The Beautiful Song

"Dancing in the Dark" was a very popular American song in the last century, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz, The song was first recorded by Bing Crosby on August 19, 1931 with the Studio Orchestra, staying on the pop charts for six weeks. It peaked at #3, and then it became a lasting standard which has remained in social dancing well into this century. The 1941 recording by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra earned Shaw one of his eight gold records at the height of the Big Band and Big Ballroom era of the 1930s and 1940s.

“The social dancer's mind has a way of limiting what's possible when they give it permission. The dance floor is their stage to enjoy themselves moving to music."

It was subsequently featured in the classic 1953 MGM musical The Band Wagon and has since come to be considered part of the Great American Songbook. In the film it is orchestrally performed to a dance set in Central Park. The song is given a sensual and dramatic orchestration by Conrad Salinger, with the dance choreographed by Michael Kidd and performed by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. I have it in a song video and can email it to anyone that wants it.

"London Calling" by The Clash (1982)

Line Dancing Anyone?

I have cut it down to five blogs and it is still going up too slowly. I may experiment blogging more often. And the photos emailed to me will make a big difference in the readership. The center for social dancing for West Oahu may be WBDC in Wahiawa and ABDA in Aiea. WBDC may have the edge because the Rail Disaster is not near them and Mililani and Waipio look good. Many of our reader/dancers live in this area or have friends and/or relatives that live in these sections. The Waianae Coast and the North Shore are looking good too.

"If you’re unsure of yourself, dance as though nobody were watching.
If you know you’re good, dance as though everybody were watching."