The Leading Blog

Town Dancer blog has been the surprise of this year. It is still up ahead of all the rest of our blogs and only with SOS (my blogging.) This may not be the greatest blog in the world but  on Oahu but it is certainly beyond the accepted expectations. And when you think what it could do with a few more information contributors. Wow!

"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves."

Whatevah, Town Dancer blog is doing very well. And many of the readers aspire to the dance competition style of dance and doing very well in the exhibitions too. They have every right to it. The social dance clubs in town seem to be well saturated and the long standing top five are no longer the top five. There have been some changes there. And the Creative Researchers And Producers are losing their old punch.

"You, You, You" by the Ames Brothers

Only one of the dance studios who could have some information for us, get it into Dancing Nights blog via Richie Fun. The others do not know anything about us or don't care. Meanwhile, I will do everything I can to promote whatever information they give me. I get routine flyers too late for posting and direct talk to our readers is what makes social media, not advertising. In blogging it is much more effective.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

The neighbor islands are waking up slowly. I am getting more routine flyers but nothing concrete that would be for the reader/dancers of this blog. I do get some beautiful posters now and then but too late for posting. Beautiful colors and a good example of what can be done for our fellow dancers on all the neighbor islands.

Live music seems to be increasing and the interest in dancing to the "oldies but goodies." It has always been there but the young are always for the new. Latin Music in being "introduced" more and Oahu already has the reputation of having the best Rumba dancers in the Pacific. This seem to be developing more in West Oahu with the rise of Kapolei as Second City.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

I am recovering my health a little and I must find out what kind it is developing in the West and perhaps it is danceable. My ability to hear is getting worse. Kapolei has some Live Music occasionally. When they get a couple bars with dance floors, that will establish a little late night stuff in the West. This can, in turn, only lead to a Night Club open until at least 2 AM. I used to pass by there on the bus sometimes at 10 pm and everything was closed tighter than a drum.

"We are dancers and we believe that we learn to dance better by dancing. Whether it means

to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living"

Da Spin Doc

by Professor Bob, from Blogging Hawaii 2 years ago.

I read with interest your blog on "Recorded or Live Music?" As we frequently point out, if it wasn't for live musicians DJs would have nothing to play. So please support live music and live musicians. Having said that...

"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least

once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."

Even a small band has three or four members. An average local band usually gets around $800 for a normal three hours gig. Some get much more, some less. So, any money must be split amongst the performers. Usually, DJs are a solo act. With a few exceptions, DJs frequently get paid a little less than a live band. But, DJs don't have to split the gig money. Instead, DJs must buy, update, and maintain their music library which is a daunting investment.

Regarding the "ambience" of live bands, it is true that some DJs are not visually very interesting or exciting. But, that is also true of some live bands. Some bands react and interact with their audience. Other bands play music and whole sets the same way they rehearsed and in the same order every appearance, as if there was no audience present at all. Some shy musicians never even make eye contact with the audience.

"Play it again, Sam" Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. 

Long breaks are common for live bands, but good club DJs strive to never stop the music over four hours. In contrast, at a three hour club gig live musicians sometimes end up actually playing for far less than two and a half hours. After three or four 10 to fifteen minutes breaks every hour, some dance audiences feel cheated. Club DJs attempt to edit and segue the music by matching beats so that over four hours there is no apparent break at all. If the music is blended properly one cannot tell when one song ends and another begins. DJs don't want to take a chance that anyone will leave the dance floor during "dead air," and thus tarnish their "always fill the floor" reputation.

So far the answer to "live music or DJ?" seems to be a wash. If you've got double the money, usually a live band is preferred by most folks, if only for visual interest. So, let's get to the music! Most bands specialize in a particular genre' of music, be it oldies, swing, Latin, Hawaiian, Jawaiian, country, rap & hip hop... whatever. A few talented "cross-over" bands can play more than one genre'. But no band can play all music genre's. However, DJs must, can, and do play all music genre's! Sometimes the evolutionary decision on what musical genre' a band eventually specializes in is based on what will sell the most bookings, rather than what a specific (and therefore limited) audience wants to hear. A little of this and a little of that.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

That's why there are DJs! DJs can play any and all music, from and for any generation, at any time, for any purpose, for any audience, anywhere! A DJs variety, lower cost, and maximum flexibility versus a live band's visual interest or appeal, personality, and audience interaction seems to slightly tip the scale toward live bands. But, not so fast, think it over and do as you wish.

