Shall We Dance? Rerun #70

We all agree that social dancing is just for fun, recreation, exercise and socializing. We all learn our steps and patterns and yet the overall enjoyment of experience does not lessen the fact that our dance floors, at best, may be a difficult place to dance.

"Gossip is usually based on lies. Someone wanting to feel better

about themselves by hurting someone else." 

The smaller the dance floor, as in Night Clubs, the more difficult it becomes. To enjoy dancing better we must learn more than just steps and patterns. Actually it is easier for a beginner competitor to negotiate the competitive dance floor than it is for the same dancer to negotiate the social dance floor. In dance clubs, studios, night clubs and wherever, partner dancers must learn about floor craft and line of dance.

Key to floor craft is "Finesse" by both the leader and follower. Finesse by the leader and the follower is being skillful, nimble, practiced, adept and competent both in a physical and intellectual way. And that is acquired by "practice" and for social dancers "practice" means by getting out there on the dance floor dancing.

"Hanohano Molokai" by Melveen Leed

We start off learning any dancing with a degree of exaggeration and clumsiness. Fortunately, with time and the actual dancing for fun, enjoying the same dances over and over again in sheer joy, most dancers will develop the right moves to the music and will feel comfortable on the dance floor. Eventually everyone gets to the point where they are ready to phase into the intermediate division which may be just a little bit more complicated. We are fortunate that on Oahu we have some of the best to help us.

The Manly Art of Dance Strategy Rerun #70

From Dancing USA, 2000
By the Seagulls

Whether by nature or by nurture even in social situations, we men tend to think in terms of military-like strategies. In social dancing, we often feel that we must perform superlatively, which keeps many men away from dancing. We who have taken dance lessons, however, have joined the fray and willingly put ourselves in the line of fire, so to speak.

 "Yes, you can't take it with you, but that's the only place you can go without it."

Now that we are ready  to dance, there are some “rules of engagement,” which may help us carry out our mission in a social dance. So first we cover the general rules, then discuss specific stratagies for dancing partners of different skill levels.

The object of social dancing is to have a few enjoyable moments together (and sometimes to chat after.) It takes away from the magic to hear, “Oh, I am a terrible dancer,” or “Are you sure you want to dance with me? I’m just a beginner.” Such statements over-focus on the skill issue, ignoring the social compliment that we pay the lady by offering to dance with her - we want to spend time in her company and perhaps get to know her better.

"Are You Lonesome Tonight"   ...   Elvis Presley

Smile, look the lady in the eye and speak clearly when you ask her to dance. If you are very worried, follow the same instructions. It is diagnostic to see how the lady treats you. Is she kind? Does she look like she is having fun? Do not misinterpret advice to look confident as meaning you should be a “show off.” Our job is to make the lady look good, not to use her to make ourselves the center of attention.

Regardless of the lady’s level of skill, she will enjoy being complimented even if her training in modesty, makes her protest. If she is a good dancer we can compliment her dancing. “I’ve admired your skill on the floor,” “It’s a pleasure to watch you,” “You follow so easily,” “You feel so light,” If we can not sincerely compliment her dancing, we can surely compliment her appearance. “That color is lovely on you,” “What a wonderful smile you have,”or her manner, “You have such an infectious laugh,” “I really enjoy your conversation.”  *  *  *  *

"Hey Good Lookin'"   ...   Hank Williams

Pub's Side Note: John White is from Arkansas, Peter Carlisle is from New Jersey and Caldwell was born in Waipahu. Can you guess which one said, "We gotta send these Flips back to the Philippines." Would you say all of them, only two, just one or none of the above? For our ongoing Poll. Hey, we are learning their methods.

Waltz Rerun #68

By Jeremy Tsu, Aiea

The defense of American waltz is not just as a money maker. By making you close your feet you learn to lower on beat 3. Later you can learn the much harder skill of lowering in open footwork. And to beat it all, American, Country and Latin Styles are much more social fun and do not require an acre of ground to enjoy.

"Every lie is two lies — the lie we tell others and
the lie we tell ourselves to justify it."

In truth Waltz had already evolved into something much different by lower class people in Europe, from the original Viennese Waltz by the end of the 19th century. And Country in the US was beginning to develop its own at about that time too. It is quite useful on dance floors where it's too crowded to travel. Later it was danced by older couples to big band music. It has further evolved into the perfect social type dance for homes, small community centers, and night clubs.

Country and American silver Waltz are very compatible in terms of floorcraft. American bronze dancers clog up the works unless they stick to the center of the floor. International Standard Waltz dancing seems to confuse or annoy the Country dancers, who are not used to maneuvering around couples which zig-zag across LOD. And to further complicate matters, there are even more different waltzes throughout the world.

"The Tennessee Waltz" By Patti Page

Country Waltz in also more of a progressive dance that very rarely moves diagonally across LOD (aside from partners crossing tracks), and includes lots of two-handed and cross-handed side-by-side and semi-open patterns where the lady spins or turns more than the man. The only syncopated steps commonly seen are ladies spins and hesitations.

Silver American style is more of a progressive dance, and it becomes more disciplined. It is mostly moving straight down LOD, and including more outside partner floor work than International style. Nevertheless, Waltz remains among some of the most beautiful music produced by humans in the world today and even more wonderful to move to it in dance.

