Partner Question - Is this okay, or is it stealing?

I

Iolane

New Member
I searched for old stealing partner questions, and I didn't see this specific situation addressed, but I may have missed it, and if so, I apologize in advance.

I am competing pro/am in AR. There is a gentleman at my studio who competes pro/am in AS and am/am in AR. After my upcoming competition, I want to start looking for an am partner to compete with.

I was talking to this gentleman, and he mentioned to me that he would no longer be doing AS, and I told him that it'd be a shame because I enjoyed watching him dance it so much. As the conversation went on, he stated that really he was quitting AS because he could no longer afford to continue with pro/am.

So my question is: Do people sometimes have different partners for rhythm/latin and smooth/standard? If so, would it be improper to approach him about trying out an AS partnership if he does not intend to dance it with his current AR am partner? We get along really well, and we dance well together socially, so he is definitely the type of person/dancer I'd be interested in partnering with, at the same time, I DO NOT want to be that person who "steals" other people's partners (or even give the impression that I would). Although, if I am honest, I'd really be interested in being his AR partner, but that's obviously not a possibility at this point.
 
People do sometimes have different partners for different styles. If you're not sure, tell him "if your rhythm partner isn't interested in doing smooth with you, I'd be interested."
 
It's okay to have one person for Smooth and another person for Rhythm. It would only be considered stealing if you were to do Rhythm with him when he already has a Rhythm partner.
 
I agree, but would also add that if you want to make everything super nice, you could also suggest that the three of you sit down and chat before you try the arrangement. Make sure that any concerns the existing partner has are addressed reasonably and fairly, e.g., how you will share the man for practice time.

Really, though, it sounds like an IDEAL situation for sharing. He wants 2 styles. Other partner wants 1. You step in and fill the gap. Could be sweet.
 
People often have more than one partner, yes.

I don't think you'd be stepping on any toes asking him to do AS, but if you're worried about offending his AR partner, definitely go with "...if your AR partner doesn't want to."

I mean... if she wanted to do AS with him in the first place, wouldn't they already be doing it, instead of him doing pro/am?
 
I used to compete Am/Am smooth with a guy who competed rhythm with one partner and latin with another -all of us at the same comp.
 
Uh, if he's quitting Smooth because he can't afford pro/am anymore, it's a no-brainer. You don't even need to discuss it with anyone else. His teacher has zero right to object to his quitting pro/am and dancing amateur.
 
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