February 2016

Wow! It is looking very good all around. My Blogs of course, but also the general dance environment on the Island of Oahu. And the discovery that Honolulu is not the center of the Universe. The most promising section is the West Coast of Oahu and the development of Kapolei as second city. This is being done in spite of the Present Rail Party.

"We can start the whole smash by doing what's necessary; then we do what's possible; and suddenly we will be doing the impossible."

"Till I Waltz Again With You" by Theresa Brewer

The two leading blogs seem to be Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe, each with well over 40 average hits per day which is 1200 hits per month. The others are still in the background and the difference will probably be made by the information contributors and the Guest Authors. We must avoid SOS at any cost Hopefully we can get someone in the new developing Southwest Shore of Oahu. That's Kalealoa Airport and all the way to Kalealoa Harbor.

"Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley

There had been slow building development for the last 20 years especially after the Navy moved out and Ewa  Beach was getting most of the social action. They had community centers, district parks and a few bars. Then the wrong politicians got in there and Ewa Beach never got going. There have been at least two dance clubs started in that time but they just may have been before their time.

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

Now may be the time has come for Kapolei and if there is anything doing, let us know, we want to see these pages with dancers and news about dancing. We are not getting enough at the moment. And we need the hits to know that the reader/dancers are interested. And then we can try to do even more. The tide cannot be stopped, West Oahu is waking up. And we can start working on the Waianae Coast.

February 2016

Wow! It is looking very good all around. My Blogs of course, but also the general dance environment on the Island of Oahu. And the discovery that Honolulu is not the center of the Universe. The most promising section is the West Coast of Oahu and the development of Kapolei as second city. This is being done in spite of the Present Rail Party.

"We can start the whole smash by doing what's necessary; then we do what's possible; and suddenly we will be doing the impossible."

"Till I Waltz Again With You" by Theresa Brewer

The two leading blogs seem to be Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe, each with well over 40 average hits per day which is 1200 hits per month. The others are still in the background and the difference will probably be made by the information contributors and the Guest Authors. We must avoid SOS at any cost Hopefully we can get someone in the new developing Southwest Shore of Oahu. That's Kalealoa Airport and all the way to Kalealoa Harbor.

"Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley

There had been slow building development for the last 20 years especially after the Navy moved out and Ewa  Beach was getting most of the social action. They had community centers, district parks and a few bars. Then the wrong politicians got in there and Ewa Beach never got going. There have been at least two dance clubs started in that time but they just may have been before their time.

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

Now may be the time has come for Kapolei and if there is anything doing, let us know, we want to see these pages with dancers and news about dancing. We are not getting enough at the moment. And we need the hits to know that the reader/dancers are interested. And then we can try to do even more. The tide cannot be stopped, West Oahu is waking up. And we can start working on the Waianae Coast.

Just Checking

Honolulu has always been a popular tourist destination. This city on Oahu, Hawaii has as much to offer after dusk as it has to offer after dawn. So, even if you happen to have an active nocturnal life, you can take heart from the fact that Oahu’s nightlife is not going to let you down. So, what are the things you can do in this city after the sundown?

“Perhaps dancers do not want to be loved so much as to be understood.”

You can hit the bars if you are an alcoholic person, and Oahu bars will truly live up to your expectations. Unfortunately, some of the bar girls may be a little too much but you can usually find the right place for you. The quality of wine and beer is still very much there. Plus, if you are a sucker for ambiance and decor, then that's Oahu too.

"Walk With Me 'Through Paradise" by Melveen Leed

Of course, for dancers that is becoming more and more acceptable throughout he island of Oahu. If there is a music appreciating dancer hidden under you, then you can bring yourself out by strolling inside a dance club. If we sit and make a list of tourist attractions on Oahu, then many of these places would earn a place at the top.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

Most Night Clubs are accustomed to making their money on the sales of booze, so there is not much to offer in food at the local Night Club. Then there are some fine restaurants which are open till late hours. But what we recommend is that you check out some roadside eateries. You will keep licking your fingers till the time you get to bed that night. Yes, they are that good. Some of the clubs host their own music shows and performances which you can enjoy in the late hours. Places organize musical performances almost every night.

"Dance is for everybody on Oahu. We could believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people."

