NC2S - Wot Dat?

Discotheques (Disco) with high quality sound systems, and flashing lights became a popular form of entertainment in Hawaii the 1970’s. A new dance craze became popular on the crowded dance floors of Waikiki in the 1980s. This “Touch Disco” was called the Hustle. The Hustle marked a return to popular dances where couples danced touching each other. The popularity of modern and “retro” music with “disco” beat keeps this dance fresh, exciting and full energy today.

“Do a loony-goony dance, across the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world, that ain't been there before.”

Does the word “Hustle” conjure images of Travolta line dancing in his bell bottom pants and famous disco pose? Well that couldn’t be further from the Hustle that is danced today on Oahu! It’s now a contemporary dance, always evolving and maintaining popularity. Hustle incorporates elements from several dances such as West Coast Swing, Latin dances and Ballroom arm styling. The quick rock steps should be matched with the quick drum beats in the music.

"Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) by The Crew Cuts

The "slow" drum beat and slow step can occur on any beat of a measure. Other rhythmic interpretations of the music are possible, including the use of "breaks" in the music. Another pattern in NC2S is the side-cross-side move. Typically, the lead starts this move by stepping to the side with their left foot and then crosses in front with their right foot. This is followed by another step to the side with the left foot. The rhythm, here, is quick, quick, slow. The follow does the same thing, but starts with their right foot. Both partners cross in front.

"Social Dancers know that if you take care of the sense,

the sounds will take care of themselves."

The Live Music Scene

By Jason Huang, Honokai Hale

On Oahu, it is not really that much different from regular social dancing.We dance the regular syllabus recommended by the American and International styles more or less. Each group is accustomed to doing their own thing and it usually works out just fine. The biggest difference is that the Live Music fans tend to be the older more experienced dancers. In their lifetime of dancing they have accumulated many favorite classic songs. And those are more prominently displayed in the Live Music Scene.

"Social Dancers dare to dream of their great success. They become intimate

with those things which deeply motivate them and regularly

work toward the realization of that mission."

Our dance blogosphere is getting more trim and efficient. It has become a welcomed relief to eliminate waste of time with those not interested in our kokua. We can devote more time to help those that are interested. Nice that it is coming up like roses. We do not have to talk stink about anyone, just help those that appreciate it, and appreciate those willing to help. Meanwhile we certainly find other benefits in our type of social-cultural dancing.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

It becomes an excellent hobby in order to lose excess calories and keep excess weight away. Having regular cardio exercise is vital to maintain your circulatory and respiratory system in tip-top shape. So it can be fun in addition to whatever else you do in regular exercising. Additionally it is a low-impact type of work out similar to swimming or bicycling therefore the risk of your weight-bearing joints getting hurt is much reduced. Keep up your Happy Dancing.

"Social Dancers have the simple idea that every person can do a good

deed for the benefit of others and the planet. Even a smile that

brightens someone else's day is a good deed."

Just Rolling Along

For being such a new kid on the block, this blog is not doing too bad. Now I must look for dance organizations in this sector that do not have a Web site or at least have some knowledge of the value of a blog site. Those are the ones that can find, in our blogs, the necessary Public Relations to enhance their recognition in the dance community. The cost? Zip, zero, nada!

"The challenge before us is to savor the unknown

and delight in the taste of possibility."

Then too they can compare the results with their friends that have Web or Blog sites. They may all be necessary but each one does things differently, we all have different and unique opinions. That is why we have a counters. We must know if we are just beating our gums. Some do it for their art and that should be acceptable. They all should do their own thing. There are few rules in blogging, so we are just looking for a new Studio, dance club, or community dance group in this sector, One that would like a little PR and help to make these Blogs into real Social Media.

"From Here To Eternity" by Englebert Humperdinck

Let us know, by the comments section in every blog. that is what we are here for. There are too many good people out there with the knowledge but short of confidence to take advantage of the offer. With enough information contributors, the hits will go through the roof, guaranteed. Traffic in town going to get worse? The entire West Coast is wide open and so is the North Shore. And we should accept that we are not clones and be glad to accept the different points of view. We will have Social Media. Nevah been done, befo'? I know that.

Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain.

Cherish the moment, ignore the pain.

Love and learn, forget and forgive.

Remember, you only have one life to live.

What Live Music?

The power of live music on Oahu is undeniable. It makes our reader/dancers feel good, it helps them to relax, and it's the most fun type of music to dance to. Luckily for those in search for the joy of sound, live music is on full display at a host of Oahu nightclubs, bars and restaurants. From raging bars with rowdy live bands to upscale ocean side lounges with mellow music, Oahu has it all when it comes to music venues.

"Obstacles do not always crush - most obstacles yield to stern resolve.
Those who are fixed to a star do not change their minds easily."

While many venues on the local music scene are clustered in the Waikiki area, there is a bit of  problem with the traffic and the parking and it is going to get worse. Fortunately there are terrific places to hear live music found on the North Shore. Live music is offered on a regular basis with a large amount of oldies but goodies and karaoke happens often. Many are part bar, part restaurant and part night club. Great happy hour cocktails are offered along with the full bar and classic Hawaiian cocktails. Many residents of Oahu enjoy these places and they are getting better every day.

 "Yesterday" by the Beatles.

In historic Haleiwa town there is a small developing night club scene, that could be augmented with a small tract of housing and a small business park. Bedroom communities were obsolete in the last century. More people could live, work and play in their own beautiful kuleana. It is taking a while, no one wants the Rail Tragedy. Most of the Live music happens on weekends. This blog is still an elementary work in progress and is at the bottom of the pile.

"Imagine" by John Lennon

Extrava Danza blog has a lot of competition in the dance field but little in the Live Music scene on Oahu, so it will just take awhile. The hits although slow in coming, are gradually going up. It is possible that they will get to the viable goal soon. Meanwhile we hope for the comment section and for information contributors from any fans of Live Music. Experience tell us the hits would go up. But you cannot know until you install the counter and Blogger gives it to us free of charge. You cannot beat that. So we polish our Dance Blogosphere everyday and it will get better.

"Social Dancers know that small deeds done
are better than great deeds planned."

Night Clubbing

Whatever - competition and show business seem to be fusing, because they are meant to be seen. And how about Caberet? Most of us agree that much of it is very beautiful, but then it was meant to be that way. It is not the same as Social dancing and that comes closer to the American and Country styles than International. You let the music move you according the way you hear it and interpret it. Not the same as the guy next to you? Probably and that's good. Cloning is somewhere else, please.

"In some dance groups, dancers will question all the good things they hear
about you, but believe all the bad without a second thought."

Night Club dancers have a fierce pride in being able to dance in their own way, without somebody stepping in and telling them they are wrong. Why? Because somebody said so. Yeah, man. The essential points of social dance welcome musical interpretation, experimentation, imagination, improvisation and spontaneity, thereby allowing the dancer to become one with the music. Can get complicated? Hell yes, but try not to let it interfere with your dance.The possibilities are endless in our social dancing as we try to communicate, collaborate and seek new discoveries in these blogs and let us enjoy dancing with each other. Feedback will make the difference in these blogs, Anonymous, No!

"Walk With Me Through Paradise" by Melveen Leed

Ed; I definitely think it is a sport. - Fred; I definitely think it is an art.

Red; For me, it's a struggle.

What is the purpose of going to a night club? For some, it’s just to experience dancing. If that’s your aim you’ll have fun no matter what happens. Just dance and be happy. For the rest of us, dancing can help us achieve other goals, such as meeting new people. When our goal is to become more social, dancing is the ultimate ice breaker. Instantly impressive, dancing can convince people to give you that all important chance to show them how great you really are and applies to both sexes.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

So what do you do as the lead, when you get that chance? Go for it and ask! When the dance ends and your partner is smiling, out of breath and you are leading her off the floor you have a few moments to use your advantage. Compliment her (if she hasn’t complimented you already) and ask a few general questions about her. Ask where she learned to dance. Dancing is what you both have in common, so use it! An ice breaker is simply a topic you know you can connect on. Listen and add your own input when asked. Next thing you know you’ll be chatting the night away!

