It is looking good.

There seems to be more people using the Internet to get their dance communication. This includes all the dance blogs and pertinent Web sites. Unfortunately few have counters so no one can tell how each one is doing. So, my blogs are coming down to seven and I may bring them down to six. Any with single digit average per day hits is out.

"The truth may not lead you to where you thought you were going,

but it will always lead you somewhere better."

The dance structure in town, both in the social dance clubs and the Night Club scene seem to be leveling off but still solid. With the Rail Disaster screwing up everything all around them and the traffic in town getting worse, the outskirts looks very promising. We are still waiting on the Waianae Coast but too many are in doubt because of the Rail Catastrophe and the horrible increase in traffic along Farrington Highway.

Don’t quit over doubts and questions, For there’s something you might learn.

Don’t quit when the night is darkest, For it’s just awhile till dawn;

Don’t quit when you’ve run the farthest, For the race is almost won.

Don’t quit when the hill is steepest, For your goal is almost nigh;

Don’t quit for you’re not a failure, Until you fail to try."

For many in town, the Palladium is still the best bet for social dance and covered very nicely by Dance Fever Oahu and Frank Sierra's two blogs. They get much dance news, not available to our blogs. All you have to do is tune in. Some of the very small clubs are showing sparks of life. Why not?

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

The Dance Studio and social dance center combination seems to be on its way and looks good, a natural combination. Now we are due for the other way around. The Night Club with dance lessons. It is coming and just because they sell booze.

Start again

The Nights for Dancing have morphed over the last few decades into something more than drinking alcoholic beverages  Night Clubs, all over the world are beginning to offer other liquids to quench your thirst. And our social dance world is changing into an Art.

"Our lives are the only meaningful expression of what we believe and in whom we believe. And the only real wealth, for any of us, lies in our faith."

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. This body consists of 14 individuals appointed by the President for their expertise and knowledge in the arts, in addition to six ex officio members of Congress who serve in a non-voting capacity.

"Frenesi" by Artie Shaw

The NEA is governed by a Chairman appointed by the President to a four-year term and confirmed by Congress. The National Council on the Arts advises the Chairman on policies and programs, as well as reviewing grant applications, fund raising guidelines, and leadership initiative.

"To those people who only have a hammer, everything
they encounter begins to look like a nail."

  

To date, the NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The Republican Attack Dogs and the Tea Party (Palin and Trump) are going to begin the tearing down of this beautiful endeavor, eliminate this "nonsense" and reduce the taxes on the rich, naturally. 

Live vs DJ

Who in society wouldn't benefit from these insights or the ability to tap into such an empowering resource?

If mankind has been using music for these purposes throughout history, why aren't we talking about the workings of music in these ways, thus giving everyone the knowledge and tools to integrate music into their lives in the most potent ways?

We are desperately in need of a new kind of music appreciation program -- one that offers everyone the "why" of music, impresses upon us its deeper values,

We all know that a typical CD released these days will have maybe one or two hits on it along with 12 other "throw away" songs that nobody has ever heard or would want to hear. What's the use of having thousands of JUNK songs?

and helps people better understand how we can most effectively harness its tremendous benefits and better integrate those into our daily lives --

 one that extends beyond the walls of a classroom by creating positive social change and empowering every member of society.

legends filled the airwaves, nightclubs and concert halls. By the time I graduated high school, the music that had filled my life outside those academic walls had inspired me enough to enroll into music school at the esteemed University of Michigan

and, following that, to pursue a career in music. It wasn't my desire to be a performer, however, that pulled me into the depths of study and practice;

 it was my realization and deep appreciation of how essential music was to my own well being and happiness, if not to my very survival.

Then there is also the "music lite" course called Music Appreciation, where even non-musically inclined people can learn about different aspects, styles, and eras of music.

These are often presented as a watered down combination of history and theory framed around the music and lives of dead white composers.

Even if I had access to one of these courses as an elementary school student, I'm not sure I would have fully grasped its relevance to my own life and experience growing in Detroit, nor to the music that consumed my attention for a high percentage of my waking hours.

 I was fortunate to eventually learn the fundamental's hows and whats of music through the conservatory and private lessons. But something was still missing, even at one of the highest-ranking music programs in the country.

The "How To" courses are great for teaching people to become more proficient performers, arrangers or composers.






Oracle has a songlist of over 500 well established, well known songs, in styles ranging from oldies to Top 40 dance, from classic rock to country, from swing & big band to R&B & Motown.


As for "The larger the guest list, the more variety needed in the music", I beg to differ. Most good variety bands these days can cover styles ranging from the big band era through today. Indeed, if you have TOO much variety there is no sense of direction to the music, no continuity. Remember that there is a big difference in "variety" (meaning the styles of music played), and "quantity", (that is, the sheer number of songs available in the repertoire).

DJs obviously have a big edge on quantity, but not necessarily on variety.

The mark of a good party, at least from a musical point of view, is to keep the dance floor busy. If you are playing such a variety that you're going from a classic rock song to a polka to a hip hop tune, you may well end up having a dance floor with only one or two people on it at any given time, and may NEVER have a packed floor. (Notice I said "may" never...just to keep things honest).
Bands Are Too Expensive

A friend of mine is a DJ that does a lot of weddings as well as Bar / Bat Mitzvahs. A typical Saturday rate for him runs over $1000! One guy!!! Let's take a look at this.

