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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Oldies

By Augustus Lum, Waipio

There are over one millions songs released every year in the US. It would take anyone quite a time to listen to all of them. However the disc jockeys are the ones making the decisions according to their listeners and they will all differ. Some nice ones will emerge after a couple of decades as "oldies music." And it is an informal expression that means even though something is old it could be very good. Another more formal adjective we use to express the same meaning is "classic" but that may take a little longer.

"Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a beautiful song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it."


The range is a according to age of the listeners. Generally it begins for the listeners in their 20s and ends just about 20 years back. So people 90 years old now have their oldies but goodies which are generally from the year 1947 to the year 1997. Since we do not have clones many will differ from this guess. And a person 60 years was not born in 1947 or even near, when rock and roll was introduced in 1950. The list of oldies but goodies will constantly change so there is no one person that will ever determine that.

 "As Time Goes By" written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931


Since the beginning of rock and roll in the mid 1950s, popular music has undergone many radical changes and branched out into a wide variety of genres, with each decade being defined by a different set of styles. Today, most of what is considered to be oldies but goodies music covers the 1950s through at least the 1990s. although they may refer to them by other names, e.g., "classic hits."

"At Last"  1941, written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren


On Oahu, we are discovering the value and the attraction of the "Oldies But Goodies" and the best place to get to hear this kind of music is from a Live Band. A few fans are already aware of this, and I did not really pay attention until last year. But for sure we are going to enjoy listening and dancing to some of the best music from 1917, a century back.

"Dance to that music for yourself. Those that
don't mind are the ones that matter."

Monday, February 27, 2017

Night Clubbing

Sometime it is good and sometimes it is not so good.  On Oahu you could be a little more careful. Try to find out about the place you think you would like best. There are two kinds of dancers, the young and also the more experienced and the music will differ. Some is general dancing music but a little more swingy for the younger crowd.

“To dance to the sweetness of the music, one must forget
that one knows how to dance.”


Some clubs will have the general social ballroom dance type for the more experienced dancers and some will have the specialties, Bachata, Salsa, Swing, Tango or Country. Any one of them will give you a chance to get dressed up. The better you feel about yourself, the more fun you will have on the dance floor. Put on your comfortable clothes, something that you can actually move in and wear comfortable shoes. You could also take into account the dress code of the nightclub, some clubs are more strict than others.

"Yu'uipo" by Willie K


Do your best to go with a group of friends. The more people you are with, the less self-conscious you will feel on the dance floor. In addition, having friends around to talk to will serve as a distraction so that you are not constantly focusing on being watched by strangers. Hit the club with an upbeat group of friends who you enjoy having fun with. And if somebody in the group knows somebody in the Band, much better.

"Hale'iva Hula" by Amy Hanaialii


Scope out the scene at the club, before heading to the dance floor. Take a stroll as if you are looking for somebody, around the club to check out what's going on. Take in your surroundings, watch other people dancing, and get a feel for the kind of music that is playing. Getting comfortable with your surroundings will cut some of the nervousness you may feel upon entering the club. You will feel comfortable before finishing your first drink.

"Music may not be to hear, for a dancer it may be to feel."

Friday, February 24, 2017

What is last place?

It is now becoming more apparent that this blog is dragging in the hit department. It is also apparent that the hits are going to the other blogs because the total number of hits for all the blogs in slowly increasing. There may be two reasons and one of them is the Name. The dancers simply do not know what kind of information is in the blog. Then too, the possible Information Contributors are not there yet, very important factor.

“Dance to inspire, dance to freedom, life is about experiences
so dance and let yourself become free.”


Blogs are run many different ways but at present, all of our blogs are run just about the same because we do not have enough outside comments. I have established that the frequency of the blogging has an effect on the hits and some of it I can control. At the moment I have them all on the fourth day. The information contributors will determine any changes. They are key to the development of each blog and the more the merrier. And eventually they would have the option of becoming Guest Authors. Unfortunately, most believe they have to be journalists which couldn't be more wrong.