"Line dancing getting in as per usual as a break in the regular social program

and gradually getting some good men in there."

Not So Good?

Now that I know a little more, This is the blog for Live Music on Oahu. Unfortunately it is at the bottom of the pile (The Magnificent Seven,) I have come to that point again and I must adjust. This blog must go into the help department - I must find a place to visit. Live music and dance, plenty of fans out there but none want to make any commitments and we cannot blame them. However there is the minimum of commitment in making comments or in being a Two Center.  I offer the platform and you can use it if and when you want to. Easy?

"Common Sense: The knack of seeing things as they are
and doing things as they ought to be done."

I am interested in dancing and the readers are interested in dancing. My only conclusion is to cool it and keep going and see how it develops. Perhaps this blog will develop and one of the others will go by the wayside. It is not that easy with the counters that I have, but the reader/dancers will still make the decisions. First to go will be the blog that is too far behind in counter hits. Our blogs are Social Media. Well, maybe we are not Social Media yet but I can see that we can go nowhere unless we make it Social Media. And that means feedback.

"From Here To Eternity" by Englebert Humperdinck

In our case the most important ingredients are the Comments section at the end of every blog, Just a comment or two on the dance situation from your viewpoint. Then with more information and/or photos, emailed from Information Contributors (Two Centers.) Different viewpoints? Of course and that's it! The simplicity in the solution is amazing. The difficulty is communicating to those that have the capability of understanding this. Never been done before? I know it.  And yet the promotion of Social Dancing remains our primary aim.

"Historia De Un Amor" by Luis Miguel

We will have our hands full with the new clubs forming and hopefully they will be for the social dancers. There are over 40 thousand potential good dancers on Oahu. We can help steer them into a little of the live music that we enjoy. I suppose we can keep quiet but why? Specially when we can enjoy more of the music which we call "oldies but goodies." How about "From Here To Eternity" in a Rumba-Bolero rhythm. Wow! The absolute berries!

"Social Dancers know that someday we will be just a memory for some people.

Let us do our best to make it a good one."

Disc Jockeys

A long time ago when we first had disc jockeys on Oahu, they usually played 45s and there was always a pleasant pause between songs. Then the profit makers stepped in, perhaps they needed no Disc Jockey. Just put it on a three hour tape and let it run. It has evolve to this day and not many know why. Nowadays, in many places there is only one song about 3 hours long.

“You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive."

Not many people know that much about music - what is playing or why. Everyone just takes a chance and does the best they can. It has worked very well in Salsa and Tango because it was Salsa or Tango all night long. But not many know anything about our music and the best way to play it. Most DJs on Oahu feel that they must keep up with the latest music. The line dancer DJs, are gems, and of course, there many good DJs in the social dance clubs on Oahu.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

But how about for social recreational dancers? They are still part of the old breed. There is nothing we can do for the perfect DJs out there, but perhaps we can convince some of the ones that are not perfect, that they can do better for the dancer. Most of the dancers and DJs will of course be pleased, and everyone will be coming out smelling like a rose.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

Feedback to and from each member of our dance community will evolve in these blogs. For now, not many understand feedback. Not this way. The readership is still going up ever so slowly, so we will get feedback. So far, it has been a one way street, the two way street will clinch our blogs. And there are photos to cover too. Photos that we can include in these blogs. Who?

Social drinking is the recommendation that men between the ages of 21 and 65 should not consume more than 2 drinks a day. Women and everyone who is over the age of 65 should not consume more than one drink per day. Here a drink is considered a standard beer or a standard glass of wine. A lot of people would argue that these safe limits are unrealistic, because going to a Night Club on Oahu will just naturally have everyone drinking more. And very few get stinking drunk in our social dance environment. We will go more into it later.

"Social Dancers know that good dancing goes with good health."