Stephanie from my presence.    

I still recalled Victoria's words on Doorstep Night, the night our Affair began.

"Rick, I am not talking about marriage tonight.  I am too uncertain to go there right now.  I am talking about what could happen if best friends became lovers and let things develop.  I cannot live the rest of my life in peace without taking this chance.  I have to know what will happen if we open ourselves up to loving each other.  I know I have no right to expect you to love me after some of the things I have done, but I believe we can grow past our distrust and fears if we truly commit.  All I ask is that you recognize we have the chance to be very special together."

Lovely words, but meaningless.  I had just wasted an entire year of my life to be at Victoria's disposal (1980).  Once the divorce was final, I would no longer feel obligated to continue my spare tire status.  I expected we would have a conversation soon after.  If she wanted us to get more serious, what would I say?  I had no desire to marry Victoria.  Nor did I want things to get more serious.  How could I let down my guard with an unstable, unpredictable woman I didn't trust?  Although there was a definite fondness between us, there was no special passion.  How could I ever overlook the past nineteen months of unending soap opera?

I had been hoping Jennifer would have a change of heart since her surprise reappearance at Christmas.  However, I had not heard from her for a month, so I was ready to move on.  Recently Victoria had said she and Michael had reached an agreement.  She would keep the house, she would keep Stephanie, she would get child support, and Michael was free to visit his daughter any time he wished.  Given the amount of animosity over the past two years, I was surprised (and pleased) at the amicable resolution.  Now that Victoria was on the eve of her divorce, this felt like the perfect time to discuss a clean break for us.  Rather than wait till next month, I decided to initiate the conversation a couple weeks before the divorce.  Leading Victoria to Glen's office one night after classes, I asked a question.  "Now that you are about to be single again, what are your plans, Vic?"

"I'm not sure.  As you know, I have begun seeing Charlotte again.  Thank God, her cancer is in remission.  In our last session, Charlotte had an unusual suggestion for me.  Now that I am divorced, she thinks it would be good for me to start dating."

Stunned, first I gasped, then I stopped breathing.

Of all the nerve!  After all this time, after all this heartache, pain and drama, the moment Victoria is free, she is planning to date other men?!?  Earth to Victoria, what about me?

I did not see this coming.  This twist caught me so totally off guard I flipped out.  How do I describe my initial reaction?  Flabbergasted, astonished, dumbfounded, crazed, dazed, unsettled, bewildered.  ANGRY!  HURT.  But not jealous.  I felt insulted, taken advantage of.

Two years ago Victoria had placed her hand on top of mine and said she loved me.  Victoria was very fond of the word 'Love'.  For the past two years, Victoria had claimed I was special and that we were soul mates.  Considering how often Victoria stated her 'Love', did I Love her back?  No.  That is because the word 'But' typically came after 'Love'.  "I love you, Rick, but..." 

Here's an example.  "I love you, Rick, but you cannot come to my house.  I am afraid a photographer might get an incriminating picture and I would lose custody of Stephanie."

However, now that the divorce was almost final, her fear of damaging photographs was no longer pertinent.  So what would her new tune be?  Of all the things I predicted Victoria might say, her decision to date other men had never crossed my mind. 

I stared at Victoria in total disbelief.  Victoria could have slapped me in the face and I would not have felt more stung.  I had assumed Victoria would either ask to intensify our relationship or suggest we break up.  Never in a million years did I expect her to announce she was ready to play the field.  Once my shock began to dissipate, I was so bitter I just wanted to be done with her and never look back.  However, I was too stunned to respond, so Victoria used my silence to continue.

"I can see by your reaction this is a bit of a surprise.  It was a surprise for me too.  I'm not even sure this is a good idea.  You need to understand I am just following Charlotte's advice.  Charlotte is not convinced you are the right guy for me.  She said before I enter into a committed relationship with you, I need to compare you to other men.  Charlotte says I am very vulnerable right now and this is the worst time to immediately get serious again.  She says I need to heal first.  That means I have to ease back into things.  I hope this doesn't upset you."

Upset me?  Earth to Victoria, I was livid!!  I was so angry I almost lost my temper.  I had trouble suppressing a sudden urge to grab her shoulders and shake her silly.  What was I supposed to do while Victoria healed?  Wait some more?  Twiddle my thumbs?  The 1979 Negotiation period that initiated the Limbo stage of my life was 19 months in the past.  The October 1979 Doorstep Night was 16 months in the past.  I had wasted nearly two years of my life waiting for Victoria to put her life back together.  And now she wants to date other guys?  That was her way of saying thank you for two years of loyalty?

