On Hold

Well, this will be the last blog posting until I set up in Pearl City. Perhaps in a couple, three days. Meanwhile everything is shaping up just fine. A few glitches but it is to be accepted and I just have to do the best I can.

 "Difficult times can help us to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. "

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

I sure got rid of a lot of stuff that I am now certain I will never need. I will be setting myself "light" so that I will not have so many commitments. And I hope to get information contributors and guest author take get fresh information to the reader/dancers. SOS is definitely not it and they can gradually take over.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

Meanwhile this blog continues to be leaning to Live Music and I know there are many out there that love Live Music. Those are the people that can contribute the most to help the Live Music group which gets larger every day. Much of it will be going to the outskirts of the Island to avoid downtown traffic.

Dancer's Law No 13C: If dancers view their problems close enough,

they will recognize themselves as part of the problem.

Wow! Augie Rey added to Divno Xmas Party!

Via Marie:

Thursday, December 3, 2015 –  6:30-9:30 PM.

CUPOLA THURSDAY Featuring a live performance by AUGIE Rey!

 
DIVINO RITMO’s December Dance at the CUPOLA is ushering in this Holiday Season with the finesse and Aloha of the engaging and accomplished local musician, AUGIE REY. Lucas & Yanna invite you to join us for Divino Ritmo’s December social dance at da CUPOLA!  Dance your hearts out to the swinging tunes of AUGIE and DJ Lucas. Come and be engaged by Augie’s special brand of charm….

CUPOLA is an event room located on the 2nd floor of the Honolulu Design Center (Inspiration Furniture), 1250 Kapiolani, 6:30- 9:30p. The dance is OPEN to the PUBLIC & Admission is FREE. Food & beverage are available for purchase. Happy Hour/Discounted pupus if ordered by 7pm.

Parking is FREE with validation. The Parking entrance is located on the Street level of the Piikoi side of the building.

For more info, contact:
Lucas Jaime (917) 568-3173
divinoritmo@aol.com
Yanna Samkova (732) 499-0407
Yannajs@gmail.com
Aloha Dancesport Center (808) 200-5540
Web Site:  www.alohadancesportcenter.com

****************************************************************

Saturday, December 5, 2016 -  6:30-10:30pm
Divino Ritmo’s Annual CHRISTMAS PARTY with Augie Rey!

If CUPOLA is not enough, Lucas & Yanna are giving us a very special treat by bringing to Divino Ritmo’s studio Christmas party, local recording artist, musician, entertainer, & nominee of the “Na Hoku Hanohano award,” AUGIE REY! AUGIE will grace us with his presence and infectious charm, singing and playing to tunes that keep you dancing! 

Come join Lucas & Yanna and the Divino Ritmo Dance Ohana on Saturday, December 5th, 6:30-10:30pm.

Place:
Aloha Dancesport Center (Home of Divino Ritmo Dance)
350 Ward Avenue, 2nd Floor
Aloha Dancesport Center [w/a 4,000 square foot wood floor] (808) 200-5540. Parking Options: Across the street @ Sports Authority or Street parking.

Web Site:  www.alohadancesportcenter.com

  

TICKETS:
$35 pre-sale, $40 at door
children under 18 yr old 50% off, under 12yr old free

Price INCLUDES:  Social Dancing, Buffet Dinner, Dance Performances, Live Entertainment featuring AUGIE REY. Grab Bag (optional participation)  – you bring one, SANTA will give you one from under the Xmas Tree!

RESERVATIONS:
Yanna Samkova (732) 499-0407
Yannajs@gmail.com
Lucas Jaime (917) 568-3173
divinoritmo@aol.com
Aloha Dancesport Center (808) 200-5540
Web Site:  www.alohadancesportcenter.com

And Down It Goes

Town Dancer now really operating with known controls. Less blogging equals less hits. I may increase the blogging when I get to Pearl City. The big classy dances at the Hotels get the most hits in any blog. Then the lessor ones are at the socials of the Dance Clubs. The drop in hits in our blogosphere is definitely there. Then there are two other control factors. The information contributor and the Guest Author.They will eventually make the difference for all communication with the reader/dancers.

"Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it."

With that in place, I can resign as Administrator and remain as Guest Author just to fill in the gaps while it evolves farther. Then the complete break must happen in order for the blog to have full freedom and they can make their own rules. Meanwhile, the most important people next to the reader/dancers must be recognized. I will have my hands full with the remaining blogs.

