Dancing Outdoors

Many places all over the world are finding it safer to dance outdoors, weather permitting. On Oahu we are fortunate to have such good weather for dancing outdoors. With masks and a proper social distance we could be dancing Pandemic Free. The natural world doesn't come equipped with deluxe dancing floors, so we must troubleshoot for less-than-ideal dance surfaces. Concrete is nice and smooth for most social dances. Soft grass, on the other hand, absorbs shock, so it's great for young dancers that gotta jump around. And sand could be really fun because you can fall without hurting yourself, and the resistance of the sand will strengthen your muscles. However not for our kind of dancing. 

“The older social dancers think that the greatest act of faith some

days, is to simply get up and face another day.”

We must alter our dancing pending on the surface. We still have to plan for the weather. We must establish our own weather-related boundaries. We are not going to dance in the rain, Some younger people might enjoy it, but most of us would rather watch the forecast, and go out on a day that's nicer. The glare of the sun can look great in a lot of photos, and the wind looks really cool moving through loose clothing. Even rain can produce some really fun stuff. We just need to adjust our perspective. Out on the park, we can use the sensation of the wind or the way the birds are singing, to dance in a way we never have before. We just gotta dance.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

If you're dancing in public outdoor spaces, choosing a safe location is crucial, especially in this era of social distancing. You want to avoid as many people as possible. With restaurants and grocery stores closed, many parking lots are completely empty, leaving some great open spaces. Some people also likes to dance in empty parking garages. The smooth concrete floors are ideal for turning,. Beyond practicality, choose a location that inspires you. The greatest thing about dancing outdoors is what the location itself adds to your dancing and we might just like outside spots with a view.

Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Oahu Nightclubbing, 2021.

The night club scene is beginning to open up. They must try to make money but they also like to see happy customers. Is it safe to go to these Oahu venues? Are there any other safety measures taken by venue? There has been a little trouble with Trumpanxzees, they want "their" freedom. Venues that are opened right now have implemented very strict and comprehensive COVID-19 protocols to ensure safety and well-being of their patrons. While it varies per venue, most places have temperature checks at the door, and some even have quick COVID test kits available prior to entry.

“Social dancers know that we cannot erase the past. We cannot even change it.

But sometimes life offers us the opportunity to put it right.”

 

Do you need to wear a mask? Masks are mandatory upon arrival - if you don't have one, the venue staff may provide you with one before you are allowed to enter. Once inside the venue, hand sanitizers are available and masks are not required at your table or when entering the general area. However, they are still highly encouraged when you leave your table area to use the bathroom. Play it safe, for you and your fellow dancers. Wear them and just remove when taking a drink.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges 

When attending nightlife venues during the pandemic, you should expect some level of capacity restrictions. It varies by venue, but most places are not allowing general admission and have reduced their capacity to anywhere between 25-75%. Tables are spaced out to maintain social distancing guidelines. Bottle service groups are expected to stay at their table only. Mingling with other groups is frowned upon, and often closely monitored. With the current state of affairs, most venues do not have a live DJ. Pre-recorded DJ sets are common, Patience, we may be out of it by year's end.

"Life is like dancing – it’s not about getting from one place to another.

It’s about enjoying each step along the way."

 

At Home?

So in Hawaii last year, the pandemic erupted, and many good things in life were put on hold. If dance lessons were one of those good things now missing from our routines, we still have hopes. They do not have to be forsaken completely. While nothing can replace club sessions with our club instructors, setting up space at home allows dancers to keep fit, work on moves, and burn off stress. Whether you fully dedicate a permanent space or set up a flex area that can accommodate other projects, there are ways to enjoy what we do.

"With the Trump Pandemic so bad, it may seem stupid to hope.

But sometimes hope is all we've got.”

Many people have formulated plans so that they will be ready when club sessions are back in full swing. As social dancers, learning new styles and techniques can further your enjoyment when you start to dance again. But staying in the present shape is more important because of the sheer enjoyment of moving to music. Why not use this time to enhance your abilities, and if possible, do a little bit of exploring. Building your repertoire and creative sensibilities can only help that much more when you can return to your club routine.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges.

Try to establish a solid plan for your practice by talking it over with your friends. Keep up your dance moves even if you’re solo. Why not break up your routine with some line dancing? At the heart of your studio is one simple thing, mirrors and contemplate what other equipment you need and research options. Keeping your space germ-free is safe, easy, and inexpensive with homemade supplies. We should be getting back to some resemblance of social dancing by the end of the years at the Thanksgiving Dance.

"As the Great Philosopher said, "No matter where you go, there you are."

Masks, a Revelation.

I had an appointment at the VA, the Handi Van came to pick me up and the driver had his mask on. Everything went nice until it came to light that I did not have my mask on. I quickly ran up back to my apartment to get mine. He picked another lady on the way and she had her mask on. We went through the gates of Tripler and everyone was wearing masks. And when we got to the VA, eveyone was wearing a mask. And a trio of nurses with masks were there as doorkeepers.

