Micro Blogging

Since Blogger was launched in the 1990s, blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others. And some of us thought that the entire enchilada was just getting started. It had evolved from Web sites into a more current information distributor. A dancing blog gave us our own voice on the internet. It was a place to collect and share things with our dance world that we found interesting - whether our political commentary, a personal dance diary, or links to web sites we wanted to remember. Then came the Trump Pandemic and Social Dancing came to a stand still.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing

is not to stop questioning.” —Albert Einstein.

 

The Micros arrive slowly at the beginning of this century, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and others. Micro blogging is an online medium that exists as a specific form of blogging. A micro-blog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically smaller in both actual and aggregated file size. Micro-blogs allow users to exchange small elements of content such as sentences, individual images, or video links, which may be the major reason for their popularity. These small messages are sometimes called micro posts. As with traditional blogging, micro-bloggers post about a wide range of topics.

"Blogging may be good for our dance reputation. A good entry in a blog

may set us apart as helpful people in our cultural dancing."

Men Don't Dance

When you first start taking ballroom lessons a number of your male friends may reacted negatively. They may think it is funny or not manly enough. You may be told "Men don't dance". Are you kidding me? Men don't dance? How did we get to a point where it was considered unmanly to dance? Men, you are missing it! Married or single, the women in your life want to dance with YOU!!! How can you not want to dance You get to dress nice, meet and hold beautiful women in your arms (and they are all beautiful) and it's great exercise

“Social dancers think that sometimes it is stupid to hope,

but we all know that sometimes hope is all we have.”

Did I mention beautiful women? Men don't dance? The facts say something different: In Western aristocratic education, dancing was a requirement for a future courtier. A chivalrous knight was expected to achieve individual glory in war, as well as uphold virtues ranging from loyalty and humility to self-sacrifice and faith in Christian beliefs. He was expected to be courteous, loyal to his lady love, gifted in the arts of dance, conversation, music. So we have to adjust, somewhat here on Oahu, in 202

“The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music,

and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable

Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.” – Charles Baudelaire

 

Blogging

Many dance blogs are still personal accounts of one person’s dance experience. But blogging may be long pages of information and the Micro Blogs have emerged. Tweeter and Facebook among the most prominent and most have a very short paragraph and one graphic. If you surf the internet, you will come upon many of them. All of the blog readers are typically blog writers too. We are all reading each other’s stuff. And it is happening more in the Micro Blogs. Bloggers are starting to take a more deliberate approach to their content and finding a more solid audience via social media.

“Social dancers believe that if we lose hope, somehow we lose the vitality

that keeps us moving, Today we still have our dreams.”

Practically everyone that has a computer on Oahu is a blog reader today and, if you are breathing, you may have a web presence on at least one social network. In our dancing world on Oahu, it has all come to a crawl. No dancing to write about and no dancing photos and videos, Many have photos and videos from a few years back and they are very well received. A dancing blog may be a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. Our own private thoughts. Memos to the world. Our dancing blogs are whatever we want them to be. There are thousands of them, in all shapes and sizes, so there are no real rules.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

Facebook and Twitter are much closer to home. The reader/dancers on this island are a smaller group and in a more personal manner.  In simple terms, a dance blog is a dance web site, where we write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so our visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email us. Or whatever and it is all up to them, no requirements, no commitments. Cheer up folks, stay safe and we shall dance again.

"Social dancers know that you can make foolproof,

but you can't make it damnfoolproof."

At Home?

So in Hawaii last year, the pandemic erupted, and many good things in life were put on hold. If dance lessons were one of those good things now missing from our routines, we still have hopes. They do not have to be forsaken completely. While nothing can replace club sessions with our club instructors, setting up space at home allows dancers to keep fit, work on moves, and burn off stress. Whether you fully dedicate a permanent space or set up a flex area that can accommodate other projects, there are ways to enjoy what we do.

"With the Trump Pandemic so bad, it may seem stupid to hope.

But sometimes hope is all we've got.”