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page


And many people are realizing how I 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? I am also physically impaired but with a little help I can put out a blog. I am very busy, I have much work to do and I must be on my way. Mahalo.

"This search for what you want is like tracking something that
doesn't want to be tracked. It takes time to get a dance right,
to create something memorable." ~ Fred Astaire


Thursday, February 23, 2017

Fad Dances in the world.

By Raymond Mendoza, Kahuku.
And we still got them. The kids will always be there and it always right up their alley. Even from my time it was "never trust anyone over thirty." The elders did not decide this, the kids did. They must accept the responsibility and that division will always be there. As the pop music market exploded in the late 1950s, successive dance fads were commercialized and exploited. From the 1950s to the 1970s new dance fads appeared almost every week and the Dance Studios had many students.

"We may not be there yet but we are closer to our dance than we were yesterday"


Many were popularized (or commercialized) versions of new styles or steps created by the young dancers who frequented the clubs and discothèques in major U.S. cities like New York, Philadelphia and Detroit. Among these were the Madison, "The Swim", the "Mashed Potato", "The Twist", "The Frug" (pronounced 'froog'), "The Watusi", "The Shake" and  "The Hitchhike."  Following the Foxtrot, '60s dance crazes had animal names, including "The Pony," "The Dog" and "The Chicken" (not to be confused with the later Chicken Dance).

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

In 1965 the Mexican-American group Cannibal and the Headhunters had a hit with the 1962 Chris Kenner song "Land of a Thousand Dances" which included the names of sixteen such dances. One list of Fad Dances compiled in 1971 named over ninety dances. Standardized versions of dance moves were published in dance and teen magazines, often choreographed to popular songs. Songs such as "The Loco-Motion" were specifically written with the intention of creating a new dance.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

In the early 1970s the disco spawned a succession of dance fads including the Bump, The Hustle, and the YMCA. This continued in the 1980s with the popular song "Walk like an Egyptian", in the 1990s with the "Macarena", in the 2000s with "The Ketchup Song" and in the 2010s with "Gangnam Style". Contemporary sources for dance crazes include music videos and movies. There are fad dances which are meant to be danced individually as solo, others are partner dances, and yet others are danced in groups.

"Adoro" por Armando Manzanero


Some of them were of freestyle type, i.e., there were no particular step patterns and they were distinguished by the style of the dance movement (Twist, Shake, Swim, Pony, Hitchhike). Only some have survived to the present day, sometimes only as the name of a step (Suzie Q, Shimmy) or of a style (Mashed Potato) in a recognized dance. Fad dances are in fashion at the time of their popularity. They come to be associated with a specific time period, and can evoke particular forms of nostalgia when revived.

"But the simple basic moves remain the same from five thousands years ago
in the Mexican Civilizations."

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Blog Reviving

The journalist readers have been the biggest critiques of our writing. But they did not have the answer, though they certainly have the right to their opinions. And most of the opinions expressed in these blogs have definitely not been journalism. They have been information for the dancers, and what the readers want is evolving. The hits are holding up pretty good in spite of the scam, spam robot hits which amount to from 20% to 30% of the total hits in our entire blogosphere.

"Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity
to manage the change that is inevitable."


All our blogs are concentrating on the Island of Oahu, with 30000 potential readers. And the announcements of coming events are essential but not that important. The time for notice should not be the old fashion method - "Mark you calendars for next year ..." Two weeks is about right. Email flyer kind is "ho-hum" with minor interest. But what was doing in that last shindig you had is very interesting to the reader/dancers. Divided nicely in text and photos and a few comments from the attendees clinch the "social media" factor.

"Sh-Boom, (Life Could Be A Dream)"by the Chordettes


Then of course the main stay would be the fact that many of our readers are experience dancers. And we are picking some up in the neighbor islands. They have very valuable experience, and unique personal opinions. They have much good "street" advice  that they could share with their fellow dancers. We lost a lot of ground when we lost Richie Fun and we hope he is recovering well.

