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Saturday, November 30, 2019

Better Blogging

Party and social dancing on Oahu is here to stay. Many different choices, and our best is in the various socials around the Island that are danced at District Parks or Community Centers. There are also very nice dance parties at the Studios, no hu hu. Remember when you were a kid and you thought adult life would be nothing but parties with your friends? Reality is quite the opposite. Responsibilities come in the way of partying every single time. So even if you take time out to meet up with your friends, some of them might not even show up. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with the ones that are there. Adult social dance parties are the perfect place to meet new people and expand your social circle.

"Social dancing doesn’t require a certain level of ability, and making mistakes are understood and laughed off. Considered quite normal among our fellow dancers."


We are developing some very nice socials in West Oahu and fortunately many photos are being taken and posted in various social media. Learn to take plenty and learn to discard the worst. Forty % of the photos that are taken at a dance social are junk and those that are good, may be seen and appreciated only once. Not many dancers will ever want see them again. And everyone knows that there may be a bigger bunch tomorrow. The point is that we all capture way more photos than we did just a few years ago and the vast majority are either not good, or very very VERY similar to other images that may be much better. I am learning to delete and no more albums

"City Lights" by Loyal Gardner


From the photos that we capture from our personal family to just what we snap day to day on our mobile phones, can all add up to tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of individual photos that may have to be sorted and stored somewhere…on an ongoing basis. When you’re taking photos, experiment with different poses and arrangements. Play with the zoom and the angle of the shot. Even minor adjustments can create an entirely different picture. The main reason of taking many pictures is that it will give you plenty to choose from. It’s always better to have more pictures than you need instead of having no good options because you didn’t take enough. Another benefit is that you get more practice this way, and you’ll train your eye to take better shots.

 "There are many shining qualities in the minds of our dancing people, but there is none so useful as discretion - without it, learning is pedantry and wit impertinent."

Better Blogging

Party and social dancing on Oahu is here to stay. Many different choices, and our best is in the various socials around the Island that are danced at District Parks or Community Centers. There are also very nice dance parties at the Studios, no hu hu. Remember when you were a kid and you thought adult life would be nothing but parties with your friends? Reality is quite the opposite. Responsibilities come in the way of partying every single time. So even if you take time out to meet up with your friends, some of them might not even show up. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with the ones that are there. Adult social dance parties are the perfect place to meet new people and expand your social circle.

"Social dancing doesn’t require a certain level of ability, and making mistakes are understood and laughed off. Considered quite normal among our fellow dancers."


We are developing some very nice socials in West Oahu and fortunately many photos are being taken and posted in various social media. Learn to take plenty and learn to discard the worst. Forty % of the photos that are taken at a dance social are junk and those that are good, may be seen and appreciated only once. Not many dancers will ever want see them again. And everyone knows that there may be a bigger bunch tomorrow. The point is that we all capture way more photos than we did just a few years ago and the vast majority are either not good, or very very VERY similar to other images that may be much better. I am learning to delete and no more albums

"City Lights" by Loyal Gardner


From the photos that we capture from our personal family to just what we snap day to day on our mobile phones, can all add up to tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of individual photos that may have to be sorted and stored somewhere…on an ongoing basis. When you’re taking photos, experiment with different poses and arrangements. Play with the zoom and the angle of the shot. Even minor adjustments can create an entirely different picture. The main reason of taking many pictures is that it will give you plenty to choose from. It’s always better to have more pictures than you need instead of having no good options because you didn’t take enough. Another benefit is that you get more practice this way, and you’ll train your eye to take better shots.

 "There are many shining qualities in the minds of our dancing people, but there is none so useful as discretion - without it, learning is pedantry and wit impertinent."

Friday, November 29, 2019

Rolando Sarabia, dancer

By Francis Makowski, Pupukea, North Shore
Dusty, sweltering afternoon in 2003, a strikingly handsome young Cuban walked across the bridge from Reynosa, Mexico, into McAllen, Texas, and asked U.S. border agents for political asylum. The first sign that he was no ordinary defector came when the agents ran a computer check on his identity.
"All of a sudden," recalls the Cuban, "they were shaking my hand, congratulating me, asking for my autograph." Was he a political dissident? A pop singer? A baseball pitcher? In fact, in his own realm he was an even bigger catch. He was Rolando Sarabia, 23, a star of Cuba's National Ballet, whose spectacular performances had won him a reputation among dance aficionados as another Mikhail Baryshnikov.