What does he do to prepare his music? He heads for Best Buy for the latest "Now That's What I Call Music Volume 332", and heads off to the gig. Some of these guys simply hit the internet and download the songs from their favorite MP3 file sharing site!!!...they have all the latest hits for free. Remind me again...what exactly are you paying them for?

Divino Ritmo class changes, dances and updates.

 Via Marie.

Divino Ritmo Dance Group Class & Studio SOCIALS  Schedule UPDATE:

Next  week Sept 14th to 20th NO GROUP CLASSES.
NO Tuesday 8pm, Wednesday 8pm, Thursday 7pm.
NO Keiki, Teen or Youth classes.

On September 21st resume to regular Schedule

Tuesday September 22nd  at 8pm
Starting  American Cha-Cha with Lucas
4 week session, all levels.

Wednesday September 23rd at 8pm
Starting International Cha-Cha technique and styling with Yanna
4week session, intermediate level.

Thursday September 24th at 7pm
Starting American Viennese Waltz with Lucas
4week session, all levels.

All group classes $50 per person for 4 week session
$15 per class, $40 4week session for DRD and ADC members
Membership can be applied
Divino Ritmo Dance,LLC
ALOHA DANCESPORT CENTER
350 Ward ave, 2nd floor, Honolulu
808 200-5540.

UPCOMING SOCIAL PARTIES:

September 13th  at 5pm  
Children Showcase and Social dancing

September 25th at 7:30pm.

Regular Monthly Social, DJ Ballroom Music and Dance Exhibition

October 3rd at 6:30 pm.

Afro Criollo Sound Live Latin Band Social Party

October 31st at 6:30pm   SPOOKY Halloween Party.

November 14th  at 6:30pm  Live band Social.

December 5th at 6:30pm Christmas Extravaganza.

Mahalo,

Marie.

 

One More Month.

The hits are dropping all around. But that is to be expected when I am rearranging so much. This blog will definitely be deleted according to the stats we have now and be combined with Dance Blogs. It will become my own personal blog and I will review all our blogs regularly.

"Yes, we would rather be hated for who we are,

rather than be loved for who we are not." 

Next most important is that we have two blogs running neck and neck for second place. Platinum Horseshoe, and Blogging Hawaii. In a couple months we are going to get more action in both of them and one of them may move into position of becoming independent. That, I would like to see. These are older blogs and have established some seniority.

"Lahaina Roadstead" by Loyal Garner

There have been some changes and there will be more changes to come and they will be decided by the reader/dancers. Of course, our Two Centers and Guest Authors will make a big difference in what the reader/dancers prefer. This is pretty much out of my hands.

"Night Life" by Don Ho

All the other blogs are still relatively new and still in process of developing according to the Two Centers and the Guest Authors. But increases in hits will continue to show in the next few months. I have determined that any blog with less than nine average hits per day should be deleted. Doble digits can show some viability even if only by myself. And with a regular Guest Author would go easily into the 20s.These blogs have great possibilities for public relations but the reader/dancers will be the ultimate judges.

Slow? Yes!

And we got through Happy Labor Day. The news is just starting to come in and Live Music is getting some interest. We will be getting recommendations with times and places to dine and dance.The Stats are going up very nicely. I suspect there will be few in this month that are going to venture an opinion. We not going to let others define our Dance Kuleana, "we" are going to do it and let the others do as they may.

"They say youth is wasted on the young. Did you waste yours?"

The biggest thing holding back the growth of these blogs is the lack of Two Centers that eventually might become Guest Authors. I reach my point of diminishing returns when I get to 30 average hits per day. I am not famous, so that some of you could go easily to 40 on your own blog or web site. I just have to accept my guesses. But in our blogs there is synchronizing. Wha' Dat?

"We should all know what we stand for, not just what we stand against."

Meanwhile, it is still nip and tuck between Blogging Hawaii and Platinum Horseshoe for second place. Out of my hands, the deciding factor will be the people that decide to get their 2 cents in and pick the blog of their choice. From there we can work on getting the first blog independent. That is my dream. And of course, Live Music could pick up and pass all of them, once it gets going.

Small Dance Clubs

There are literally millions of blogs on the Internet. And many blogs and web sites as well have perhaps 5 to 9 hits per day simply because they are new and have few readers. They have no counters either so they don't know how many hits they get.  I pushed the envelope, went up to ten blogs and clearly over diluted the readership.

 "Don’t quit when the tide is lowest, For it’s just about to turn"

Any blog with single digit average per day hits is out. I now have eight blogs, with counters, so that I have had the opportunity to make the stats for the eight blogs and to test the different aspects of social blogging. All my stats are based on the number of hits that Blogger makes available to us. And I am at the point when one more has got to go. Seven blogs seems to be about right and I count only legit hits.

Dance Hawaii in Waipahu moving right along with a good affiliation in the United Visayan Committee. The social dance club is relatively new and getting more of the beginners. Line dancing is prominent and beginners take good advantage. They will have a good shindig on Saturday and I will blog'em. I hope to get some photos and items of information.

"Sweet Someone" by Don Ho'

The existing clubs seem to be solidifying but there will be new ones on the coasts. The Rail Disaster has brought that out. It is much better to live, work and play in your own kuleana. Thirteen, fourteen hour work days can and should be avoided. That leaves, Waianae, Kapolei and the North Shore wide open for living in Paradise. 

 "What A Wonderful World" by Bruddah Iz 

Then there is this old time dance club, situated in town and many of the old timers that were there long ago have simply passed away. Now they are starting to pick up new beginners. Free dance classes Wednesday and Thursday. Come on in, no membership fees.