Yes, many people are interested and looking. School cafeterias are nice but we cannot change the environment that goes with dancing by too much. So we must find " dance floors" for our environment. When the International people were running things, they had to have a big, big dance floor and the famous Palladium was built. Unfortunately, it had to be designated as a Multi Purpose Facility. As a Dance Center it coulda been a contendah!

"We don't forgive people because we are weak, We forgive them because we are

strong enough to realize that people make mistakes."

Divino Ritmo Xmas party, Cupola and class updates.

Via Yanna & Marie:

Dear Students, Dancers

Join us for our Annual Studio Christmas Celebration.

Dress to impress and come to celebrate the wonderful time of the year, Christmas Holidays, with us on December 5th at 6:30PM.

See attachment for the details.

DRD GROUP CLASS SCHEDULE UPDATE!!!!

1. Thursday November 26th, Studio Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday

2. Thursday December 3rd Dance Social at CUPOLA , open to the public, free event 6:30pm  NO   GROUP CLASS

3. Other Group classes continue according regular schedule till December 5th. 
 

4. December 6th till 18th, No group classes ( all adult, keiki, teen and youth Classes)

5. Classes resume on December 19th but on revised Holiday Schedule:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays Adult Classes on Dec.22,23 and 29,30 as usual.

6. NO Thursday Classes on Dec. 24th and 31st.

7. Teen class will be rescheduled to another day of the week.

8. NO Friday class after December 5th till January 8th.

Thank you, have a wonderful Holiday season

Yanna and Lucas

Divino Ritmo Dance, LLC
Aloha Dancesport Center
350 Ward Ave. 2nd floor.
Nonolulu Hawaii
www.AlohaDancesportCenter.com
#808-200-5540

Coming Around

By Ray Hanamura, North Shore

For the first 16 years of operation there were monthly dances at Let's Dance L.A. on Main St. Once they moved into the Granada in Alhambra and they focused mainly on Salsa dances but everyone realized that that had left a void for Ballroom dancers in town.

“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.”

Truthfully there are not  many places for people to go social ballroom dancing in the Greater L.A. area. While dance studios traditionally offer social dances, the old way of dressing up going to a nightclub, socially interacting with friends, dancing to a live big band or really good deejay makes for a really special evening.

Why aren't there more social dance events? Many reasons. Most importantly, during the 60's and 70's ballroom dancing took a real hit from the rock and roll era. Ballroom dancing became uncool. After twenty years disco broke through and suddenly everyone was again realizing what fun touch dancing was. Followed very nicely by line dancing, dancing solo.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

After disco ran its course, Country Western got hot and a whole new segment of the population started touch dancing. Pretty soon whole new dance genres such as West Coast Swing, Salsa, Lindy Hoppers, Argentine Tango all started surfacing. Today there are too many diversifications with new fads coming in and out regularly.

In the mid 1990s Ballroom dancing started surfacing in colleges and major universities around the US. Around the world ballroom was just under the radar. In the late 1990s there was a huge explosion of ballroom dancing in the former Soviet Republics. Currently ballroom dancing is also huge in Asia. And it is sure waking up in Hawaii.

Dancer's Law No 24B: The optimistic dancer believes we live on the best of all islands. The pessimistic dancer fears that this is true. 

The Night Out

It is pretty definite that in this century there will be more dancing on Oahu and less listening to all the great music out there.  This is specially true of the 40 age group and older night of music and dance. They can start earlier than the young who like to begin their night at eleven PM and run it to the wee hours of the morning,

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth,

not going all the way and not starting."

Remember when we could just go out and dance the evening away? On Oahu we can still arrive alone or with a partner or in a group of friends and just groove to Live Music or professional DJs. And we do not have to conform to dance organizations ideas of dance. We will use our own simple movements and move to the music of our choice the way we wish. Throwing the woman over our shoulders is not considered dancing by us amateurs nor is standing the woman on her head.

And with the Rail Catastrophe almost upon us, a big portion of the Dance Action will be moving West. The residents of the West will do everything in their power to avoid going downtown with the bigger traffic mess almost here. Kapolei and Pearl City already going in the right direction.

Dancer's Law No. 37D: Fact is solidified opinion - Truth is elastic -
Facts may weaken under extreme heat and pressure. 