"Solamente Una Vez" by La Internacional Sonora Manzanero


Sarabia was born in Havana, Cuba, on 18 August 1982. His father was a ballet dancer with the Cuban National Ballet. Rolando grew up, among ballet dancers and was performing with the Cuban National Ballet since the age of 5. In 2003, Sarabia left Cuba, after Prima Ballerina Alicia Alonso refused to allow him to join the Boston Ballet where his younger brother Daniel Sarabia was dancing as a corps member 
"Be My Love" by Mario Lanza

Sarabia is only the latest of a long line of Latin dancers, especially Cubans, who have joined top U.S. and European troupes, infusing them with a new warmth, sensuality and flair--what in Spanish is called "chispa," or spark. There have been individual Hispanic stars before, like the great mid-century ballerinas Alicia Alonso of Cuba and Lupe Serrano of Chile.

But now rosters from San Francisco to Houston to Cincinnati are studded with Latin names. Roughly half the principal dancers in the Boston and Miami City ballets are Latins. American Ballet Theatre (A.B.T.) features so many that one of its principals says it "should be called Latin Ballet Theatre." Lynn Garafola, a dance historian at Barnard College, summed up the shift in a Dance Magazine article whose headline proclaimed LATIN IS THE NEW RUSSIAN.

"Moliendo Cafe" por Azucar Moreno

The dancers come from all across the Spanish-speaking world: from Argentina, Venezuela, Spain, and, above all, from Cuba, in a contingent that ranges from the veteran Carlos Acosta of the Royal Ballet down to newcomer Sarabia (who was considering a stack of offers while staying in Pompano Beach, Fla., with a former teacher, also a defector).
 
"Social dancers are not afraid to start over. It’s a brand new
opportunity to rebuild what they truly want."

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Line Dancing on Oahu

Line Dancing for beginners is what is needed in many parts of Oahu. It no longer requires a high population density and many had been inclined to favor Honolulu for too long. Honolulu may be humbug with the Rail Calamity that is going to get worse. On Oahu, dancers have been having an awful lot of fun in their own kuleanas and many socials have a couple line dances at break time. Women take to it easily for the fact that they need no partner and can enjoy moving to music all by themselves, somewhat like it has been done for centuries.

"Social Dancers believe that Art is like Morality, you have to draw a line somewhere."

For men, who have been accustomed to leading, it is easy to learn the basic fundamentals. However,  without leading a lady. there seems to be something missing. Results are we have much less men in line dancing. However men like to dance too. Gradually they are picking up. Both men and women learn the basic movements, and the basic rhythms that are played in ordinary cultural partner dancing. Much of the music becomes familiar and they develop their favorites. What more can you ask for? Well for one thing, let's not get too fancy. Some Line dances I have seen are in exhibition and competition levels. Keep it at the Bronze level for social dancing and get more men into it.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges


Our aging dance groups have never gone to three which is nice. Small, Medium and Large just never evolved. We have only two, the young and the more experienced dancers. Some will stay in the young group until their thirties. Others will go into the elder group in their forties. There have never been any social divisions set up by anyone. The disciplines will continue to dance more or less the same dances on Oahu in both categories. But we are social dancers and most of these things apply to all of us.

Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance.
~William Shakespeare

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The best one I have seen in a nutshell - Facebook

Our lives today.

UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED FACT: Grass is green.
TRUMP: *tweets* Grass iz purpil.
EVERYONE WHO HAS EYES: Is he saying that grass is purple? Um, no it’s not. It’s green.
FOX NEWS: Grass is purple.
CNN: Breaking news: New debate rages about whether grass is green or purple.
EVERYONE: I’m sorry, what? Grass is green. There’s no debate.
CNN: Well we have to be fair and legitimize both sides.
EVERYONE: Grass is green. There is no other side.
TRUMP: *addresses news media on White House lawn*
REPORTER: What about the green grass that you’re literally standing on?
TRUMP: You’re very rude. The fake news media is very unfair to me!
TRUMP BASE: *chanting* Grass is purple! Grass is purple!
KELLYANNE: The democrats are trying to shove green grass down your throats because they’re all SOCIALISTS.
RUSSIAN TROLL ONLINE: Hillary Clinton has child slaves underneath a pizza parlor in Queens stealing everyone’s purple grass and painting it green.
TRUMP: *retweets Russian troll*
NEWS MEDIA: *legitimizes retweet by airing footage of it all day*
TUCKER: The Democrats are coming for your grass! 2nd amendment!!!
JIM JORDAN: *screaming* THEY HAVE NO PROOF WHATSOEVER THAT GRASS IS GREEN! NONE!
SCIENTISTS: Um, actually, we have irrefutable scientific proo...
JIM JORDAN: *screaming louder than all the scientists* NONE!!
HANNITY: Anybody that tells you grass is green is part of the deep state.
YOU: But grass IS green.
YOUR GRANDMOTHER AT THANKSGIVING DINNER: Are you part of the deep stage?
YOUR COUSIN IN PENSACOLA: *posts Breitbart meme on Facebook of cartoon frog smoking purple grass*
TRUMP: *tweets* Deep state! Socialists! 2nd amendment! I saw green grass the other day but it was artificial turf! That’s proof that all green grass is FAKE!
NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE: Grass still green.
NOBODY: *reads newspapers*
RNC: *already mass producing purple hats with clever 2020 re-election slogan all made in China*
CHINA: *laughing in Chinese* Americans are assholes.
BARR: The report states that Trump is totally exonerated.
EVERYONE: There is no report.
LANDSCAPER IN INDIANA: It’s against my religious beliefs to plant green grass.
TRUMP: *already onto the next scandal*
EVERYONE: Oh for fucks sake. Sure. Grass is purple. This is too fucking exhausting. Who cares anymore.
UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED FACT: Grass is now both green and purple at the exact same time.
PLANET EARTH: *heats up to the point where grass no longer exists*

The best one I have seen in a nutshell - Facebook

Our lives today.

UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED FACT: Grass is green.
TRUMP: *tweets* Grass iz purpil.
EVERYONE WHO HAS EYES: Is he saying that grass is purple? Um, no it’s not. It’s green.
FOX NEWS: Grass is purple.
CNN: Breaking news: New debate rages about whether grass is green or purple.
EVERYONE: I’m sorry, what? Grass is green. There’s no debate.
CNN: Well we have to be fair and legitimize both sides.
EVERYONE: Grass is green. There is no other side.
TRUMP: *addresses news media on White House lawn*
REPORTER: What about the green grass that you’re literally standing on?
TRUMP: You’re very rude. The fake news media is very unfair to me!
TRUMP BASE: *chanting* Grass is purple! Grass is purple!
KELLYANNE: The democrats are trying to shove green grass down your throats because they’re all SOCIALISTS.
RUSSIAN TROLL ONLINE: Hillary Clinton has child slaves underneath a pizza parlor in Queens stealing everyone’s purple grass and painting it green.
TRUMP: *retweets Russian troll*
NEWS MEDIA: *legitimizes retweet by airing footage of it all day*
TUCKER: The Democrats are coming for your grass! 2nd amendment!!!
JIM JORDAN: *screaming* THEY HAVE NO PROOF WHATSOEVER THAT GRASS IS GREEN! NONE!
SCIENTISTS: Um, actually, we have irrefutable scientific proo...
JIM JORDAN: *screaming louder than all the scientists* NONE!!
HANNITY: Anybody that tells you grass is green is part of the deep state.
YOU: But grass IS green.
YOUR GRANDMOTHER AT THANKSGIVING DINNER: Are you part of the deep stage?
YOUR COUSIN IN PENSACOLA: *posts Breitbart meme on Facebook of cartoon frog smoking purple grass*
TRUMP: *tweets* Deep state! Socialists! 2nd amendment! I saw green grass the other day but it was artificial turf! That’s proof that all green grass is FAKE!
NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE: Grass still green.
NOBODY: *reads newspapers*
RNC: *already mass producing purple hats with clever 2020 re-election slogan all made in China*
CHINA: *laughing in Chinese* Americans are assholes.
BARR: The report states that Trump is totally exonerated.
EVERYONE: There is no report.
LANDSCAPER IN INDIANA: It’s against my religious beliefs to plant green grass.
TRUMP: *already onto the next scandal*
EVERYONE: Oh for fucks sake. Sure. Grass is purple. This is too fucking exhausting. Who cares anymore.
UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED FACT: Grass is now both green and purple at the exact same time.
PLANET EARTH: *heats up to the point where grass no longer exists*