It took me a while to regain my composure, but it finally dawned on me this surprising news might not be so bad after all.  What was I so upset about?  This was exactly the opening I had hoped for!!  Immediately the vision of rolling under the sheets with Ammonia crossed my mind.  Maybe this was Victoria's indirect way of seeking freedom.  Maybe she did not have the guts to break up with me, so she wanted me to end things and ease her conscience.  Listen, I was more than willing to say the words.  Hey, if I'm not the right guy, oh well, see you later, Vic, thanks for the memories!  Perhaps that was Charlotte and Victoria's plan all along.  However, I had determined long ago to avoid using force to end things.  Deciding it was better to continue my 'killing her softly with kindness' strategy, I pretended her proposal was fine by me.  I did not enjoy being insincere, but in delicate situations sometimes it is called for.

"Interesting decision, Victoria.  You know what, I definitely see Charlotte's point.  Everyone knows the worst thing following a divorce is to immediately jump into another relationship.  Now that you are free, I am certain you will benefit from dating other men.  You need to take things slow, not move too fast.  I am certain you will receive plenty of offers."

I didn't mean a word I said.  Inside I continued to seethe, but managed to conceal my true feelings.  Insincerity was something I was getting good at thanks to two years of practice.  Since this was exactly what she wanted to hear, Victoria's enthusiasm increased. 

"I am so glad you agree, Rick!  That is exactly the point.  Charlotte says it is foolish to rush into something serious.  She is afraid you would be too big a challenge for me on the rebound.  She says post-divorce loneliness is a huge problem and some women latch on for dear life to the first guy who comes along.  Charlotte prefers I have fun and rediscover what makes me special."

As I listened to her speak, the blow to my pride was considerable.  Ouch!  I did not realize Victoria could still hurt my feelings.  How do I explain this?  I did not want Victoria.  Let me say that loud and clear.  I did not want Victoria!  However, over the past 19 months, I had made a huge sacrifice to stick by her.  Right now, I felt like I was being tossed aside like a used toy.  Victoria was so clueless, she might actually assume I enjoyed sticking around.  If so, guess again, Victoria.  Rather than feel appreciated, I felt exploited and taken for granted.  What a chump I was.  I thought back to the Mistress Book and its catchy byline... "How to find a Mistress and keep her on your own terms."  Hmm.  That book was supposed to teach me how to dominate women.  Patricia, Jennifer, Victoria.  No luck so far.  However, I was nowhere near as pathetic as I used to be.  Although I was ready to explode in fury, I carefully held my temper.

The reason I kept my anger in check was to protect the possibility Victoria's weird dating idea might be my ticket out of Limbo.  Of course I could just stand up, wish her well, and walk away.  However, like I said, I did not want to use force.  I had a powerful instinct that told me parting as friends was far better in the long run.  Therefore, bruised ego notwithstanding, I kept myself in check.  If the therapist told Victoria to date other men, with a little patience this could be the moment I was waiting for.  So what if Victoria treated me like dog meat?  I had a dozen women waiting with open arms the moment I became available.  Just hand me my parole papers and I would not look back.  But just then I changed my mind.  Victoria had opened this door, not me.  So why should I have wait?  Let's do this NOW!  After taking a deep breath to settle down, I proceeded to ask for my freedom.

"Well, Victoria, if Charlotte doesn't think I am the right guy, this feels like the right time to go our separate ways."

Now it was Victoria's turn to look shocked. 

"What are you talking about!?  I don't want us to break up!  I love you!  You misread my suggestion.  You are one of the guys I want to date.  Besides, you are my dearest friend in the world.  I am incredibly vulnerable right now.  I need you for security while I heal.  Who else can I talk to about my feelings but you?  I can't expect these other guys to know me like you do.  Nor do I even want to tell them all that I have been through.  I just want to keep everything light and breezy and learn how to laugh again.  These last few months have been so depressing."

I blinked in confusion.  This was not the answer I was looking for, so I decided to press the issue.

"I have no problem being your dearest best friend, Victoria, but perhaps this is the time to put our romance on the back burner and seek new directions, new partners.  There is no reason why our relationship can't evolve into platonic friendship."

Since sex with Victoria had always been a lost cause, the thought of giving up my monthly trip to her bedroom was a sacrifice I was willing to make.  Would Victoria go for it?  Nope.  The moment I saw the frown on her face, I had my answer.

