Tango

The blogs have been slowing down and it has been mostly my fault. This is a new year and we gotta get going. I have been polishing my other blogs. And I still meet too many people that have the "selling syndrome." We cannot blame them much, there are too many that are trying to sell you something. If I am offering something on these blogs, "then I must be selling something." I have been doing this for 20 years. How much did it cost you? Fortunately I have been in contact with the tango scene and for me it is all about exchanging ideas and changing perceptions of the current backdrop of our tango world.

"Social dancers know that they can dream up the world

they want to live in and dream out loud."

It would be a nice forum for local tango aficionados to express their opinion of this terrific dance. It has existed for almost two hundred years and is in most countries in the world. Tango Professionals from all aspects, i.e. teaching, organizing, and performing may be willing to share their knowledge, experience and expertise about tango culture into our blogs. Conventional perceived notions keep us from opening our minds to alternative insights and awareness. These perceived notions set trends that are relied upon and copied time and time again

"La Media Luz" ... Julio Iglesias

The reliance of trends leads the community to keeping only to a sheltered path, inhibiting advancement, excitement, and creative artistry. Instead, our blogs seek to expand and broaden the minds of the communities, encouraging forward thinking, to explore the different dimensions and directions of Tango. Blogging like its predecessors the Newsletter and the local publication, remain dedicated to the preservation of the Tango heritage, yet geared towards its continuing evolution. Tango is for everybody. Let's keep on tango-ing!!l!

"The greatest and noblest pleasure which people can have in this world is to

discover new truths. And the next is to shake off the old prejudices."

Dancing at night?

Some people have asked me if there isn't any dancing in the daytime. I told them of the only place I knew and that was at the famous Palladium. If there is another place please let me know and perhaps I can go and blog'em and let everyone know. Unless they would rather keep it secret, of course. I am making some good contact with my neighbors in Pearl City but there does not seem to be much interest in social dancing and I don't know why yet.

"Social dancers say it will do you no good to get on the right track

if you are going in the wrong direction."

I do meet some good people here. One of the guys where I live has decided to donate his body to Jennifer Lopez, and he says, "if she can't wait, she can have it now." So we can forget about blogs and bloggers and blogging and focus on this — the cost and difficulty of publishing absolutely anything, by anyone, into an island medium, just got a whole lot lower. And the effects of that increased pool of potential producers is going to be vast.

"Be My Love" by Mario Lanza

I have made some contact with the mainland friends and relatives and informed them of these blogs. It is the easiest way to keep my friends and relatives informed of my doings and my life for the short time remaining. And perhaps they can contribute an item or two, now and then. Comments, info, photos are welcomed. Just tell me what blog. And not many people understand that my best blog is going to go independent. So Simple, and yet, it is very Difficult.

"Few people ever carve their way to success with cutting remarks."

Night Clubs

Everybody knows and nobody knows. The truth of the matter is that few people understand the entire enchilada. However most of the entrepreneurs on this island do very well in their own niche. The word club is thought to derive from the Norse word klubba - a relation to the Old German word Klumpe meaning a group of trees that grow closely together.

"Social dancers try to remember when we forget that any kind of dancing

is better than no dancing at all.”

In more modern times, Club became a social term for a cluster of people gathering in one place. In the early 1600s, the term was used because of the resemblance to the natural formation of trees. It could also be thought to be related to the word’s Latin root, ‘clava.’ ‘Clavis’ is the Latin word for key and therefore implies restricted access and many clubs began as members only. Venues such as working men's clubs began and it seems that these clubs indicated exclusivity.

"I Will Dance For You." by Willie K

Later on the top classes would also develop the very exclusive Social Clubs. By the 1900s, it would imply that the literal translation of the word nightclub is "a restricted access area functioning at night." It made sense, because if your name’s was not down - you’re not coming in. On Oahu, it is very simple, any bar that has a dance floor is a night club. If they have a cover charge, you pay it and you are in. Of course many do have a dress code.

"Social dancers understand the language of each other. The leader leads with respect,

never seeing the follower as being inferior. The follower tries to perform

in the grandest style with trust."

 

Da Rail Disaster

Keeping in mind that the original rail project was projected to run from Kapolei to the University of Hawaii Manoa at a cost of $3.7 billion, that was way back when. Later, in Caldwell's campaign, the route was shortened to Ala Moana and the cost increased to $5.2 billion, which included a large contingency fund. And the Honolulu Fat Cats began to pick up on the action to make millions. The system was to be operational by 2019 and all debts would be retired by 2022.

“Social dancers believe that more people on Oahu will come into dance. They won't
be able to help themselves. People need music and dance and beautiful things."

Trump, the racketeer has nothing on these guys. Mayor Kirk Caldwell assured everyone that the rail could be completed for $6.1 billion, and a five‐year tax extension would be enough to complete the rail project from Kapolei to Ala Moana. Then Grabauskas, after the first Billion Dollars was gone, finally resigned and went home to the Mainland, a multi millionare. To this day, no one knows what happened to the first Billion. The estimated costs then went to $8 and then to $10 billion dollars. How about 15 billion dollars? Now known as the Gravy Train.

