Heads Up

Bolero: An extinct Spanish dance that fused in with Rumba danced in the Caribbean. The one that is danced in America was a complete fabrication of the dance instructors of the time. Can be a beautiful exhibition dance but not as a social dance. The music too has been mixed and confused with other types. Generally the music for bolero may be exactly the same but slower than Rumba and the entire bolero-rumba scene is in process of being untangled.

Bongos: Small joined drums of different pitch, struck by the fingers of both hands. Used in Latin music to give it its distinctive sound and usually held between the knees. Evolved from the separate small drums played by the Natives of Mexico for millenniums.

"Green Eyes" by Jimmy Dorsey

Social dancing is not only artistic recreation but also a sport integrated with social aspects. it has been a most socially accepted way for adults to play It not only pleases the participants but casts its attractiveness on the people watching. This has led to extensive development of Exhibition and Competition Ballroom Dancing. Though exhibition dancing now, is not really ballroom dancing. It is performance or theatrical dancing, strictly show biz. There are also standard steps and non-standard step. The standard steps are those approved by the dance societies in the U.S. and England. This facilitates the dancing for people from diverse sections of the world.

"Waikiki" by Amy Hanaialii

You can see some of these social dancers in many places and they seem to know what they want. They enjoy the music and the moving to that music. They enjoy the company of their friends and neighbors and are willing to accept "outsiders" to partake of the fun. But of course, most of these people know the music and do not have ear plugs in their ears from sunup to sundown. "We" do not dance for others, we dance for ourselves. Once we got that gang together we got it made in the shade. We get suggestions and among the best of our advisors are the teachers of Dance. But in the end, we dance anyway we damn well please.

This may require Deep Thinking: "Where does the light go when it goes out?"