Monday, November 25, 2019

This is Oahu

Most of us old timers have been social dancing for a while and think we have pretty well seen it all. We haven't but we have seen a lot; There are many styles of dance to choose as favorites, each with its own attractions. Popular styles of dancing on Oahu include:

Ballet – mostly performed to classical music, this dance style focuses on strength, technique and flexibility. -  Ballroom and Social dancing – this involves a number of partner-dancing styles such as the waltz, swing, foxtrot, rumba and tango. -  Bachata - is a social dance from the Dominican Republic and danced to Bachata music. The basic dance sequence is performed in a full 8-count, consisting of three steps and a tap. -  Nice beginning, and many people on Oahu are going for these dances. Then, of course, we have more to choose from.

 "There is a hell of lot of dancing in this old island of ours."


Belly dancing – originating in the Middle East, this dance style is a fun way to exercise and mainly for women. - Country dance - dances are done to country-western music. These dances may include: Waltz, Cha Cha, Polka, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Nightclub Two Step that are well known in our social dancing.- Hip-hop – performed mostly to hip-hop music, this urban dance style can involve breaking, popping, locking and freestyling. - Jazz – a high-energy dance style involving kicks, leaps and turns to the beat of the music. - There are many dance fads that have come and gone. And there at least four new ones on Oahu waiting in the wings, and perhaps they may eventually go.

"The Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed


Line Dancing - is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows, all facing either each other or in the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. - Salsa – involving a mixture of Caribbean and other Latin American influences, salsa is usually a partner dance and emphasizes rhythms and sensuality. - Square-dancing – a type of folk dancing where four couples dance in a square pattern, moving around each other and changing partners. - Tap dancing – focuses on timing and beats. The name originates from the tapping sounds made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch the ground, - For sure there are more dancers on Oahu now than before.

 "Social dancers are not afraid to start over. It’s a brand new
opportunity to rebuild what they truly want."

Wahiawa Recreation Center

Nice Friday the 15th. and I had enough to do. (very important when you are old.) My nurse from the VA. came in before noon and she sure knows what she is doing, She got all my physical data and will help me with more.  Then I had to do some work and then get ready for the Trip to Wahaiwa. The Handi Van was right on time, and having two other passengers helped to minimize my guilty feelings of using it for my own personal use.

"We can all love November and the American tradition of Thanksgiving.
But in reality, every day should be thanksgiving."


Got there too early but I will not complain, The Handi Van gets me there and gets me back home. The early birds were Carol Mendoza, Rod and Rosalie getting things ready for the dancers. Soon enough Leland and Maile got there with their equipment and it was starting to look good. In a few minutes, more members were arriving with the goodies of food to share with our fellow dancers.

"With A Song In My Heart" by Mario Lanza


Leland quickly set up his Musical equipment and he sure knows what the people like in music. He is getting a very good reputation. He knows that his classics from way back are acknowledged as something experienced dancers will love forever. Bachata seems to have been accepted very gracefully and the floor was getting heavy with dancers, The people are all friends and it shows. New people are welcome, of course.

"There is always, always something to be thankful for." 


On Thanksgiving Day, say a prayer of thanks to the Almighty, for the bountiful gifts bestowed upon you. Many years ago, the Pilgrims of Plymouth did so. They shared their food with the natives of the land, who had helped them in times of misery. The tradition of sharing the Thanksgiving meal continues even today. In honor of that tradition, you can share your gifts with friends and family.

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page


The feed is simply the greatest because no one know the choices. I never know what Maile will put in my take home package. But it is always my best meal of the month. There is always plenty to eat and they make good use of the delicious leftovers. Completes the happy day for many. I got ready to leave before 9:30 and the Handi Van was only a few minutes late, fine by me. Got home a little after ten and had me a nice meal and I can surely thank all the nice people at this party.

“Life's may be just a bunch of accidents, connected by one perfect end.”