"Oh, Rick, you are being ridiculous.  You have no idea how important you are to me.  I know you find it easy to move on, but not me.  We are soul mates, linked together at the deepest level.  You are too important for me to let go.  I want to get to know you all over again.  So let me be frank.  Where you are concerned, I feel very unfinished. There are a lot of things I need to think about that I wasn't able to look at while I was getting my divorce.  If I had my way, I would prefer we continue to see each other, you know, start over and put all the bad memories behind.  Let's forget about the bad times and have fun again like we used to.  Believe me, getting remarried is not where I am at right now.  But at the same time, how do you expect me to fall out of love with you?  I don't have much experience with these things, but Love is the most powerful emotion there is.  I love you so much!  I want to get to know you again without Michael always looking over my shoulder and making me feel guilty about my feelings for you.  Let's start fresh.  I feel that we do have that love, what a beautiful gift, plus our special friendship.  Don't we owe it to each other to explore our potential?"

That was quite a speech.  Lovely words, yes, but not very convincing.  I was one of those 'Actions speak louder than words' kind of guys.  They say when one dies, their entire life flashes before them.  Right now, vivid memories of all the awful things that had happened between us appeared on the movie projector of my mind. 

•  Victoria's temper tantrum over Joanne at the Pistachio Christmas Party (December 1978).
•  The Tirade (January 1979).
•  Continuing viciousness towards Joanne (Spring 1979). 
•  Victoria's temper tantrum at the Pistachio Spring Fling Party (March 1979).
•  The gossip campaign that destroyed Joanne and Patricia and forced them to leave the studio (March and June, 1979).
•  The Husband List comparing me unfavorably to Michael (July 1979).
•  The memory of her father comparing me to a Playboy (July 1979). 
•  The endless Negotiations that went nowhere (Summer 1979).
•  Dance accidents at the Lighthouse, Foley's, and Annabelle's (Summer 1979). 
•  Attacking me sexually in her car one night (Moonlight Madness, August 1979).
•  Victoria and Darya laughing about how much fun adultery could be at the country club swimming pool (August 1979).
•  Memories of Victoria continuously asking me how I would support her (September 1979). 
•  Victoria's Blackmail Threat (mid-September 1979). 
•  Fooling me into thinking she was actually moving in with me on Doorstep Night (October 1979)
•  The U-Turn return to her home (October 1979). 
•  Further Blackmail threats to destroy my studio unless I got rid of Madame X (October-November-December 1979). 
•  Victoria's possessiveness cost me my relationship with Jennifer (October-November-December 1979). 
•  Victoria had kept me in Limbo Captivity for nearly two years by constantly begging for more time (July 1979-January 1981).
 

Now, after all that, Victoria expects me to explore our Potential and let her date other guys at the same time? 

This was Insanity.  Pure insanity.  I stared at her with total contempt.  This woman was completely out of her mind. 

Victoria interrupted my train of thought.  "Don't be upset, Rick.  Charlotte believes this is what is right for me.  Surely you can see that."

Several times Victoria had given me the impression that her therapist wanted to steer her away from me.  This 'date other men' idea reinforced my feeling that Charlotte must dislike me.  If so, I wasn't sure why her therapist had such a low opinion of me.  If Victoria was telling the truth, then Charlotte's negative opinion hurt my feelings.  The therapist had never met me, so what exactly did she think was wrong?  As I mulled it over, it dawned on me that whatever reservations Charlotte had about me were based on things Victoria had said about me.  So, in a sense, Charlotte's opinion was actually a mirror into Victoria's mind.  Recalling the Husband List from July 1979, Victoria had compared me to Michael and found me lacking in every way.  Clearly my continued loyalty had not improved her opinion of my value as a longtime companion.

If I was such a loser, then why in hell did Victoria expect me to stay by her side like an obedient dog?  If her opinion was that low, please take off my dog collar and set me free.  Was Victoria actually so clueless as to believe I had stuck around all this time out of love?  I searched her face.  She really didn't know, did she?  If Victoria had any idea I was just biding my time, she gave no sign of it.

I did not trust this woman.  Deep down I believed Victoria would say or do anything to manipulate me.  Sometimes she used affection, sometimes she used guilt, sometimes she used threats, sometimes she used promises, sometimes she used sex.  Victoria was so accustomed to me accepting her bullshit that she did not realize just how absurd her position was.  Normal people do not profess undying love in one breath, then state that seeing other people would be therapeutic for them.  I wanted out.  However, I could not take the chance of blurting out my true feelings.  I needed to tread softly here.  The Nice Kitty strategy demanded I placate Victoria at all costs and avoid riling her.  Therefore, as always, I chose my words with the same care one might use in hostage negotiations. 