Many people have formulated plans so that they will be ready when club sessions are back in full swing. As social dancers, learning new styles and techniques can further your enjoyment when you start to dance again. But staying in the present shape is more important because of the sheer enjoyment of moving to music. Why not use this time to enhance your abilities, and if possible, do a little bit of exploring. Building your repertoire and creative sensibilities can only help that much more when you can return to your club routine.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges.

Try to establish a solid plan for your practice by talking it over with your friends. Keep up your dance moves even if you’re solo. Why not break up your routine with some line dancing? At the heart of your studio is one simple thing, mirrors and contemplate what other equipment you need and research options. Keeping your space germ-free is safe, easy, and inexpensive with homemade supplies. We should be getting back to some resemblance of social dancing by the end of the years at the Thanksgiving Dance.

"As the Great Philosopher said, "No matter where you go, there you are."

The Latest

The Trump Pandemic is mainly spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols that are produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. Covering your nose and mouth is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and keep your fellow dancers safe,  Wearing a mask is more to protect other people from your own respiratory droplets. That is almost as effective as social distance. Six feet is adequate however ten feet is more effective.

 

“Social dancers believe that hope is a passion for the possible.”

 

Everyone in the studios is required to wear a mask, because people can carry and spread COVID-19 without having any symptoms. The more people wear a mask, the safer everybody gets to be. Masks are particularly important when you're indoors, because there's less airflow for respiratory droplets to disperse. If you're in an enclosed indoor dance studio, for example, your droplets will essentially be confined to that room, There are a few groups now, outdoors - Dancing in the Parks.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

Not to mention, you tend to breathe heavier during physical exercise, which means that you're spreading even more droplets, Keeping your nose and mouth covered throughout any dancing comes with its challenges, but it's worth it for your long-term health. Even if you're young and healthy, this virus can do horrible things, with lasting effects that could really have a negative outcome on your dancing. We do not hear much on Oahu. They do not care to advertise to get crowds. Every one has to  get in line.

"Social dancers think that it will cost you nothing to dream and everything not to."

What is Virtual Dance?

The Virtual Dance Sport Festival January 2021
In this difficult time on the mainland, they would like to give back to the dance community by providing jobs to the officials and letting the dance teachers and studio owners generate some extra income. They have come up with a project a Virtual Dance Festival that will take place in several virtual ballrooms via Zoom platform during January 2021. It is a way for many to share their love of ballroom dancing and show their support to the whole ballroom community from anywhere in the world.

“Social dancers know that the problem with hope is that it gets your hopes up.

But of course, hopelessness is worse.”

All the participants will be adjudicated by very qualified adjudicators from the US. It is everyone's hope that our dancers throughout the US will participate. It may be our way to support those who have been our teachers, our mentors, our coaches, and our support teams – those who have brought the joy of dance into our lives. It is our time to do this together in dance. There will be an orientation program via Zoom for all the participants and anyone who would like to consider participating in this unique event.

"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K

There will be a Zoom link for this workshop where you can ask any questions. It is everone's hope that this initiative will inspire dancers, teachers, studios, and officials around the world! The goal is to revitalize the dance industry by providing a new platform for competitive dancers during these uncertain times! Online with "Zoom" Please make sure you are familiar with the video program zoom.They will be holding the competition using this virtual, online competition. You can download Zoom if you do not have it. It’s free and will be the platform used to run this online ballroom dance competition.

"Social dancers wish to remind their competition friends,

Don't forget to be awesome."

 

Merry Christmas

So, all of us in our social dance scene on Oahu know that it is not good. We face the fact that things are not going to get easy soon. The dance community did very well in closing up, wearing masks and respecting social distance. And we all aware of the fact the entire state opened up too soon and too much. We are paying the price in human misery. All of us at this Christmas time want to share our best feelings and the message to all from the bottom of our hearts. Let's stay safe.

"Silent Night"

We should also say that we should be grateful and proud of the work that many have done every day in our dance scene. Our dance scene must not die, our Island grows and we will have the opportunity to offer better opportunities to many of our friends and loved ones. And we may realize that we have made some preparations so that the spirit of Christmas can be felt in all. It may inspire us to cleanse our hearts of all bad feelings, forgive the offenses and perhaps unite us even more as the great social dance family that we are.

"Good tidings to you and happy Christmas for today

and all the Christmases to come."