Sunday, November 24, 2019

Benevolent Oligarchies

There maybe 100 different dance organizations in Hawaii. The structure is pretty much the same as in the Mainland except that they have many more competition dances. The biggest group are the social dance clubs.The second are the Dance Studios and the third the Dance Night Clubs. Dance Studios and Dance Night Club are more business enterprises than the social clubs. Most decisions are made by the owners and the members are actually customers. They may have suggestions but the owners make the final decisions. The social dance clubs are "Benevolent Oligarchies" in which most of the power is held by a small group of people, "the elite."

“Social dancers believe that the same stream of life that runs through their veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures."


There are two other classes in a dance oligarchy, the AA class which is more involved in helping the elite to make every function a success - dance classes, dance socials and any other special dinner occasions. There is some interchange from this class to the elite, back and forth. The A class are members but more like a regular customers. They attend regularly and abide by the well known program and feel free to give an opinion now and then. If they say that you can't fight the oligarchy, they mean the leaders of such a place. The word may also refer to the few powerful people in charge of a large company or system.


Most small Dance Clubs here and on the Mainland have 5 to 7 percent of the membership in the Elite. The medium sized dance clubs at 10 to 15 percent of the membership. The more successful have over 20 percent, which is very good when you figure the second class at over 30 percent. More Democracy. The only trouble is that there is more susceptibility for a spin off into a new and separate club.  Remember the important thing is to Socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

"Social dancers believe that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. The future you see is the future you get."

Benevolent Oligarchies

There maybe 100 different dance organizations in Hawaii. The structure is pretty much the same as in the Mainland except that they have many more competition dances. The biggest group are the social dance clubs.The second are the Dance Studios and the third the Dance Night Clubs. Dance Studios and Dance Night Club are more business enterprises than the social clubs. Most decisions are made by the owners and the members are actually customers. They may have suggestions but the owners make the final decisions. The social dance clubs are "Benevolent Oligarchies" in which most of the power is held by a small group of people, "the elite."

“Social dancers believe that the same stream of life that runs through their veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures."


There are two other classes in a dance oligarchy, the AA class which is more involved in helping the elite to make every function a success - dance classes, dance socials and any other special dinner occasions. There is some interchange from this class to the elite, back and forth. The A class are members but more like a regular customers. They attend regularly and abide by the well known program and feel free to give an opinion now and then. If they say that you can't fight the oligarchy, they mean the leaders of such a place. The word may also refer to the few powerful people in charge of a large company or system.


Most small Dance Clubs here and on the Mainland have 5 to 7 percent of the membership in the Elite. The medium sized dance clubs at 10 to 15 percent of the membership. The more successful have over 20 percent, which is very good when you figure the second class at over 30 percent. More Democracy. The only trouble is that there is more susceptibility for a spin off into a new and separate club.  Remember the important thing is to Socialize. Socialize. Socialize.

"Social dancers believe that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. The future you see is the future you get."

Update

I am having too much fun in using my Twitter and Facebook. I am getting plenty of feedback and I reply to much of it too. That plus the five blogs and my medications give me a full day seven days per week. I have to plan on going to some Night Clubs. I cannot eat or dance, but I can blog'em. I have my Rolador but if invited, I can get there and back by Handi Van, they are the greatest. Meanwhile I can pick up a lot of information to share on the Internet.

The somewhat uncomfortable feeling social dancers get from watching an uncoordinated person dance is akin to watching a public speaker with a stammer,"


Meanwhile most Clubs on Oahu are looking for anyone that wishes to be a customer. Whereas a few are finding ways to communicate their preferred customers - "The Tango Crowd?" - "The Salsa Crowd." And of course the key is the type of music being played. The easiest is the club featuring the young crowd with plenty of the latest music provided by some of the best updated DJs in the Pacific. Then there is the more "experienced" dancers may prefer live bands that play many of the oldies but goodies. "Classics" that may be played for rest of this century.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho


Mākaha (Hawaiian for “fierce” or “savage” ) is a census-designated place in Honolulu County, Hawaii, It is a town located along the Pacific coast, west of the Mākaha Valley, and at the foot of Mt. Ka'ala in the Wai’anae Mountain Range. It is the last of the leeward towns on O'ahu. North of Mākaha is little development, i.e. no towns, no gas stations, or restaurants. The population of Mākaha was 8,278 at the 2010 census. It is located 35 miles northwest of Honolulu, but is firmly on Oahu, You don't have to live in downtown Honolulu.

"The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we
are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw
ourselves out into the open. Do it on Oahu. Throw yourself out.”