Brazil

As a very big country of many states, Brazil’s music is regional, with each section (sometimes specific cities) contributing distinct musical genres. Portuguese influences abound in the country’s rich and lyrical poetry, the exquisite melodies, and the instrumentation which included the accordion, guitar and violin families.

"When we make a mistake, we don't look back at it long. We take the reason of the thing into

our minds and then look forward. Mistakes should be lessons of wisdom.

The past cannot be changed but the future is yet in our power."

"Manha De Carnival" por Placido Domingo

Roman Catholic festivals and pageants remain as seasonal events in various regions in Brazil, and the Portuguese sentimental song forms such as the moda and the fado became staple genres. The European influences are not exclusively Portuguese, of course, as Brazil witnessed the arrival of settlers from Germany, Italy, Lebanon and even Japan and China.

"Moliendo Cafe" por Azucar Moreno

The Samba in Brazil is a different dance than what is danced in the European and American sectors. In Brazil it is almost exclusively chassé, and can be danced to slow, medium and fast music. The body gyrations are distinct. of course. in the different modes. You ever do a cross body lead in Samba? May be illegal or "incorrect" but done all the time in Brazilian Samba.

"La Distancia" por Roberto Carlos

In American and European modes, the basics can be quite complicated and were developed by dance teachers in both sides of the Atlantic. The music is usually fast and the dance is usually progressive. The various Hustles in the US developed from the need of the chassé to slower music and which can be done more beautifully using the Brazilian Samba movements.

"In Blogging, the best way to inspire fresh thoughts is to hit the publish button."

WE 21

My health is holding up and my depression is less. I look forward to moving to Pearl City. I will get out more, they have more sidewalks and a big shopping center. And a beer joint where I can stop by and have a beer. I am getting rid of a lot of my stuff that I don't use and don't expect to use it. I am making good time and should be ready to move by November 30th.

“The belief that there is only one truth, and that we are in

possession of it, is the root of all evil in this world”

Meanwhile I have been neglecting all my blogs and it is showing up in the hits. Way down. I have not been feeling well, and I have had troubles with my computer. I should be in much better shape in December. Going to the VA at Tripler will be half day instead of a full day like now.

Fortunately we start a new month and I will know more by next week. Meanwhile, any of you out there that have been wanting to say something to your fellow dancers, this is your chance. Whatever I write is SOS, but whatever you write is not SOS. Simple?

"Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw

The Top Three:

No. 1: Town Dancer is still holding first place with 33 average hits per day. That is equivalent to 1000 hits per month. Not that good but not that bad.

No. 2:  Platinum Horseshoe back up in the big three with 22 average hit per day which is about 660 hits per month.. I have expected that.

No. 3  Dancing Nights, is doing well in third place and very nicely in the top three, because of the good blogging by Richie Fun.

"I Believe" by Frankie Laine

The Ones in the running:

No. 4: The Dance Blog, back in the running but now I am more sure of its value as my own personal blog. It will never be in the top three but it will be close behind.

No. 5: Blogging Hawaii, still dropping and holding up in the number five spot. Patience we should see some change next month.

No. 6:  Latin Rhythms, came up one step because Extrava Danza not doing much. Of course, some dancers are becoming aware of the Latin Rhythm all over Hawaii. Just need a little recognition.

No. 7:  Extrava Danza, dropped down to the bottom of the totem pole. Gotta do something here. It started out to showcase live music but just not getting enough information from those in the know. Patience.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

I would be glad to have any other dance organizations that have counters join in our stats and I would be happy to share the stats. We can compare so as to do what interests the dancers more and do less of what doesn't interest them. Simple! - and we can please the reader/dancers, and that is the name of our game. Mahalo everyone.

Dance Law No. 41B: No matter what goes wrong, there
is always somebody who knew it would.

WE 21

My health is holding up and my depression is less. I look forward to moving to Pearl City. I will get out more, they have more sidewalks and a big shopping center. And a beer joint where I can stop by and have a beer. I am getting rid of a lot of my stuff that I don't use and don't expect to use it. I am making good time and should be ready to move by November 30th.

“The belief that there is only one truth, and that we are in

possession of it, is the root of all evil in this world”

Meanwhile I have been neglecting all my blogs and it is showing up in the hits. Way down. I have not been feeling well, and I have had troubles with my computer. I should be in much better shape in December. Going to the VA at Tripler will be half day instead of a full day like now.

