Too Many, part one

By Jaycee Fukumoto, Waimanalo

Fusion and more fusion in ballroom dancing. Too many mergers of dances and too many difference dances for the "social" dancer, which most of us are. Fortunately we can eliminate all of the "for show" styles. Competition, Exhibition, Cabaret and Acrobatic Styles are meant for the "Spectator," whether they are dancers or not.We are going to settle down to much fewer dances where we can first enjoy the kind of music we really like, and then enjoy the movement to that music on the dance floor. And do it over and over again in sheer joy.

"Happiness is the resultant of the relative strengths of positive and negative
feelings rather than an absolute amount of one or the other."

A Dance Ballroom in Oakland, California has introduced their latest agenda of dances in their repertoire. American Tango, Argentine Tango, Bachata, Bolero, Cha Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Foxtantino, Hip Hop, Hustle. Jive, Merengue, Night Club Two Step, Paso Doble, Quickstep, Rumba, Salsa, Samba, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Viennese Waltz, American Waltz, and Latin Waltz. -  Gawd! Much too much for us in Hawaii.

I am willing to wager that only one percent of our dancers on Oahu can dance everyone of those dances. But we must understand the protest against so much structured dances for public viewing. The same thing happened many years ago when ballet made all the strict rules and it was a difficult row to hoe.

In the graphic biography of the thrilling life of Isadora Duncan it comes out very nicely.  Isadora Duncan was the pioneer of modern dance.  She disliked classical ballet, finding it "unnatural." wanted to dance her way, which was inspired by the Greek goddesses. In bare feet, dressed in a tunic, Isadora danced, "Her Way."   Part Two in Platinum Horseshoe

"Dance is not just dance. It must be something magical because it can set us free."