Computors and the Internet

Computers and the internet are becoming almost a necessity for our dance community in every day life on Oahu. There is a wealth of free information on the Internet today. We email and chat with friends and family far away. We watch our favorite shows or how to videos to troubleshoot a problem. A lot of us even bank or shop online. But we still must be very careful.

“Perhaps we should not believe things because they make our lives better,

we could believe them because they are true.” 

"Do You Hear What I Hear" by Willie K.

Whenever you’ve connected to the internet, you are opening up your private information to the world. Once online, the crooks and their computer viruses and malware find ways to infect your computer without your knowledge. Antivirus software provides the best virus protection and will remove most of these but we we must still be very careful. Many of the anti virus hucksters actually are guilty of installing malware on your computer. Then they offer to remove it for price. This should be illegal but we know the republican congress. Crooks all of them. It's the money, Sonny.

"The Lights Of Home" by Don Ho

Viruses, spyware, and adware are all malware with distinct differences. All of them do damage to legitimate computer users but they fall into different categories depending on the intent of their attack. Viruses are a bit of malicious code that is secretly included in an application you decide to download. It replicates itself to infect other computers. Eventually, the virus is activated for its purpose: deleting important files, corrupting information, or randomly shutting off your computer. And Microsoft programmers do not have the capability of stopping them,

   
"First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Jimmy Borges

Spyware is malicious software that gets installed without the user even knowing about it. This is usually the most dangerous form of attack. It invades your Internet security to find sensitive information from your computer and sell it for a price on the black market. The programmers at Microsoft are helpless against these people. The complicaters at Microsoft have taken over from the simplifiers.

Adware, on the other hand, is a unique form of software specifically written to produce popup ads. The popups can start as the user uses a certain application, when they visit a particular website online, or simply as soon as they boot up their computer. The most deceptive form of adware shows a popup telling the user their computer is infected and that they need to install antivirus software.Theirs of course.

“In our dance: there is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action,  and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique."

Dancing to Live Music?

There are two curious paradoxical facts about dancing. One is that, real dancing feels great even if it looks rather ordinary to an onlooker. The other is curiously that the better it looks then the better it feels. This latter fact is why couples enter DanceSport competitions, to give themselves the incentive to make their dancing look good. It does not have to be for showing off. It may enhance their feelings, before, during and even after the dance. And these are some of the most wonderful things about dancing.

"Dance like it's the last night of the world."

"Rags To Riches" by Tony Bennett

The movements of each dance are broken down, for teaching, into named figures, each consisting of a few actual steps. For example a figure called the "Reverse Turn" exists in different forms in many dances, and usually has 6 steps. Roughly 200 figures exist for each of the Ballroom and Latin dances, and each figure takes about an hour of instruction and practice to master. For social dancing, learning a dozen or so basic figures in each dance is sufficient,

"I Can't Get Started" by Bunny Berigan

Most syllabi were made up by profession teachers using the steps that they were more acquainted with, instead of teaching movements. The most basic of course is the walking step, left, right, left, right etc. It is used in two count, three count and four count measures. The lead may go forward, backward and to the right or left sides. A very obvious variation is the "promenade" in which the partners can get side by side and walk forward together. Street dancers are the ones that learn to use these movements very well in dancing to any kind of music.

"At Last" by Glenn Miller with Ray Eberly on vocals.

The most famous walking step is the American Waltz. Just left, right, left, 1, 2, 3. Then right, left, right, for another 1,2,3. But it should be obvious that dancers can do all of these wonderful things in hundreds of different movements. And most are just walking steps. The Viennese Waltz is somewhat different, naturally. The Latin version is danced with a chassé basic.

Year Update

I keep running into it and I believe there will be another Dance Club in West Oahu somewhere. I would prefer to see it on the Waianae Coast but it will probably appear in the Waikele, Waipio area because of the Dance Pavilion that will not be built in the Patsy Mink Recreation Center. Then there is the possibility of somewhere between Kalealoa Harbor and Kalealoa Airport.

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness,

we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams,

we are the dancers, we create the dreams."