In a refreshing flash of candor, the Mayor was recently quoted as saying he did not know how much revenue a 10‐year tax extension would raise, but it would not be enough to finish the project. It has gone from bad to worse. Carlisle with the advice of PRP sure screwed that one up but good. I have not been able to go to town that often because at my age, I was finding it hard to stand all the way from Nanakuli to town. Remember the old days? When riding the bus was an option to get people off their cars on the freeway. Not with these people.

Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

Throughout the world, they are trying to get the people off their cars and onto public transportation. But not in Hawaii, the Big Bucks are there for the taking. Yes, they all know the Rail Catastrophe is Obsolete. Money, money, Money. And who gonna pay? Guess!

"Social dancers believe that ordinary people should try to live the best they can.

The rich and white may not be the answer to our prayers."

The Tango

The Tango is still pretty much of a mystery on Oahu. It seems like in our social circles no one is overly enthusiastic about the tango. Mostly because of the different styles which lead to some confusion. On Oahu, the American Tango has been here longer and seems to be preferred, it is solid, has some very basic moves and can go with just about any Tango music. Filipino Tango is also something that is being accepted locally because we have a large group of Filipinos in our dance scene. It is also much closer to the original Milonga of the Incas.

"Some Social dancers have tried to dance tango when young and failed miserably.

They found they need a little experience of life for tango."

There may be already some small amalgamations of the Filipino tango with the American which could lead into the Hawaiian Tango. The Argentine Tango has attained ultra class status so cannot go much farther and they are having some difficulty with two different styles of Argentine Tango here on Oahu. Many think they are hot stuff. Once you start to looking down on people, you've lost it.Then there is the International, one of the most beautiful exhibition type Tangos, in the same class as the Fantasia Style of the Argentine and terrific for competitions.

"Cuesta Bajo" por Carlos Gardel

The Finnish Tango and many critics see (Fairy Tale Land) “Satumaa” as a prototype of the Finnish tango. Satumaa is about a distant land across the wide ocean, where beautiful flowers bloom forever. But only birds can fly to the land of happiness; the wingless man must remain chained to the soil The Finnish Tango has spread to Northern Russia, the Baltics, all through Scandinavia and is invading Northern Europe, and now referred to as the Nordic Tango. In the US, there are some places that have introduce it to moderate success. Tango may not be for everybody but it could be for you.

Sign at a Wahiawa Super Market: "Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!"

My Home in Pearl City

It hasn't been so hectic for me in the last few day of the year. There has been a little to do including the rearrangement of schedule and my drinking changes. I used to be a good beer drinker 30 years ago and then decided to go back to my old ways of seeing the world through "Rum" colored glasses.
For several reasons I am starting my experiment of going back to beer.  My living room has become my bedroom and the bedroom is my storage room. I used to live in a studio apartment very nicely but they gave me one bedroom here.

"One good thing about our legislators, they eliminate waste, no matter how much it costs."

Then I also rearranged the storage space and I have plenty now. Just have to remember, "a place for everything and everything in its place." I must get out more and walk. It may make it easier to fall asleep on the days when I don't drink. I have been slowing down going to Honolulu but I will have to try to make it at least once a week during the day and take the 53 bus. Just went to Lanakila and it looks better that it did 30 years ago when I was in my 60s.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

There are no night clubs in Pearl City. There are some bars with a small dance floor, but rarely used for dancing. There may be one when they stop the Rail Disaster but most people think in term of getting as far away from the Rail Crisis as you can. You don't want to go against that terrible noise. Many of the big stores remain open until midnight which is not bad. Many people as rule do not seem interested in any kind of ballroom dancing. They had a dance club here that was here for years but it fizzled out.

“Social dancers believe that dance is the only way to run away without leaving home.”

Tango 2018

It is becoming clear that there will be more Tango playing in the Night Clubs on Oahu. The big problem of course is the size of the dance floor. Filipino tango does not need much, but Argentine needs more space and American and International style are more comfortable in Ballrooms. And there seems to an increase in Filipino tango and not only danced by Filipinos.

"For tango to show its exhilaration, It takes two to dance it."

I have read that it evolved from the Argentine Tango and it does resemble the milonga more than most other tangos. The Americans were such a big powerhouse in the Philippines for such a long time. I am inclined to believe that it evolved from the American Tango, which in turn had evolved from the Argentine Tango. It is a beautiful Tango which seems to be still in progress, getting rid of the rough edges and making more finer and smoother moves.

 "La Comparsita" por Carlos Gardel

Perhaps more people will take it up here on Oahu and have it develop into an enjoyable dance, one easy to phrase. You don't know what phrasing is? Don't worry, no one else does either. Tango fusion - It is already happening in the US. The fusion of American style Tango with Argentine tango to music of either variety. It may be written in 2/4 or 4/4 time, but to the dancer it usually feels as though beats occur in groups of 8, which makes it easier to phrase. The Tango in 2018.

"I love tango, and I used to dance when I was young." ~ Pope Francis