"Because Of You" by Tony Bennett


That is what it will take to get this blog rolling again. And this blog will be concentrating in the Night Club scene. but of course the other blogs will benefit also. Let's get with it. With so many of our readers that are fans of night clubbing, this could become the first independent blog on this Island and be an example of how it is done because we will have so many good outside ideas.

“Dream of the impossible, dream of surpassing yourself. Only then,
with that dream, will your feet have the quality of dance.” 

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Wat's Doin'? Salsa!

Fifty years ago, I lived in Bluefields, Nicaragua and I went to Managua for the weekend. And on Saturday, we were all going to a "Pereque " (paid party) in Granada. Two full cars and on the way is the small town of Masaya, we stopped to have a couple of beers. I had heard of the new kind of music they were playing there. A mix of Mambo, jazz and anything they could think of and fittingly enough they referred to it as Salsa. (Hot Sauce)

"Music gives soul to the Universe, wings to the Mind,
flight to the Imagination and Life to Everything."


Twenty years later I met Rolando Sanchez in Honolulu and he is from Masaya. We have been friends ever since and he is still at it with the Salsa beat. He is quite into it on the Internet and he seems to be doing just fine, he has good public relations. He is still not sure if he knows me on line but with time he will. Perhaps one of these days I can attend and blog'em. It certainly would be a good opportunity for some one in that gang to send a nice write up to share with our fellow dancers. A few photos would be icing on the cake. Anybody out there?

"Mirando Al Cielo" por Roberto Tapia


It seems that just west of Kalihi was picking up on a lot of dancing. And this was only in a few years back. However the Rail Tragedy has certainly messed that up. Most of the Moanalua Corridor has been completely screwed up and there are several bankruptcies every month. There is hope that one of those hotels in the area will decide that after 50 years of having a ballroom and not having ballroom dancing, there will be dancing there.

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul, and the poetry of the foot." 

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

The Rains Came

The Rain in Pearl City is different than in Nanakuli where they walk in the rain. In Pearl City, they just get wet and I use to like those people in Nanakuli who could smile at you in the rain. But living in paradise was not always easy. Taking the bus in those days, I didn't mind coming home soaking wet, that was exhilarating, but arriving at my destination soaking wet is not so nice. At my age I know there won't be too many tomorrows but there will be some. I must patient and I take the Handi Van now which is a Godsend.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass.
It is about learning how to Dance in the Rain."

Gene Kelly "Singing in the Rain"
It’s not that we have to quit this life one day, but it’s how many things we have to quit all at once: music, dance, laughter, the physics of falling leaves, watching a sunset at the beach, the scent of rain, the concept of taking a bus ... if only one could leave this life a little more slowly.

"Come Rain Or Come Shine" by Frank Sinatra

The Night Clubs on Oahu are doing very well in the LAGS department (the latest and greatest syndrome.) Some students at the Studios want to do the fancy steps they saw at the Dancing with the Stars, that took years of study and practice to develop. Fortunately most instructors on Oahu try to impress upon the student the value of working the solid basics first.

"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas.


With over 600 documented steps and patterns in every dance, there are plenty of good solid basic movements to learn first. The real joy is in moving to your favorite music. But some instructors want to show the student what g-r-e-a-t teachers they are and are willing to impress the student with those fancy steps. The net result is obvious. No rhythm, little timing, stiff body motion makes for pretty sloppy dancing. But what the hell, we are all still learning.

"Dancer's lives are constantly under construction.
There is always something to improve."

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Tango, West Oahu

By Darian Chow, Lualualei

We in West Oahu are fortunate that we can still make our way in the dance world. It can be pretty tough in town. And Tango is one of the dances where we will do it the best. As every where else the rootzi-tootzis make the divisions. In Honolulu, the Creative Researchers And Producers go along with it and they establish the elite. So we have no choice but to establish our own class of ordinary dancers.

"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof."