"Social dancers believe that in every dark night there has to be,

somewhere, a small light of hope burning that can never be quenched.”

ID, and time of of appointment, no one could get in less the 15 minutes before the appointment. You wait and keep 6 feet apart. Benches with signs, "only one person to a bench." When your time comes and you get inside, you note there are no crowds and no sitting rows of seats inside anymore. There are more questions and everyone is masked, even the police officers. I finally get into section on the second floor and I can hardly recognize anyone because everyone is wearing a mask. In spite of all this everyone seems to be doing their job. They certainly did good job for me. Nice.

"Hanalei Moon" by Loyal Garner 

 

I had to wait for the Handy Van to take me back and the driver was masked. He picked up a lady masked and dropped her off in Pearl City then left me off at Foodland, Millilani. Everyone was masked and seem to respect distance between customers. Getting in line to be checked out had to be six feet apart. The bus back had the Bus driver with a mask and all passengers must have a mask or you cannot get on. Got back home and it was a relief to take my mask off but I find it very understandable. And I am quite sure it may not be too much longer.

"Social dancers don’t let anyone ever dull their sparkle."

Social dancing

What Is Social Dance? We still don't know but this year we are going to get much closer to a definition. Social dance forms on Oahu weren't made for exhibition, but were instead created in streets and social dance clubs. Many of the ethnic groups used it aas a means of expression and communication from their own viewpoints. Minor perhaps but from many different groups the total has made for a very nice enjoyable social dance. Examples include most of the syllabi of the American Dance Style plus the fad dances, salsa, bachata, hustle, and night club two step.

"Hope is such a beautiful word, but it often seems very fragile.
Life is still being needlessly hurt and destroyed.”

 

Social dances tell a story about history and ethnic cultures, These dances are a voice of the people and there is some give and take with the neighbor islands. Finding comfort in your identity of social dance style tends to emphasize community building over conformity in the pursuit of different aesthetics. That kind of learning environment can help social dancers gain a greater self-appreciation. When dancers feel comfortable being their fullest selves, they might also discover more space to challenge other societal norms.

"My Molokai Woman" by Willie K

Many have danced in modern dance, street dance and even International style of dance worlds and often faced microaggressions in those environments. But they have found acceptance in social dance as the easiest. Some favorite dances in the social partner-dance community have been where no one had any qualms about race, sexuality, or clumsiness. Buoyed by that support, they become interested in so many other social aspects of the social dance scene. 

"Social dancers believe, they can - and they are halfway there."

 

The Latest

The Trump Pandemic is mainly spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols that are produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. Covering your nose and mouth is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and keep your fellow dancers safe,  Wearing a mask is more to protect other people from your own respiratory droplets. That is almost as effective as social distance. Six feet is adequate however ten feet is more effective.

 

“Social dancers believe that hope is a passion for the possible.”

 

Everyone in the studios is required to wear a mask, because people can carry and spread COVID-19 without having any symptoms. The more people wear a mask, the safer everybody gets to be. Masks are particularly important when you're indoors, because there's less airflow for respiratory droplets to disperse. If you're in an enclosed indoor dance studio, for example, your droplets will essentially be confined to that room, There are a few groups now, outdoors - Dancing in the Parks.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

Not to mention, you tend to breathe heavier during physical exercise, which means that you're spreading even more droplets, Keeping your nose and mouth covered throughout any dancing comes with its challenges, but it's worth it for your long-term health. Even if you're young and healthy, this virus can do horrible things, with lasting effects that could really have a negative outcome on your dancing. We do not hear much on Oahu. They do not care to advertise to get crowds. Every one has to  get in line.

"Social dancers think that it will cost you nothing to dream and everything not to."

The Solution, the Vaccine?

It is becoming apparent that we cannot rely on hopes of a solution with this vaccine to fight the Trump Pandemic and the top people urge people not to become complacent during lock down.  The Pfizer’s vaccine had been pushed by Trump and it being used.  But we haven’t yet seen the full safety data even after it has been confirmed that their vaccine has proven to be 90% effective. The vaccine has cleared some significant hurdles but it may still be some way off. The biggest mistake we could make now would be to slacken our resolve at this critical moment.

 

“At what point do social dancers give up - decide enough is enough?

There is only one answer really. Never.”

We are all exhausted, stressed out, and looking for an exit, so hopes for a vaccine are high. Numerous efforts are underway around the world to test, manufacture, and distribute billions of doses. A table maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO) lists 33 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, currently being tested in people, with another 143 candidates in preclinical testing.The effort is so critical, the U.S. government is spending billions to make doses of vaccine that may be wasted if clinical trials don’t show them to be safe and effective.

"Molokai Waltz" by Amy Hanaialii

The goal of this massive operation, dubbed Warp Speed, is to deliver 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines by January 2021. As important as a vaccine will be, some experts are already trying to temper expectations for how much it will be able to do. We all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection, However, there is no silver bullet at the moment, and there might never be.The idea that a vaccine will end the pandemic just isn’t realistic“That’s not going to happen,. First, not enough people will get the vaccine. Second, for those who do take it, the vaccine may only offer partial protection from the virus.