Second City, where? Rerun #66

People are waking up nicely on the Waianae Coast in spite of our legislators that are paid by the Present Rail Party. They are beginning to recognize the items that make a Second City and it cannot be decided by Honolulu. Honolulu is after the Big Bucks only and the hell with the people.

"Truth is like the sun, you can shut it out for a while

but it ain't going away."

First we know that our legislators will never fix Farrington Highway. Gotta pay for the Rail Disaster. So at present we have very heavy traffic going to Honolulu and in the evening we have very heavy traffic come back from Honolulu. Even the Big Bucks people and our Legislators cannot deny that.'

So the Industrial Park is the obvious answer and unfortunately there are Big Bucks willing to stop that nonsense. Can you imagine an small Industrial Park in Mahaha? People going to work from down the coast, maybe as far as Kapolei, on a clear road and everybody else is going the other way. In the evening when Pau work, you are going home on a clear road and the dumb dodos are all going the other way. Anybody picking up on this action?

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

Do Gooders complain about Minimum Wage jobs. Well let me inform everyone. Minimum wage in Waianae for Waianae residents is worth ten times what it is worth in Honolulu. And I coulda been home in 20 minutes. I am sure that there are people out there that understand that.

I can get the #93 bus at six in the morning in Makaha and be in downtown Honolulu by 7:30, right today. Look it up, when the Rail Calamity is built it will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get to downtown. Rapid Transit? Biggest con job ever perpetrated on the people of this island. Estimated cost going up to Ten Billion dollars. Easy Money. And the Present Rail Party will be making millions and millions of dollars in profits. It's the dollars, Scholars. It's the bread, Fred. And the people be damned.

People on the North Shore and Windward are going to pay through the nose too. Someone has been rooked? Waianae People are not dumb, they can think and it is coming to pass.

70th Anniversary Rerun #65

"There was a time when the world asked ordinary men
to do extraordinary things."

Seventy Years Ago, From the book, "Paratrooper's Odyssey"

It was a sight that had rarely been seen before and which may never be seen again, the last large-scale night parachute jump of World War II. An hour after midnight on the 15th of August 1944, scattered over 150 miles at ten airfields in West Central Italy, 396 C-47 airplanes began turning over their engines.

At ten-second intervals planes taxied down dirt runways, lifted off and circled into formation. The dust compounded by darkness was so thick that many pilots had to use compass bearings to find their way down the runways.

Take off times were from 0136 to 0151 for the first ten serials, depending on the first check point at the Isle of Elba. Each serial required over an hour to get into formation, a column of "V of Vs" nine planes wide.

The entire formation, from the head of the first serial to the tail of the last, was over one hundred miles long. This was the Albatross Mission, to drop five thousand thirty paratroopers in Southern France.

These men were scheduled to be on the ground several hours before the invasion started. By 0330, the first men were "hitting the silk," out into a darkness that was almost pitch black.

The Beginning

THE RULE OF LGOPs: Little Groups of Paratroopers
written by an Army man who did not like Paratroopers.

After the end of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs behind the lines on the battlefield. This effect is known as the rule of the LGOPs. This is, in its purest form, small groups of pissed-off 19-year-old American Paratroopers. They are well-trained, armed-to-the-teeth and lack serious adult supervision. They collectively remember the Commander's intent as "March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you..."...or something like that. Happily they go about the day's work.

Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club Rerun #64

Just receive from the famous Aunty Maile:

Reminding You This Week And Next Week!

April 26, 2014

And for May 2nd, 2014 

First News of Cinco De Mayo. This club is really rolling along just fine. Many people from Wahiawa, naturally. Also from Mililani, Waipio, Waikele and Pearl City. A club for social dancers. Blogging Hawaii the blog now firmly in second place behind Town Dancer but Oahu West staying within striking range due to Wahiawa Ballroom Dance information Contributions. Big difference when we get one more Two Center and if we get the Guest Author, second place for sure.

Still looking around Rerun #63

Haven't been to Ka'ena Point, but I am told that it is where you will find huge waves in the winter and great swimming and snorkeling in the summer. According to Hawaiian legend. Ka’ena point is the spot where Kanaka Maoli (the Hawaiian people) believe that the spirit of the dead person jumps of into the next world. Anyway it is way out and long forgotten by downtown Honolulu.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference - because it does."

Can you imagine a road around Ka'ena Point to Mokuleia, a distance of about three miles. No, Makaha has to deal with Honolulu and Mokuleia has to deal with Honolulu and never the twain shall meet. It's in the rules. How about "Keep the country, country?" Another good one to keep the people down. You gotta pay your dues to Honolulu first.

Going down the rest of the Coast there is quite a bit of Island dancing. Hawaiian, Samoan and Tongan. Very little Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese or Filipino. Some line dancing but hidden and apparently Ballroom Dancing is not even mentioned in polite society. And they have at present, at the Waianae District Park, the best dance floor in the West. Just beautiful, but there is no record of it ever being used for dancing.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

The time will come, as we find that we need Honolulu less and less in spite of the Present Rail Party. We shall live, work and play in our own kuleana and what a Paradise that could be. Meanwhile an introduction to dancing in the Central Valley. Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club.

It is closer than downtown Honolulu and a lot easier on traffic. Nice friendly people over there, more socially inclined than monetarily. The West is getting closer together now that the Rail Catastrophe looms. People along the corridor are in terrible troubles. In San Francisco, the Rail Fiasco was built and when they saw the results, it was torn down again. We shall see it come to pass here too. The money is so important to so many.