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Oahu Thanksgiving

Most Thanksgiving Dance Parties will be over this weekend and just a few will be held next week. People will be planning to having Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. All very well and good.The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621 almost four hundred years ago, This feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. There was no mention of illegal immigrants or white supremacy.

"Social dancers believe that where words leave off, music and dance begins.”


The holiday season is finally here — which means it's time for all things red, green, merry, and bright. And while we obviously adore Christmas and all it has to offer, it can sometimes be all too easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday preparations. Fortunately social dancers have many good choices.

"Hark, The Herald Angels Sing."


Nothing kicks off the holiday season quite like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From boppin' elves to singing Christmas trees, the parade is one to watch—and definitely one to dance in. Every year, the famed Spirit of America Dance Star team performance gathers tons of dancers from high schools and studios from across the country. So what was it really like to dance in the parade last Year?

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
At this time of year, the air is filled with seasonal music. It’s light, bright and rich with the spirit of the Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. So if you’re organizing that holiday party and want your guests to do some social dancing. probably the most common music is Foxtrot. Social (or American) Foxtrot is very forgiving when it comes to music pacing, so you can dance to a great many tunes that might not work well for other dances. International-style Slow Foxtrot is significantly more limited because it only works comfortably within a strict range of timing values due to the technical precision required for this dance.

"In our walks of rediscovery we try to befriend Growth and that introduces us to Experience. That comes and goes but it does leave footprints in our memories."

Oahu Thanksgiving

Most Thanksgiving Dance Parties will be over this weekend and just a few will be held next week. People will be planning to having Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. All very well and good.The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621 almost four hundred years ago, This feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. There was no mention of illegal immigrants or white supremacy.

"Social dancers believe that where words leave off, music and dance begins.”


The holiday season is finally here — which means it's time for all things red, green, merry, and bright. And while we obviously adore Christmas and all it has to offer, it can sometimes be all too easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday preparations. Fortunately social dancers have many good choices.

"Hark, The Herald Angels Sing."


Nothing kicks off the holiday season quite like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From boppin' elves to singing Christmas trees, the parade is one to watch—and definitely one to dance in. Every year, the famed Spirit of America Dance Star team performance gathers tons of dancers from high schools and studios from across the country. So what was it really like to dance in the parade last Year?

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
At this time of year, the air is filled with seasonal music. It’s light, bright and rich with the spirit of the Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. So if you’re organizing that holiday party and want your guests to do some social dancing. probably the most common music is Foxtrot. Social (or American) Foxtrot is very forgiving when it comes to music pacing, so you can dance to a great many tunes that might not work well for other dances. International-style Slow Foxtrot is significantly more limited because it only works comfortably within a strict range of timing values due to the technical precision required for this dance.

"In our walks of rediscovery we try to befriend Growth and that introduces us to Experience. That comes and goes but it does leave footprints in our memories."

Friday, November 22, 2019

Dancing in the Central Valley

Beautiful Thanksgiving Dance Party on Friday 15th at the Wahiawa Recreation Center. Lot of of nice people, very good music, delicious food and above all enjoyable dancing. I cannot take photos but I can pass my camera around. This time I got enough photos for four blogs, using only the best ones. So we are not professionals, we are learning. First Blog, on Monday was Social Dance Oahu. Second on Tuesday, was the Dance And Live, Wednesday, Oahu Dancers and the last today, Town Dancer. I deleted about 15 photos that were too blurry. But I want to thank all these good people willing to help spread the word by taking photos of their friends.


Got there too early but I will not complain, The Handi Van gets me there and gets me back home. The early birds were Carol Mendoza, Rod and Rosalie getting things ready for the dancers. Soon enough Leland and Maile got there with their equipment and it was starting to look good. In a few minutes, more members were arriving with the goodies of food to share with our fellow dancers.

"In This Life" by Amy Hanaialii


The Music was set up and Leland sure knows what the people like in music. Getting a very good reputation for he knows classics from way back. They are acknowledged by all as something experienced dancers will love forever. Bachata seems to have been accepted very gracefully and the floor gets heavy with dancers very easily. The people are all friends and it shows. New people are always welcome, of course..

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of Thanksgiving."


Social Dancers can give thanks for each new morning with its light:
for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for music
and dance, for love and friends, and for everything
that goodness sends. Happy Thanksgiving!