Fortunately we start a new month and I will know more by next week. Meanwhile, any of you out there that have been wanting to say something to your fellow dancers, this is your chance. Whatever I write is SOS, but whatever you write is not SOS. Simple?

"Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw

The Top Three:

No. 1: Town Dancer is still holding first place with 33 average hits per day. That is equivalent to 1000 hits per month. Not that good but not that bad.

No. 2:  Platinum Horseshoe back up in the big three with 22 average hit per day which is about 660 hits per month.. I have expected that.

No. 3  Dancing Nights, is doing well in third place and very nicely in the top three, because of the good blogging by Richie Fun.

"I Believe" by Frankie Laine

The Ones in the running:

No. 4: The Dance Blog, back in the running but now I am more sure of its value as my own personal blog. It will never be in the top three but it will be close behind.

No. 5: Blogging Hawaii, still dropping and holding up in the number five spot. Patience we should see some change next month.

No. 6:  Latin Rhythms, came up one step because Extrava Danza not doing much. Of course, some dancers are becoming aware of the Latin Rhythm all over Hawaii. Just need a little recognition.

No. 7:  Extrava Danza, dropped down to the bottom of the totem pole. Gotta do something here. It started out to showcase live music but just not getting enough information from those in the know. Patience.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

I would be glad to have any other dance organizations that have counters join in our stats and I would be happy to share the stats. We can compare so as to do what interests the dancers more and do less of what doesn't interest them. Simple! - and we can please the reader/dancers, and that is the name of our game. Mahalo everyone.

Dance Law No. 41B: No matter what goes wrong, there
is always somebody who knew it would.

Live Music

This blog will eventually lead into many reasons for live music and we may have many aficionados interested. Then we can really get this blog rolling with people that are willing to share their precious information with their fellow dancers.

 “Experience is the name every dancer gives to their mistakes.”

When you think about listening to music, do earbuds and mp3’s immediately come to mind? Some people put their earbuds on when they get up in the morning and take they them off late at night when they go to bed. Bad Stuff. Do you mostly listen to music on your gadgets while traveling from one place to another?

"Maika'i Ka Makani O Kohala" by Carol Kai

If you can’t remember the last time you saw a live performance, this may just be the blog for you! Music doesn’t come out of a machine, a cloud, or a search engine. Take a good look around you on Oahu. Many people make this music, and it takes a lot of energy, dedication, and commitment.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

If you rarely see live music, it is easy to forget how much work goes into that killer beat, sweet riff, or those oldies but goodies. Go to a show and get close enough to see the passion, energy, and yes, sweat, that goes into making music. You will definitely walk away with a deeper appreciation for what musicians do.

The beautiful Articulated Buses: One tenth the cost of the Rail Disaster and five times more efficient.

From the Hawaii Free Press: After Months of Posturing, Council Committee Easily Approves Massive Rail Tax Hike.The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee gave preliminary approval to a bill that would extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent surcharge on the general excise tax through 2027 to help pay for the $6.57 billion rail project.

Business Park proposed for Kapolei and voted down by the

Present Rail Party.  And I coulda been home in 20 minutes.

The vote was 4-1 with Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi casting lone vote opposing the bill. Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga voted yes “with reservations.” The measure is now slated to be taken up at the Council’s Dec. 9 meeting, where all nine Council members will consider giving it the second of three needed approvals. If approved there, it would return to the Budget Committee for another go-around before returning to the Council again for a final vote….

Clue: All the Ernie Martin hype was just hype.

"Nothing is ever so bad that it cannot get worse." 

Japan Night Clubs

Dancing after a certain time at night is banned,in Japan unless you have a special permit. The permit, which is separate from the numerous other permits that night clubs have to apply for, requires the club to have at least 700 ft2 of space for dancers to get down. Not too bad, we need some room to dance in.

"To be able under all circumstances, to practice five things constitutes

perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul,

sincerity, earnestness and kindness." ~ Confucius

 

Think about what dancing was like during the 40s compared to what it’s like now. People danced more formally, and to swing and big band music. In the 70 years since the dance law, dance and dance music have changed dramatically.  Nowadays you don’t need enough room for a big band or a giant dance hall; a small dance floor and a DJ with a laptop is good enough for most people.