Because of the "eliteness" of International Tango and the Argentine Tango, the tango is in limbo throughout the world. And it seems that too many people have their own interpretations of what it should be. The Finnish Tango based on the Argentine Tango is just beautiful, and now being danced in all the Scandinavian countries, the Western part of Russia, the Baltics and parts of Eastern Europe. It is now being referred to as the Nordic Tango but it will eventually cover all of Europe.

"Mi Buenos Aires Querido" By Placido Domingo


In Hawaii, some fusion can already be seen in spots because of the dictatorial International and the Argentine Tangos, both have made it plain that they are "it" and by default anyone else is not "it." No Hu Hu, it should be understandable, it has happened throughout the history of dance. And the amalgamation on Oahu may occur in the Filipino Tango.

"La Comparsita" by Yoichi Suwahara and Graciela Susana


The few changes that have been done by Dance teachers in Hawaii in their exhibitions have been "show business," not da reel teeng. So we have to find aficionados of the Tango dance music and then fuse the American (very good base) with the Filipino Tango, (step, step, step) and then get the Foxtrot in with its quick, quick, slow. It would be a Hawaii Tango, for the social enjoyment of moving to that beautiful Tango Music. There are plenty of Tango aficionados on Oahu that can do this.

"La Media Luz" by Julio Iglesias


And it will take time. We are not talking the dancing first, we are talking the music first. How about live music with a bandoneon? And I want to move to that music the way I want to. Not the way some paid advisor has told me because it is "correct." I hesitate to make the prediction but there are plenty of good Tango aficionados of the music that are going to do this and it will be inevitable in West Oahu. Hooray!

"Nostalgia" by Placido Domingo

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Fad Dances

By William Yamaguchi, Kapolei

Dance crazes have been a part of social dancing for some time. In the Renaissance and after, European monarchs and nobles played host to a long succession of dance fashions, many of which spread into the wider society. And many peasants had their own and they helped to establish many of the basic moves that we have in dancing now.

"Most social dancers realize that we may have an unspoken commitment, to make every important aspect of our fellow dancers' experience a little bit better."


The minuet, the allemande, the schottische, the mazurka and the waltz had their day - though in many cases such dances endured for decades or even centuries before passing out of general use. You could notice that after three centuries, the Waltz is still there and it should make it to the end of the 2lst. The tango began from the Milonga of the Incas and swept the world in the late 1910s and early 1920s. It was further diversified everywhere and was soon appropriated to the standard dance repertoire in the US and another in England.

"Moon of Manakoora” by Nohelani Cypriano


After WWII, the evidence was there, the young were more for the new and the experience dancers preferred what they had enjoyed for so long. In the early 1920s there was a string of dance crazes including the jitterbug and the Charleston. Many came and many were soon eliminated. In the 20th century the advent of records caused novelty dances to arise and disappear much more frequently, spurred by printed media, radio, movies, television and late in the internet.

"Wild Flower" by Jimmy Borges


In one of the first in a series of 20th century Latin music dance crazes, the Rumba arrived. Then the Samba, the Mambo, the Cha-Cha-Cha, the Merengue arrived, many of which became standardized styles of western social dance and exerted influence on western popular music. Jazz, for example, was profoundly altered by Latin music from the 1940s on. More than a dozen dances since then have come and gone.

So what do we see in the 21st century as being our social dances?
It sure as hell wont be the latest pop dance.

 

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Night Clubs, Oahu

By Clarence Cheung, Kailua

Dance clubs on Oahu in the 1990s have significantly impacted the island, dazzling their audiences with high-powered lights, sound, and music, These venues are still some of the highest cash flow businesses in Hawaii. Studies have shown that the average person will spend three to four hours per weekend in this entertainment environment and will spend an average of 25 to 50 dollars in that time frame. On Oahu, with the increase of social dancers, this trend shows no signs of declining.

"We dance because there is no greater feeling in the world than moving to
our favorite piece of music and letting the rest of the world go by."


The typical dance club is open from 9:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M., and within this span of five hours, the venue can achieve gross revenues anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 nightly. The primary sources of revenue in a nightclub are high-volume traffic, coupled with nominal spending. In addition to alcohol revenues, a nightclub also generates substantial revenues from cover charges that are typically about ten dollars per person. On Oahu they have no juice bars and in most clubs no snacks are sold.