"Victoria, I hear you and I appreciate the kind words.  However, too much has happened over the past two years.  I accept your reasons to date other men.  Let's face it, we have steadily drifted apart.  Consequently I have no desire to rekindle a serious romance.  Nor do I think dating each other is a good idea.  The thought of dating you feels awkward after all we've been through.  If you want to date other men, I will not object.  Of course we will continue to see each other here at the studio and remain friends.  If I decide to date, I promise to do it away from the studio."

'If I decide to date...'  I just sort of snuck those words in there.  How would she react?

Not well!  A look of horror crossed Victoria's face.  First her expression contorted into a death mask, then came the tears.   Victoria reacted as if I had just plunged a knife into her heart.  I guess she had expected me to agree with her like I always did.

"Rick, are you nuts!?  It would be incredibly stressful for me if you dated other women right now.  Show some sensitivity, please.  You are my lover.  I can't turn off these emotions I feel for you.  Just give me a little time to get settled into my new life.  For the present I would prefer that you remain exclusive as you have promised in the past.  Please do this as a kindness to me considering the pain I am in right now."

I was disgusted.  Victoria's logic left a lot to be desired.  If we were soul mates, then why am I not the right guy?  After all, how many soul mates did Victoria think there were out there?  Well, I was fed up with this nonsense. If she wanted to date other men, then I intended to do likewise.  Preferring to end it right now, I disagreed.

"Let me understand your position, Victoria.  You say we are soul mates and that you want to explore our potential.  Then you say you wish to date other men.  That is a contradiction.  Your words suggest you believe I am the right guy, but at the same time you aren't sure I am the right guy.  Victoria, you and I have been together through thick and thin since September of 1978.  That is two and a half years.  Obviously you still have your doubts about me or you wouldn't suggest dating other men.  Meanwhile you expect me to remain loyal to you while you see what is out there.  That attitude doesn't seem fair, so maybe I have misunderstood you.  Why don't I have the right to see who is out there who might be better for me?  Please clarify."

"Rick, you are twisting my words.  I know full well you are the best man for me.  There is no doubt in my mind about that.  I am simply repeating what Charlotte said and trying to follow her advice.  She said I needed to go out on a few dates just for the experience.  It's not like I intend to sleep with these men.  I just want to see what it is like to date again."

My mouth dropped open.  See what it is like to date again?  Yeah, you and me both!!  Of all the nerve!!  I detested the ground she walked on. 

"I have news for you, Victoria, I want to date too!  You have a considerable amount of gall expecting me to sit around while you enjoy your dating spree.  The correct thing to do is let me go.  I have stood by you for a year and a half since the night you moved into my house for a week.  Things did not go very well that week and I see no reason why we should try again.  I think you have had more than enough time to determine my value.  If I'm not the right guy, then set me free."

"Oh, Rick, don't be so dramatic.  Look at me, I just got a divorce from a man I still have intense feelings for.  I am very vulnerable right now and I need you more than ever.  I am heartbroken to hear you speak to me like this.  I am just talking about a few harmless dates.  You, on the other hand, I know how you are.  You will be naked in some girl's arms the moment I turn my back on you [how did she guess?]  The last thing in the world I need is a nasty repeat of the Madame X travesty.  Look, Rick, this is all very new to me.  Just be patient with me, please."

Be patient?  I almost lost it.  I was seething.  Of all the preposterous crap!  In Victoria's World, the only person she ever thought about was herself.  I was right on the edge of losing my temper when a small inner voice strongly suggested caution.  "Watch what you say!" 

I could not control my frustration any longer.  I abruptly got up and left the studio in a huff.  It was either that or commit homicide.  I screamed in the car all the way home.  She wanted patience?  Forget that.  My patience with this woman was exhausted.

JANUARY 1981

LOOKING FOR LOVE

 

Here at the start of 1981 I could do no wrong.  A good example was my decision to switch to a two-hour class format.  Every night our classes ran from 7-9 pm.  This proved to be brilliant marketing.  There was universal approval, especially from the people who lived far from the studio.  Why make 8 trips for one-hour classes when you can make 4 trips and finish a course in one month? 

Since Houston is free to expand in virtually every direction, the politicians are beholden to powerful home developers and freeway construction firms.  Every politician needs their blessing to get elected.  This explains why Houston is dominated by miles upon miles of massive freeways connecting far-flung suburbs to the center.  Consequently much of Houston's population is spread out long distances from the center. 

Suburban life caters to families.  Unfortunately, if a person gets a divorce, often the pickings are slim in their local community.  So if word of mouth suggests the perfect place to meet singles is at a dance studio near the popular Galleria area, people's ears perk up.  Tell me more!

