Ron Montez Workshop

Special WORKSHOP with Mr. Ron Montez

American Rumba & West Coast Swing

This Coming Sunday October 16th at 3pm

You might have seen Ron Montez on TV or in famous instructional dance videos. Come to learn from the Legend. Ron Montez is one of the most respected personalities in the dance business. He previously held the title as the 7-time undefeated United States Professional Latin Champion. He achieved 4th place in the World’s Professional Latin Championships held at Royal Albert Hall in London. He has reached the final of the prestigious British Championships in Blackpool, England. Ron is the recipient of the 2009 United States Dance Championships Hall of Fame Award. He is recognized as a World Class adjudicator, dance coach and choreographer in both American and International styles.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

Ron is the organizer of the Chicago Crystal Ball and the Aloha Ball, held in Kona Hawaii. Ron was the co-host and expert commentator for the PBS television show “Championship Ballroom Dancing”, which was hosted by Rita Moreno, Juliet Prowse, Barbara Eden, Sandy Duncan and Jasmine Guy. Ron is a national examiner for DIVDA (Dance Vision International Dance Association). In this capacity he examines both amateur and professional dancers who wish to obtain certification. His instructional tapes plus DVD’s, including bronze, silver and gold levels, are available through DanceVision.

Fee: $20 per person with advance registration - $25 at door
register at yannajs@gmail.com

Divino Ritmo Dance /ALOHA DANCESPORT CENTER
350 Ward Ave #200
Honolulu,HI,96814
www.alohadancesportcenter.com

"Dancers know that if you dance with your heart, your feet will follow." 

First Weekly

This blog is not considered terminally ill. But going on a weekly basis, it will be on the back burner for a while until we get some Two Centers helping us out. The agenda remains fairly simple. Recap the last weekend and look forward to good things for the following week end. Comments at the end of each and every blog remain easy to do. Suggestions can be emailed very easily. We will have some good starters for all of our fellow dancers interested in Live Music.

"No matter how people think of themselves accomplished, when they set out to

learn a new language, science, or the bicycle, they have entered a new

realm as truly as if they were a child newly born into the world."

This entire blog thing has been an experiment for both the social dancers and the dance information contributors on this Island. Is there a difference in a Web site and Blog site?
We run an information group of blog service for ADULTS. Normally, we could have in our blogs, private parties, wedding receptions, class and family reunions, and even military parties. This is our social dance world.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

Just about anything that is moving to music is fine and most of our blogging is pretty current. We have found that most of our audience consists of experienced dancers that  have been very interested in music and dancing of 1960's - 1980's  The Oldies but Goodies music that is well done by the live bands on Oahu.. Seems like finding comfortable venues for touch dancing and oldies music are kinda tough to find.

"Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw

That's why we are only going on weekly basis until our reader/dancers catch up. If we get a critical mass - a regular Two Center and at least one Guest Author, maybe we can get back to regular blogging along with the other blogs. With averages per day over 67 (2000 per month) they can go independent from me. I cannot continue to handle so many blogs. My starting travel route is on the #53 bus from where I live in Pearl City all the way to Ala Moana Center.  It is easy for me and I don't have to bother the Handi Van, who are just terrific people.

"Dancers know that we cannot stop rumors from spreading and we cannot really stop people from believing them. All we can do is sit back and smile at these low life people who have nothing better to do than to talk stink about us."

Progress

We do have many of the younger beginners that have danced ballet, modern, and tap and happened to stumble upon ballroom dancing. They begin to suspect that there are benefits in dancing in Night Clubs.  However, they also begin to realize that it is for a more experienced older generation, a solid Night Club crowd. But the younger group has a different agenda for dancing. And they love anything new, and they seek being up to date, they will take it easy and assimilate. Most of us agree that they should do as they please. No Hu Hu.

"From all the drama, backstabbing and tattling, sometimes I cannot figure out if I am in elementary school or middle school,  Oh wait, I am in social dancing."

The longevity of a ballroom dancer's career is much longer than that of a ballerina or modern dancer and age does not really have much to do with our dancing. Certainly not because the steps are slower and we can face it that the classics over a couple hundred years are the ballads in any language. "How much is that dogie in the window" Number one in "The Hit Parade" in  the US 60 years ago. Very few remember that song.

That is much different than a "classic social song." They are not going to play "Tennessee Waltz" this week and we don't mind. But when they do, we will flock to the floor and dance it to our hearts content. The people in Hawaii are becoming more aware of this fact but it is taking time. We just want to enjoy the night without hurting anyone else, we can hope, that they may permit us.

This is it.