"At Last" by Amy Hanaialii


For example, a large 1,000-person capacity nightclub will typically accommodate approximately 1,500 people in the five-hour span of operation. A $10 door charge, in addition to a conservative figure of $15 collected from each patron in alcohol sales, would generate approximately $30,000 in nightly revenue. Nightclubs in the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on spectacular light shows and energetic non-stop dance music by DJs. This relatively simple concept is still quite popular today.

"Waimanalo Blues" by Willie K


However, these concepts have greatly evolved in our social dance society. In recent years this industry has become more sophisticated with the availability of better quality live music and the West Oahu areas are taking this technology to new heights with sound and lighting designs that create an exciting and memorable experience. Additionally, the nightclub industry is shifting towards a more entertainment-oriented concept. Guests of these clubs are not only offered a dynamic place to dance, but also a place to participate in the entertainment through interactive contests, theme nights, and other events.

"There is always room for improvement. We have a nucleus of dancers that
are pretty good. Now we need a few players that will help."

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Night Clubbing on Oahu

The power of live music to make folks feel good is on full display at a host of Oahu night clubs. From Makaha to Makapuu Point and from Barber's Point to Turtle Bay. Multiple options let you tap into the venues that the regulars go to, the tried and true nightlife spots for locals. Most of the fans like listening to the bands and vocalists showing off their skills.

"Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though
EVERYBODY is watching. March to the beat of your own drummer.
And stubbornly refuse to fit in.


Social dancers love the pause that refreshes to separate the spectacular presentations, specially the oldies but goodies. These crowds are generally the more experienced dancers and do not need a frantic environment. They like to spend a pleasant evening with people they know, dancing, having fun and letting the rest of the world go by. The entire dance enchilada on Oahu is getting better everyday in spite of the Rail Catastrophe.

"Frenesi" by Artie Shaw


While many venues on the local music scene are clustered in the Waikiki area, there are many terrific places to hear live music to be found throughout Oahu. Kapolei has been stopped by the Present Rail Party but the Waianae Coast and the Central Valley have live music now and ready and willing for that new one coming in soon that will be well away from the Rail Disaster. The local scenes are places where everybody knows each other's name for good dancing, good drinks, great food and good times.

"Perfidia" by Benny Goodman


"Wine does not make you fat, it makes you lean ... against
walls, doors, floors, chairs and funny people."


Friday, February 3, 2017

Night Clubbing

By Randy, Waimanalo

You know I used to hate night clubbing, and had gone only because I didn't want to be uncool. Then I stopped. And then I started going again because I believed that's how men can get laid with a different girl every week. Then I stopped. Why did I stop the first time? Because attending didn't make me any cooler. I remained certifiably uncool. Why did I stop the second time? Because... [Cough]

"Dancers don't all have equal opportunity. But, they all have
the opportunity to be better than they were yesterday."


Anyways, these days I actually enjoy night clubbing, much to my own surprise. I like to act ultra-confident and pretend to be a "playah" when I am in a club. It's a lot of fun, interacting with others in that highly theatrical environment. Night Clubs are places where it's okay to be fake. You are not breaking any rules by not being yourself In fact, that's how you'd play the game! It's kinda like poker! In short, for me, night clubbing is fun like poker night is fun.

"Do You Wanna Go Party" by - KC and The Sunshine Band


I try to never go alone and there’s a reason that you hear people talking about someone being their “wingman.” A guy all alone in a night club, unless he is exceptionally handsome or well-built, is going to look desperate and possibly creepy to women. A guy talking to and joking with a friend looks more “normal” and thus more approachable. Also, if the girl/woman who you are interested in meeting has a friend, then someone is going to need to talk with her unless she’s not looking herself. Hence, the “wingman.”

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

Let's face it, most of us don't understand "legalese."
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
LADY WITNESS: No, this is just how I dress.