What is a Dance Professional?

by Janice Hashimoto, Village Park

In Hawaii, it is pretty simple. A person who hangs out his/her shingle and teaches dancing or dances for money is a professional which is pretty close to the truth. However, we are becoming more aware of the difference in dance professionalism. Specially when you compare the entire work attitudes and results of some of our amateur teachers with those that are monetarily compensated.

"Whatever is only almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors,

because being so near truth, it is the more likely to lead others astray."

We are fortunate to have some of the best amateur American Style dance teachers in the entire state of Hawaii. These are professionals in all except that they teach from the kindness of their hearts and not compensated in money.

At one time there was quote from a Professional in which he declared that there are no Semi-Professionals, they are paid or not paid and that was the difference, He was referring to the well known, Play For Pay Partners, Dally For Dough Daddies, Boogie Dates for Hire and Dance Escorts for a Fee. He was being kind. Because none of the people that he was talking about were anywhere near his level of professionalism.

"Blue Angel"by Roy Orbison

Since the set up in Hawaii is pretty well done, then all you have to do is look for the results.  And that will take some doing, but fortunately it is coming out. At the moment the easiest ones that are being judged professionally are the Masters of it, the International Style Dancers. And we are gradually coming to the right conclusions even for those of us that do not know much.

There seems to be two groups that consistently produce the best International dancers on this Island. By the same token there are two groups that consistently produce the worst International dancers on this Island. Fortunately for us, (as American Style dancers,) we do not have the qualifications to judge them.

There is more? Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Someone out there is waiting to make a more complete write up.

Pub's Side Note: There are three rules for getting guaranteed hits in a blog. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.