I finally got to the point I was looking for. Which one? And this blog has been unanimously selected, the hits have been going to the other blogs. But like I have said time and again, the reader/dancers will make most of the final decisions. I don't want to delete it yet so it will just go on a weekly basis and we can all be patient. Since I have my own personal blog Dancing in the Dark on Sunday, I will try to get this Midweek. How about every Wednesday?

"Your age does not define your maturity - your speech does not define your intellect - and rumors don't define who you are."

Meanwhile the big big concerts seem to getting less popular. But in Hawaii many singles,  small groups and live bands are very well accepted. And fortunately for the dancers many have good sized dance floors. And most of the bands are very good at reminiscing with the "oldies but goodies."  Which of course, are mostly appreciated by the over 30.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

We do have an over abundance of live music in downtown Honolulu and parking is due to get worse when the rail disaster is done. The outskirts are way overdue. The North Shore, the Waianae Coast, Kapolei, second city and something will happen in the vicinity of Kailua. Because of the Rail Tragedy, the highest prices for homes on this Island are now in Kailua.

"Good friends, good dancing, good wine = good times."

 

Cupola

Received from Yanna, but not in JPEG. Cannot be copied unless you have a special program. Had to copy in pieces.
 

SOCIAL DANCE AT CUPOLA

This Thursday October 6th 6:30-9:30
Social Dance at Cupola Sponsored by DRD at

Inspiration Design Center Kapiolani Blv. Honolulu
Every first Thursday of the month , Open to the public,

NO admission, free parking after validation
food and drinks for purchase from Wine bar and Stage restaurant.
all ballroom tunes by DJ Lucas, Mr. Augie Ray is busy traveling

out of state but will be back with his live entertainment next month.

Divino Ritmo Dance
350 Ward Ave #200
Honolulu,HI,96814
www.alohadancesportcenter.com

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

In town the evidence is becoming clearer simply because there is more of it. What is? The melding of dance movements in the peripheral groups with the social - cultural groups and it is a two way street.  American Tango can be influenced by the Argentine Tango and the Filipino Tango by the American. And it may only be a flick of the wrist, but it is still American Tango and danced by American style dancers with each other very easily.

A penguin walks into a Pearl City bar, goes to the counter, and asks

 the bartender, “Have you seen my brother? The bartender says,

 “I don’t know. What does he look like?” 

Live or Recorded

Franklin Cheung, Pupukea
There are a million ways to experience music, but for the purpose of this blog let's just break it down to two categories: live and recorded. I don't know about the rest, but if I get to hear live music more than twice a month, I am lucky. Sure, I can look back and remember some great concerts in my life but I like the intimate atmosphere of a night club regularly and I can dance.

"A rumor can go around the Palladium floor twice before the

truth has a chance to get up the stairs."

Sitting about as far as you can get at the Blaisdell, the sound can still be awesome, There gave been times when I've never heard anything close to that sound reproduced by even the very best high-end audio systems. The orchestras certainly didn't need amplification; they were definitely loud enough.

"Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman

Better yet, the sound never hurt my ears. But the orchestras have been far more viscerally dynamic than any rock band, and the sound of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion filling the acoustic space of the Center has been a thrill I won't soon forget.

"Little Things Mean A Lot" by Kitty Kallen

That is, you don't so much hear the sound of each instrument, you hear all of them filling the Center. The sound of the entire orchestra floats, like a cloud, above the listeners. The sound has been beyond what I've ever experienced. But recorded music I can have with me for total recall anytime I want it.

"A Screwdriver walks into a Pearl City Bar. The Bartender says,

"Hey, we have a drink named after you." The Screwdriver

responds,  "You have a drink named Murray?"

Exhibition Dancers?

Yeah we get them in the Night Clubs and many of them are really good. Exhibition Dancers are made, not born. Many learn from the small social dance clubs on Oahu. Then if they belong to the right club they may be asked to perform. Formation dances are the best place to begin because they will not be alone. It is a fun experience to dance with the idea of being seen. But they have practiced long and diligently for that very occasion.

"Some think that you should not inquire as to why or whither,
but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate."

All these people make this blog just about ready for a steady Guest Author. The only catch is that you must want to, I am not here to sell anything. I provide the platform and you may use it only when and if you wish. I merely notify Blogger and an invitation is sent from Blogger and if you accept you choose a password to get in. That is all between you and Blogger.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

"Beautiful Night Club - In Pearl City? Naw

In effect then you will have your own blog within the blog. You can open the blog, write, post photos, publish, close it and all without saying boo to anyone. And the best part of it is the synergism gets in and hits get compounded by more Guest Authors. Furthermore, if a blog can get 2 or 3 Guest Authors, they will, for sure, get over 100 average hits per day. (3000 per month.) Then I could plan on phasing myself out and let them take the blog over. - Independence.

Have a nice week end everyone. And those going on the trip, have yourselves a nice time.