"Always In My Heart" (Siempre En Mi Corazon) by Dean Martin

Last year I was grooming Town Dancer blog for independence but it doesn't look that way now. Platinum Horseshoe and Dancing Nights are catching up. If I am the only contributor of information, the blogs should gradually even up. The difference in hits would be in any active information contributors and Guest Authors.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

It wouldn't be so bad because any blog with active information contributors would become the lead blog on this Island and be an example of how it is done because we will have so many outside ideas. And people are realizing how I try to work. I am hard of hearing but I usually can hear yes. No is just a little harder. But to be ignored, is deafening. I do not have to talk stink about anyone, but may I ignore them too? I am very busy, I have work to do and I must be on my way. Thank You.

Dancer's Law #28c:

"It is impossible for an optimist to be pleasantly surprised."

 

Year Update

I keep running into it and I believe there will be another Dance Club in West Oahu somewhere. I would prefer to see it on the Waianae Coast but it will probably appear in the Waikele, Waipio area because of the Dance Pavilion that will not be built in the Patsy Mink Recreation Center. Then there is the possibility of somewhere between Kalealoa Harbor and Kalealoa Airport.

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness,

we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams,

we are the dancers, we create the dreams."

"Always In My Heart" (Siempre En Mi Corazon) by Dean Martin

Last year I was grooming Town Dancer blog for independence but it doesn't look that way now. Platinum Horseshoe and Dancing Nights are catching up. If I am the only contributor of information, the blogs should gradually even up. The difference in hits would be in any active information contributors and Guest Authors.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

It wouldn't be so bad because any blog with active information contributors would become the lead blog on this Island and be an example of how it is done because we will have so many outside ideas. And people are realizing how I try to work. I am hard of hearing but I usually can hear yes. No is just a little harder. But to be ignored, is deafening. I do not have to talk stink about anyone, but may I ignore them too? I am very busy, I have work to do and I must be on my way. Thank You.

Dancer's Law #28c:

"It is impossible for an optimist to be pleasantly surprised."

 

Up Coming Divino Ritmo Events!

Via Marie:

COMING UP!!!

Friday, January 29th at 7:00pm -10:30pm.

DRD Social Dance Party. Ballroom music by DJ Lucas and Live entertainment by Augie Ray.

Cover Charge: $25 at door, $20 pre-sale.
Complimentary soft drinks and Pupus, BYOB at Aloha Dancesport Center.

350 Ward Avenue 2nd floor
Honolulu, HI 96814

www.alohadancesporcenter.com
808 200 5540

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FEBRUARY:

Social at CUPOLA Thursday, February 4th, FREE event, open to the public. 2nd Floor of Honolulu Design Center (Kapiolani/Piikoi).

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Latin Band Social Party on Saturday February 27th - please see attached flyer.

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Social at CUPOLA Thursday March 3rd featuring Augie Rey!

Lots of fun events offered by Divino Ritmo for all dancers. If you haven't been to one you should! 

Keep on dancin'.

R

Night Club Dancing

Most of the Night Clubs on Oahu and the neighbors islands too, have live music playing many Latin tunes with a nice Latin flavor. The solid Latin dances in Hawaii consist of the Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Mambo, Salsa and lately Bachata. They generally have sinuous hip movements that are synchronized with the half beats between the steps. Indeed, the dances are generally non-progressive, and the whole emphasis is on the feel of the hip movements rather on the steps themselves.

"Our duty as dancers could be to encourage every one in their struggle

to live up to their own highest ideal, and strive at the same time

to make it as near as possible to the Truth."

"Abrazame" por Alejandro Fernandez

The syncopated action takes some practice to accomplish, and is a considerable challenge for people with a European or Asiatic background. But there are many that learn to do a terrific Latin dance. Needless to say, it is very good exercise for the lower back and tummy muscles. For two people to move together, it is necessary for both to agree on a vocabulary of movements. This requires some discipline and practice, both of which often appear to be anathemas to the younger generation on Oahu, who think that if it doesn't happen now with no effort, then it is not worthy of thought.

"Adoro" por Armando Manzanero

However attending weekly dance classes at a local dance studio or club on Oahu, soon converts the four left feet of you and your partner into a coordinated locomotion machine, and you can both start thinking about matching the character of your movements to the mood of the music. You will enjoy dancing anywhere, anytime, whether it is recorded music or live music.

"We do not know what the spirit of a philosopher could more wish to

be than a good dancer. For the dance could be his ideal."

The Information Contributors

Also known as the Two Centers, willing to stick their 2 cents of Information and/or photos for the sheer joy of making better Public Relations for their favorite dance groups. It is relatively  easy because all they have to do is email to anyone of the Guest Authors and the Guest Authors will probably be willing to blog it. Of course, it must have a name, your own or a pen name. Anon, unknown, etcetera is not acceptable.