Since Stevens of Hollywood was nowhere near a freeway, it was hard to get to.  Dance Arts was just the opposite.  Located one block from Loop 610, one of Houston's most important freeways, my program was now incredibly easy to get to.  The chance to finish a class in 4 trips rather than 8 trips made my studio attractive to suburbanites.

Dance Arts had places where people could sit and relax after work.  For this reason, it became home away from home for many students.  A large percentage of my students were professionals who made their living downtown or someplace near the studio such as the Medical Center.  Why bother going home after work?  Many students made it a habit to work late, grab a bite to eat, sit at the studio for a while, attend class from 7-9, go dancing at a club from 9-10 pm, then drive home to their suburb with minimal traffic at the late hour.  For many students, my studio functioned as a 'Looking for Love' transition point between job and home. 

Changing my class format two hours per night in January paid an immediate dividend.  Under the previous one-hour format, there was not enough progress to take my students to a club until Week Four or Five.  That changed overnight at Dance Arts.  My Beginner students could learn enough material to begin dancing in the Western clubs in Week Two or Three.  Now that progress was much faster, this increased the popularity of the dance classes.  The sooner my students tasted the honey, the happier they were.  For that matter, thanks to the rapid progress, they were more likely to want more lessons when their initial course completed.  Since my business plan revolved around persuading students to take the invaluable Intermediate level, anything that would entice them to continue was important.  For this reason, the sooner I took my students dancing, the easier it was to get them involved.

I already knew the value of that all-important first visit to a dance club, especially for beginners.  Dance class is Step One.  Go to a club is Step Two.  Forcing oneself to make a trip to a club on their own is a bigger hurdle than most people realize.  When someone is insecure about their dancing, it is tough to be brave.  In addition to the fear of the unknown, their main concern is the lack of a partner.  Who will they ask to dance?  What if they are terrible and someone criticizes them out on the floor?  Plus there is the overwhelming fear of rejection.  What if someone turns them down? 

I learned this lesson long ago, August 1977.  I was teaching a Disco line dance class.  One night I asked for a show of hands.  "How many of you have gone to a Disco since class started?"  Only one person raised their hand.  On the spot my social work instincts kicked in.  I scheduled a visit to a place called the Rubaiyat following the end of our final class and promised to go with the students.  We had a great response.  20 of the 30 students participated.  Playing Fearless Leader to a bunch of dance rookies, I had them dancing enthusiastically within half an hour.  This was the first time most of these Disco students had ever been dancing in public.  Throughout the night, my students thanked me for organizing this event. 

"Rick, I have wanted to do this forever, but I didn't have the courage to go to a club by myself.  Thanks to you, I was able to cross this hurdle."

Now my mind drifted to Camelot, sheer magic during the Disco Era.  Victoria's regular Friday night visits to the Pistachio Club had strongly reinforced the message of the Rubaiyat:  Students need encouragement to take the big step of visiting a club for the first time.  I made sure to continue the Camelot tradition with Western dancing at Cowboy and the San Antone Rose, but in a different way.  Instead of one night a week at Camelot, for the entire year of 1980 I did it four to five times a week.  I would take my Wednesday students dancing after class, my Thursday students after class, and so on.  Then we would meet on Saturday for good measure.  This was a very successful strategy.  I now operated the largest Country-Western program in the city.

However, there was one flaw in my strategy.  The Monday students did not know Tuesday students, Wednesday students did not know Friday students and so on.  There was no real thread that bonded the different nights of the week together.  However, I was unaware of what I was missing.  After all, what I was currently doing worked like a charm.  As usual, the Universe found a way to nudge me in the right direction. 

What happened?  We got too big for our own britches.  Wherever we went dancing after class, our group was so large, there was no room to dance.  What's the point of learning all these fancy moves if we were forced to dance at a snail's pace. 

What we needed was a place large to hold a 'Romance Rodeo' for the entire studio.  Only one problem.  Attendance was up to somewhere around 600 students per week, maybe more.  For this many people to dance at once, we needed something the size of the Houston Astrodome.  This gave me an idea.  The Winchester Club was so vast it could accommodate every student in my entire dance program.  The floor alone could hold 400 dancers at once.  What would happen if I picked a weeknight and invited all the students to go dancing together?  That way I would not have to escort the Monday class, then the Tuesday class, then the Wednesday class and so on.  Why not have students from the different nights of the week all go dancing at the same time?  Maybe not every week, but once a month? 

This is how I came up with the idea to have a Graduation Event at the end of every month.  I decided to schedule an event for the last Wednesday of January and call it 'Graduation Night'.  This would prove to be one of the smartest decisions I ever made.