Street Dancing

By Gen Wong, Waianae

There still seems to be an awful lot of "young people" dance evolving all over the world. The thing that matters is that they wish to move to their music, the most natural thing in the world. In this case, in California, I really don't know what they were doing. The band was played a terrific "La Bamba" in the style of the Beatles and it was still perfect for a Mambo but no one was partner dancing. They were all moving to the music and they were obviously enjoying their own particular movements to the music.

“Social dancers know that dance doesn’t give rise to anything in us that isn’t already there. It simply sparks a fire that illuminates who we have always wanted to be.”

I am not an expert but I certainly think they could enjoy it a little bit more if someone could teach them the basic movements. Just the slow and fast step, the rock step and the chassé would be enough to start. They could have been dancing in a more partnered manner and perhaps enjoying the same rhythm together. But most of those that take lessons learn movements by rote. Dictionary: mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition, a joyless sense of order, rote, and commercial hustle.

"La Bamba" by Richie Valens

And that is if they learn at all. Put your left foot here and put your right foot there. The music usually is introduced much later. And only then do they try to do what is taught originally without music. This is the method most used around the world, so it is not a sin. The only thing missing is the rhythm, so it just isn't the real thing. Of course, most eventually will find the rhythm because humans tend to go that way. But it is a round about method. The old street method is the music first and the rhythm that goes with the music, and only then moving to that music, a far different method.

“Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts. You could remember this when you find yourself at the beginning.”