"Social dancers know that dancing with the feet is one thing.

Dancing with the heart is another."

Social Media Oahu

The new year is starting off pretty good as far as plans for the future. My social media is morphing very nicely in my old age. My key blogs are Town Dancer, Social Dance Oahu, Dancing Nights and The Bill Board. In addition I am in Facebook and in three Groups. Fam Mart, Oahu Dancers and HBDA group. I am also into Twitter, Tumblr and Word Press. Anyone that cares to join me is welcomed. And the blogs are all with few hits because we have no dancing. Stands to reason.

“Social dancers are optimists. They may be hopers of far-flung hopes,
and the dreamers of improbable dreams.”

 

Facebook has inherited the creative space allowed for Groups. The ordinary Time Line consists of over 500 friends and covers just about everything. But I have three Groups allied with Facebook - Fam Mart which is my personal group, mostly relatives. Oahu Dancers which has to do with social dancing, mainly on Oahu. Then I have been invited to an additional Group, HBDA, where dance begins and they are doing very well with 190 members. Frank Sierra contributes some beautiful dance videos of HBDA Exhibition dances all over this island.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

Then I have the experiments, Word Press, Tumblr and Twitter. All three increasing very slowly. I do not have a counter but I will set one up on each when I can find out how to do it. Twitter is just fine for very short communications with the dancing public and you cannot edit very easily. But if you know your way around, if is very useful. Word Press and Tumblr work similarly and I usually copy the bigger data from Word Press to Tumblr and they are very likely to be with different readers.

"Social dancers don’t let anyone ever dull their sparkle."

Our Dance Scene

Here we are, on Oahu at the beginning of the year 2021, contemplating the social dance scene for the year. No one knows for sure when the Trump pandemic will end. What we do know is that our dance world will be an entirely new one for the foreseeable future. We have had months of no dancing or just dancing in our homes and in a few digital spaces.  And we have gone through a catastrophic physical, emotional and financial toll. We will not come out of this unscathed. And it most likely will not be pretty. But it could be a chance to re imagine the dance world as we knew it. In many ways, we'll have to start from scratch. So why not learn from this moment and rebuild our community on a stronger foundation?

“Social dancers think it is not as much about who you used to be,

as it is about who you choose to be.” 

Why not use this opportunity to enact the desires, the dreams, the radical changes that we haven't been bold enough to voice before? Why not reevaluate the systems and structures we've long seen as immutable? We are all deeply concerned for our fellow dancers health and jobs.  Our dance environment had been sustainably growing for the last few decades. We have had some exceptional choreographic work online, and in virtual and augmented reality. There are folks who have been paving the way, doing the research, writing the case studies. At a time when everything seems broken, this is a perfect moment to check out the work of folks who have been imagining other possible dance worlds for a while.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

Will that continue? Or will it be a question of just the pandemic and it may only affected this narrow slice of life and it's over now. Unfortunately the new mayor is a Trumpanzee. The cases and deaths will continue to increase not decrease and we will emerge differently. Some of us will have our bodies reconfigured by exposure to the virus. Many of us will have our hearts, bodies and minds reconfigured by the trauma of living through this. My question is, how can we continue to help and not hinder our social dance scene? Here, like anywhere else our people are unique, we are not all the same. 

"Social dancers believe that dancing just may be an art.

Paint your dream and follow it."

What is Virtual Dance?

The Virtual Dance Sport Festival January 2021
In this difficult time on the mainland, they would like to give back to the dance community by providing jobs to the officials and letting the dance teachers and studio owners generate some extra income. They have come up with a project a Virtual Dance Festival that will take place in several virtual ballrooms via Zoom platform during January 2021. It is a way for many to share their love of ballroom dancing and show their support to the whole ballroom community from anywhere in the world.

“Social dancers know that the problem with hope is that it gets your hopes up.

But of course, hopelessness is worse.”

All the participants will be adjudicated by very qualified adjudicators from the US. It is everyone's hope that our dancers throughout the US will participate. It may be our way to support those who have been our teachers, our mentors, our coaches, and our support teams – those who have brought the joy of dance into our lives. It is our time to do this together in dance. There will be an orientation program via Zoom for all the participants and anyone who would like to consider participating in this unique event.

"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K

There will be a Zoom link for this workshop where you can ask any questions. It is everone's hope that this initiative will inspire dancers, teachers, studios, and officials around the world! The goal is to revitalize the dance industry by providing a new platform for competitive dancers during these uncertain times! Online with "Zoom" Please make sure you are familiar with the video program zoom.They will be holding the competition using this virtual, online competition. You can download Zoom if you do not have it. It’s free and will be the platform used to run this online ballroom dance competition.

"Social dancers wish to remind their competition friends,

Don't forget to be awesome."