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."