Very Slowly and Carefully

Well, apparently there is some dancing on Oahu but in very small groups. And since they are not interested in larger groups we don't get any information to share with our reader/dancers. Cannot blame them, but it would be nice to let other dancers know what they are doing and perhaps give others some hope in doing something similar so we can begin to dance again. For sure "Keep Away From Trumpanzees and Tourists" and remember, "It ain't over until it's over."

"No one is in control of your happiness but you - therefore,

you have the power to change anything about yourself

or your life that you want to change."

Give some thought to considering your own "thinking style" in reading our blogs or our other social media.  You can make the most of it by fashioning your feedback after your natural thinking style. These are not a "to whom it may concern" posts. We expect feedback from any of our fellow dancers. We all have a little different outlook on any issue and I am sure there are many things you could offer to our blog readers, that others could not. Remember, blogs often reflect personality and the differences are what gives such high value to our blogging.

Cinco de Mayo coming up and everyone should know that "Spanglish" is something else. For instance, "Wheelchair." Mexicans may say, "There is only one taco left so wheelchair."

Getting There

Social dancing has many health benefits that most of us know about and can provide a way to stay active even when we are stuck at home. Dance raises our heart rates, allows us to stretch, and builds strength all at the same time. And there no doubt that we enjoy moving to music. As far as mental health, dance is proven to boost endorphins, reduce cortisol and improve our immune system. As far as health and safety guidelines, restrictions are different all across the country depending on what region you are in. At home we can make our own rules.

"Social dancers know that it is with your feet and body that you move to music,

but it is with your heart that you dance."

We seem to be coming out of this Pandemic but very slowly. We have too many Trumpanzees that still think they have the "right" to not wear a mask. They do not have a clue that vaccination or not you are still able to infect someone else. "It ain't over until it's over" Dummy. Anyway, those of us wearing masks stick around people that wear masks and that seems to be the only sign of "our" people. Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan were very strict. And now they are completely free. No one from the United States is permitted entry

Why did the two knives go to the dance together?

Because they both looked sharp!

Patience

We do have some online dance classes on Oahu but we know that it will be only temporary. And there is some classes in studios well planned with carefully picked people. No Trumpanzees admitted. Masks and social distance respected. Vaccinated or not, you can still spread the germs with your hands. Washing hands is important before and after classes. And plans are in the making for dance classes outdoors and are being led by masked Line dancers since they can dance very nicely without a partner. And when will “safe dancing” come along? We don't know. We must all accept that "It is not over 'til it's over."

"Social dancers know that existence is a kind of dancing --

an energy pattern which needs no explanation other than itself."

Dance is a great way to stay in shape. If you don’t like the gym, dancing can bring fun back into the exercise. Dancing is all about moving your body to music and moving your body is a great way to burn calories. How many will you burn depends on how vigorously you dance. In an one-hour session you can burn from 250 to 400 calories. Dance can effectively promote good health by improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening the muscles, increasing circulation, decreasing blood pressure, lowering the risk of coronary heart disease, reducing stress, and many other positive benefits. Great for improving control over your body, timing and coordination skills. You will learn how to move with grace and poise.

"And then there was that guy who was always too smart for his partners.

He was always a step ahead."

Dancing in the Americas.

No one has any exact dates but it is generally accepted the first humans arrived in the Americas over the land bridge to Alaska before 15000 BC And they migrated down taking thousands of years to get to Argentina. Agriculture began about 8000 BC and as the rest of the world, rhythm and dance began shortly there after. And the most developed cultures in the Americas were the Mexican civilizations in Southern Mexico. They developed many "professionals" in the various occupations, music and dance included.

"Social dancers believe that dancing may be the most basic

and relevant of all forms of expression."

When the natives got to Florida, they were stopped for a while but Cuba is only 90 miles away. In Mexico it took them longer because Cuba is 128 miles from Cancun. And the Caribbean people became well established in Cuba and gradually spread out to the other islands. The Mexicans introduced a much more advanced type of music and dance. And similar types existed throughout the Caribbean by the year 1000, with each island developing their own favorites. The first illegal aliens that arrived did not come to teach them European or African music and dance. What was there was "modified."

The new Trump dance, "take three steps forward, two steps backward,

then a side step and then you turn around."

Night Clubs

Well we are finding out on Oahu, that again, we opened up too soon and too much. The cases are going up. But Trumpanzees have much influence and their solution is in the MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. We have slowly established  "clusters" and Night Clubs are clusters.. Masks and social distance have been pretty well proven World Wide. New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan are all clear now. But they were strict. 

“Social dancers know that if you hit a wall, you climb over it, crawl under it,

or dance on top of it.”

On Oahu, the virus has shown itself to be persistent. It is airborne and it has a higher likelihood of transmission indoors and less likelihood with distancing — none of which bodes very well for nightclubs and music clubs, whose very business model depends on squeezing as many bodies as possible into a room. The most precious advice now is to keep away from Trumpanzeees. They are more likely to go to places that does not require masks or social distance.

"Why do our male dancers not like tight pants? No ballroom." 

We are stalled

A year ago, Hawaii had made plans to market itself as “the safest place in the world.” and then the Trumpanzees wanted to make some money. We opened up too soon and too much. More than 12,000 people in Hawaii have been diagnosed with the virus. Outbreaks at jails and nursing homes are challenging our ability to manage the disease in vulnerable settings even today. And the virus has established itself so firmly in the community that the federal government has had to step in to help health officials get a grip on the exploding number of cases.       

"The one thing that all social dancers have that nobody else has is us.

Our voices, our minds, our stories, our visions. So we can dance

and enjoy moving to the music as only we can."

We closed up and then the Vaccines came in and we thought it was over. And again we opened up too soon and too much. The QAnon have had a big influence on the Trumpanzees. Then the tourists have been bringing variants to complicate matters. The vaccines are only 90% effective which is still better than zero percentage. But it also means 10% will be infected. The dance populatione has been very respective of the entire dance scene in acceptance of what is necessary to stay safe and protect our fellow dancers. The schools are a big question mark.

How do you make a tissue dance?  You just put a little boogie in it!

Moving Right Along

The social dancers on Oahu are proceeding slowly and carefully to dance on a dance floor again. For now we are getting more confident about ways of staying safe. Outside is safer than inside, 90% to 60%. Masks are safer 80% to 90% for the better ones. social distance is mandatory, 10 feet is better than 6 ft. and keep away from Trumpanzees. Far, Far Away. Vaccines are 90% effective which means that 10% are going to get it anyway, tough. But we have the basic framework. Testing has not been figured out yet. And we must face the fact that "It ain't over 'til it's over."

"Ability is what we are capable of doing, motivation determines what we do, and attitude determines how well we do it."

Line dancing seem to be in front because they can more easily dance outdoors. They do not require a partner and social distance is easily respected. Outside is a natural if they can be assured of no rain..On line is already being done. So we can start working on our type, indoors. Limited partners may be allowed.and can sit together and 7 ft apart from other partners. No interchange of partners. Masks and sanitizers a must. The cases are still high, too many Trumpanzees still having large crowds in Waianae and Kapolei. And then new variants are coming in with the Tourists.

"In my old age I am just realizing that if it is clean, it ain't laundry."