"Waimanalo Blues" by Carol Kai

The old law has been in effect for over 70 years, but hasn’t really been enforced by police until the last few years.  In cities like Osaka, Fukuoka, and even Tokyo, police have raided clubs to stop dancing, close down the club for the night or, in some cases, arrest the owner and shut down the club for good. We have been fortunate on Oahu, the government has been very nice and the clubs have tried to give the customers what they want.

"Maui  Waltz" by Loyal Garner

They have very nicely divided the dancers into the young and the more experience. The olders are really interested in dancing and willing to start at seven or eight in the evening. However, the young and the restless do not start until after eleven PM and going for the wee hours of the morning. To each his own.

Friend asked for advertising:

Male in his fifties, who drinks, dances and carouses wishes to meet lady who drinks,
dances and carouses. Object: drinking, dancing and carousing.

Holding On Nicely

Town Dancer seems to be still there. I will wait until I move to Pearl City and see what develops. Maybe I can get an additional Guest Author. That would definitely do it. This blog has always been a natural, it was just stuck with SOS and the different opinions are what make a good dance blog.

"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." ~Mark Twain

Losing the Super Ferry was a fiasco that will live for a century. Now the Rail is a fiasco that will live forever. In a city of 4 million, it makes good sense but on Oahu? Dumb Dodos. Of course the millions and millions of dollars in profits that are being made by "our" friends the contractors is a big plus. And the Rail has created over ten millionaires already, and  there are more coming into view. All "our" friends get rich and the public pays. As P.T. Barnum use to say, "There's a sucker born every minute." Of course, he was wrong, on Oahu, it is every second.

"Rags To Riches" By Tony Bennett

Meanwhile there seems to be more interest in dancing around the Island of Oahu, specially Kapolei and the North Shore. Unfortunately they want to "keep the country, country." And we all know what that means, no streets, no sidewalks, less money for schools and definitely no shoe stores. No places to work nearby. And the tourists will see all this and say, "How Quaint."

Dancer's Law No. 32B: Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

Evolution

The Extrava Danza of live music is evolving very nicely throughout the Islands. Music, not just for good listening but to enjoy moving to your favorites. The emergence of the "oldies but goodies" has had a very good influence on the entire enchilada. And we are fortunate to have so many good musicians out here in the middle of the Pacific.

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for
what happiness consists of.  You will never live if
you are  just looking for the meaning of life." 

As Commenters and Information Contributors to dance blogs, many of us have seen how powerful these reports, by others, have been in dancing events  on these Islands. And fortunately it is already beginning on Oahu very nicely 

for the benefit of our dancers.

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Jimmy Borges

"Lonely Summers" by Carol Kai

Today, dancers no longer have to wait until designated times to get their dance news and information. Not only that, they don’t even have to visit specific news sites to find out what’s going on. Dance news today is easily accessible wherever dancers are, and our blogs on Oahu are there for them.

How do you consume news? Do you utilize traditional media forms, or do you rely on new media outlets? There is a change coming and we must increasingly rely on the under 60. They can more readily accept the new trends and that's where our hits are coming from.

Music Producer: Another name for a Disk Jockey,

also called a Music Coordinator in some places.

Doing Very Well

Considering that I have cut back on all my blogging, this one is doing just fine. Fortunately we have Richie Fun as a Guest Author and with one more this blog would really roll. And hopefully we can get more Information Contributors the way Richie does.

 
"Many of us fail at times, but we get back up. We can make mistakes, but we can fix them. Strong people can  fail, but they can try again."

The established night dancing on Oahu is doing very well, and they are well covered with Public Relations. Newsletters, web sites, radio, newspaper and TV advertising.  So we have to ask the newer ones, how about getting your communications to the dancing public with little cost? We don't charge anyone so what is it going to cost you? It is your decision, not ours.

"Hawaiian Eyes" by Carol Kai

Meanwhile dancers are beginning to recognize the different classes of dance. Rumba, International Style is deluxe, top of the line, Competitions and Exhibitions.  American Style is most used in the Social Clubs throughout the Islands. Then there is a third kind that is strictly to enjoy moving to music and that in Night Club Dancing and it is learned from wherever.

"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" by Jimmy Borges

Overlapping/ Of course, it exists most everywhere except that there can be no overlapping "into" the International Style. That has been engraved on stone. However some of it overlaps into the American Social and the Night Dancing. So that both of them are constantly being modified slightly. And everyone learns to move to the music the way they feel and not to anyone's prescribed movements.

"Why didn't the skeleton go to the dance?

Because he had nobody to go with."