Soulmate Dances

Soulmate dances were a tradition performed by the Rhyhendra as a way for young Rhyhendra adults to find their soulmates. This tradition was performed three times a year but was started off in the spring.

History

Since so much of Rhyhendra history has been lost, the origin of the soulmate dances is unknown. Many historians believe they began after the Rhyhendra unified into one people, but ancient art dating from the time when they were scattered tribes clearly shows couples dancing as glowing strands connect their hearts. The Rhyhendra truly believed this dance brought them to find their soulmates. While various soulmate theories have been suggested over the years, with many dismissed or scorned, mages believe that Rhyhendra bodies had magic that connected them to others who complemented them in personality, intellect, and even soul.

Execution

She can almost see it in her mind, the way the dance flows. She can see the way the girls and boys swirl around each other, see the way the magic swells between their bodies, dances around their feet. She can feel it in her bones, can feel the ache to move. It must be spring.

— The Last Rhyhendra

I knew, as soon as Kaza died, that I was alone. I had not felt it, had not known it, but my soulmate had died. Perhaps it was at the beginning. Perhaps he lived to see the arena. But he was dead, and it was only now that I knew for sure.

— Unknown Rhyhendra

Everyone around knew of Lady Nivre, who was nearly twenty years past when she had performed her first Soulmate Dance. She had traveled all around the planet, had performed it in nearly every city, and still there was nothing. It was that year, nineteen years after her first dance, when she stepped out in a large city close to her hometown, began the dance she had done so many times, that a boy, just old enough to participate in the dance, joined her. He had not expected to find his soulmate that day, yet felt himself stepping forward as soon as he saw her.

— from Rhyhedra legend

This piece from Rhyhendra legend is from the Storyteller. The galaxy has no knowledge of this story.

Participants

There are two roles during the Soulmate dance, that of the woman and that of the man. All the women must be nineteen or older, and the same must be for the men. Younger Rhyhendra may watch the dance from the crowd, as may those who are already married. It is not uncommon for an age gap to occur between the soulmates, although most couples are within five years of each other. These age gaps never exceed twenty years. One of the most well-known was between Lady Nivre and her soulmate Jeirczahr, a gap of nineteen years.

Observance

Soulmate dances were held three times a year on the third day of the month. In current Galactic time, that would be April 3rd, July 3rd, and October 3rd. The biggest celebration was the April occurrence. The month of April (likely named something else for them) was also a popular time for weddings, usually of couples who had met at soulmate dances the year before or earlier.