The feed is simply the greatest because no one know the choices. I never know what Maile will put in my take home package. But it is always my best meal of the month. There is always plenty to eat and they make good use of the delicious leftovers. Completes the happy day for many. I got ready to leave before 9:30 and the Handi Van was only a few minutes late, fine by me. Got home a little after ten and had me a nice meal and I can thank all the nice people at this party.

"Gratitude may make sense of our past, may bring peace for today,
and just may create a vision for tomorrow."

Monday, November 18, 2019

Thanksgiving Dance in Wahiawa

Nice day and I had enough to do. (very important when you are old.) My nurse from the VA. came in before noon and she sure knows what she is doing, She got all my physical data and will help me with more.  Then I had to do some work and then get ready for the Trip to Wahaiwa. The Handi Van was right on time, and having two others helped to minimize my guilty feelings of using it for my own personal use.


Got there too early but I will not complain, The Handi Van gets me there and gets me back home. The early birds were  Carol Mendoza,  Rod and Rosalie getting things ready for the dancers. Soon enough Leland and Maile got there with their equipment and it was starting to look good. In a few minutes,  more members were arriving with the goodies of food to share with our fellow dancers.

“If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.”


The Music set up and Leland sure knows what the people like in music. Getting a very good reputation. He knows. Classics from way back are acknowledged as something experienced dancers will love forever. Bachata seems to have been accepted very gracefully and the floor was getting heavy with dancers, The people are all friends and it shows. New people are welcome, of course..

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
~ Confucius


The feed is simply the greatest because no one know the choices. I never know what Maile will put in my take home package. But it is always my best meal of the month. There is always plenty to eat and they make good use of the delicious leftovers. Completes the happy day for many. I got ready to leave before 9:30 and the Handi Van was only a few minutes late, fine by me. Got home a little after ten and had me a nice meal and I thank all the nice people at this party.

 “The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.”


Social dancing is so much more than just grooving on the dance floor to your favorite tunes. In fact, you’ll be surprised how many benefits are associated with dancing. In the company of so many nice people, not only does it train your brain and your body’s motor skills but it also is an excellent exercise for your entire body. As such, it helps you to stay physically and mentally fit. Even more so, dancing regularly can improve your general well-being, boosts your self-esteem and has also been shown to improve your social skills. Thanksgiving is for good reason. Happy Dancing.

There are enough pictures for another blog.

Thanksgiving Dance in Wahiawa

Nice day and I had enough to do. (very important when you are old.) My nurse from the VA. came in before noon and she sure knows what she is doing, She got all my physical data and will help me with more.  Then I had to do some work and then get ready for the Trip to Wahaiwa. The Handi Van was right on time, and having two others helped to minimize my guilty feelings of using it for my own personal use.


Got there too early but I will not complain, The Handi Van gets me there and gets me back home. The early birds were  Carol Mendoza,  Rod and Rosalie getting things ready for the dancers. Soon enough Leland and Maile got there with their equipment and it was starting to look good. In a few minutes,  more members were arriving with the goodies of food to share with our fellow dancers.

“If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.”


The Music set up and Leland sure knows what the people like in music. Getting a very good reputation. He knows. Classics from way back are acknowledged as something experienced dancers will love forever. Bachata seems to have been accepted very gracefully and the floor was getting heavy with dancers, The people are all friends and it shows. New people are welcome, of course..

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
~ Confucius


The feed is simply the greatest because no one know the choices. I never know what Maile will put in my take home package. But it is always my best meal of the month. There is always plenty to eat and they make good use of the delicious leftovers. Completes the happy day for many. I got ready to leave before 9:30 and the Handi Van was only a few minutes late, fine by me. Got home a little after ten and had me a nice meal and I thank all the nice people at this party.

 “The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.”


Social dancing is so much more than just grooving on the dance floor to your favorite tunes. In fact, you’ll be surprised how many benefits are associated with dancing. In the company of so many nice people, not only does it train your brain and your body’s motor skills but it also is an excellent exercise for your entire body. As such, it helps you to stay physically and mentally fit. Even more so, dancing regularly can improve your general well-being, boosts your self-esteem and has also been shown to improve your social skills. Thanksgiving is for good reason. Happy Dancing.

There are enough pictures for another blog.