"A lie can get around three times at the Palladium before

the truth has a chance to get up the stairs."

Richie Fun is the pen name of someone and we accept easily because it appears regularly in these blogs. And we may not know Richie Fun personally but we know what he writes about. Pepe is the pen name that I use. And we have three or four others that use their pen names regularly. Some will make it plain it is a one time contribution. Fine with us. At any rate, much of being a Two Center is sharing information, when you want to and what you want and it is all up to you.

"One Man Parade" by Jimmy Borges

What I write is generally known as SOS. (same old shit.)  If I say green on Monday, green one Wednesday and green on Friday, that is what readers generally refer to as SOS. You come along on the following Monday and you say "blue," - aha, - that is definitely not SOS,. Mary calls John, John calls Doris, and Doris calls Fred and so on and we have what is called "hits."

 "Sound Of Love" by Carol Kai

We have at present Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe blogs that are comfortably well above the magic number of 33 average hits per day. This is equivalent to 1000 hits per month and they are not "store bought" hits. They are really communicating to a large group of dancers that are mainly on Oahu. Dance information and a photo of our friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow dancers will certainly interest them all.

"Dance till the stars come down from the rafters. Dance,

Dance, Dance, and keep on dancing till you drop."

The Information Contributors

Also known as the Two Centers, willing to stick their 2 cents of Information and/or photos for the sheer joy of making better Public Relations for their favorite dance groups. It is relatively  easy because all they have to do is email to anyone of the Guest Authors and the Guest Authors will probably be willing to blog it. Of course, it must have a name, your own or a pen name. Anon, unknown, etcetera is not acceptable.

"A lie can get around three times at the Palladium before

the truth has a chance to get up the stairs."

Richie Fun is the pen name of someone and we accept easily because it appears regularly in these blogs. And we may not know Richie Fun personally but we know what he writes about. Pepe is the pen name that I use. And we have three or four others that use their pen names regularly. Some will make it plain it is a one time contribution. Fine with us. At any rate, much of being a Two Center is sharing information, when you want to and what you want and it is all up to you.

"One Man Parade" by Jimmy Borges

What I write is generally known as SOS. (same old shit.)  If I say green on Monday, green one Wednesday and green on Friday, that is what readers generally refer to as SOS. You come along on the following Monday and you say "blue," - aha, - that is definitely not SOS,. Mary calls John, John calls Doris, and Doris calls Fred and so on and we have what is called "hits."

 "Sound Of Love" by Carol Kai

We have at present Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe blogs that are comfortably well above the magic number of 33 average hits per day. This is equivalent to 1000 hits per month and they are not "store bought" hits. They are really communicating to a large group of dancers that are mainly on Oahu. Dance information and a photo of our friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow dancers will certainly interest them all.

"Dance till the stars come down from the rafters. Dance,

Dance, Dance, and keep on dancing till you drop."

Starting To Roll

It is amazing how well this blog is doing. It is in the upper 20s in average hits per day but only because of Richie Fun and his information contributors. One more information contributor or Guest Author on this blog would send them up to the top. Then we could plan on the independence of the blog.

"We should be firm believers in our dance people. If given the truth,

they can be depended upon to meet any dance crisis. The great

point is to bring them the real facts."

The men in the night spots are doing very well. They are aware that the man must know what he is doing on the dance floor, as well as how to direct his partner there. This ostensible unfairness between the two roles is eventually equalized by the necessity of the follower to respond, at a split second notice, to her partner's lead. And we are fortunate that we have some of the best women followers in the Pacific right here on Oahu.

"Just My Imagination" by the Temptations

In the meantime, however, this early obstacle quickly eliminates the men who are not serious about learning. Obstacles offer opportunity - at least for those that persevere. Some men will understand that rhythm may be an acquired skill, just as learning how to hit a tennis ball or ski down a mountain.Whatever, he has to want to.

"More Than A Feeling" by Boston

And the lead will understand that learning to dance is merely a matter of enjoying the practice and repetition. The man who realizes that, and understands that women don't expect perfection, can put his ego aside long enough to learn the physical skills necessary to be successful on the dance floor. Dancing, specifically partner dancing may well be the single most effective way to meet women.

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a

little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”