Eventually many of us dancers in the disciplines find that it's okay to break out of that box we have been dancing in. The box is just fine and if others want to be Competition Dancers, no hu hu. There are many good solid reasons for that type of dance. Furthermore in that type of dance they are judged by the same rules. Sounds fair enough to most of us. But it is a different type from our kind of dancing, - just to be free to follow our hearts, our emotions, and our feet in social partner dancing. It is not new, this type of freedom may have been happening for centuries.
On Oahu it has gone from "Most" before WWII, to slightly less after. Then the American style came in the fifties and Social dancing began it's long descent down in popularity. The challenges remained there for the dancers to broaden their love of dance. To incorporate many different dance styles in order to embody all the sounds and rhythms the music has to offer. When was the last time you did a cross body lead in the Waltz? Whether blues, tango, swing, west coast swing, salsa, pop, hip-hop, trip-hop, or music that incorporates sounds from all these genres and more. Every dancer is continually challenged to "dance outside the box."
They can use their dance backgrounds and lessons learned in classes to break down barriers and understand that they can dance to practically anything. It is a celebration of individual expression, and sharing that experience with others through social dance. Oahu dancers generally, had not accept much of this. But something happened within a few years of the Palladium Opening. Let's face it, many of our American Style Dance instructors know their dancing and had been applying many of these new principles for years. They had few disciplinary taboos and could go with their own gut opinions. And we have the results with some the best dancers anywhere.
“Social dancers believe that it may be stupid to hope,
but sometimes hope is the only thing we got.”
On Oahu it has gone from "Most" before WWII, to slightly less after. Then the American style came in the fifties and Social dancing began it's long descent down in popularity. The challenges remained there for the dancers to broaden their love of dance. To incorporate many different dance styles in order to embody all the sounds and rhythms the music has to offer. When was the last time you did a cross body lead in the Waltz? Whether blues, tango, swing, west coast swing, salsa, pop, hip-hop, trip-hop, or music that incorporates sounds from all these genres and more. Every dancer is continually challenged to "dance outside the box."
"Molokai Waltz" by Amy Hanaialli Gilliom
They can use their dance backgrounds and lessons learned in classes to break down barriers and understand that they can dance to practically anything. It is a celebration of individual expression, and sharing that experience with others through social dance. Oahu dancers generally, had not accept much of this. But something happened within a few years of the Palladium Opening. Let's face it, many of our American Style Dance instructors know their dancing and had been applying many of these new principles for years. They had few disciplinary taboos and could go with their own gut opinions. And we have the results with some the best dancers anywhere.
"The best of things in life is to learn. You can lose money, health or property
but what you have committed your mind to is yours forever."
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