Cancellation of Classes and Dance Socials

Received from Roscel Garcia:
Aloha.  Hope you and your loved ones are all well.

Kindly post this notice regarding our dance classes and socials due to coronavirus concerns:

"To heed caution, West Coast Swing Oahu is cancelling classes and dance socials until further notice.  We hope everyone will take care, stay safe and well.  Mahalo for your understanding.  Until we dance again…”

Thank you,

George & Roscel Garcia

West Coast Swing Oahu

danz@westcoastswingoahu.com

"Cuesta Abajo" por Carlos Gardel

Social dancing on Oahu is a language with many dialects which is what makes it fun. We have our own set of cues and responses that people understand and respond to with various degrees of efficiency. There’s people who speak fluently, people who speak basic, conversational dance, and those who only know a few words. Beyond the movements we use for actual steps, we have a second ‘hidden’ language. This language is what we use to communicate issues that we’re having with the other person’s dancing. This hidden language is sometimes MORE important than the ‘dance language’ itself. This is meant to be a guide to some of the most common or most widely-understood hidden language cues that we should know for our social dancing. But we do try to get along.

"My Molokai Woman" by Willie K

Closed for the month

The dialect in the new Swing era of the roaring twenties had meanings, -a hep-cat was a popular swing musician and a canary was a female vocalist. Killer-diller referred to a hot musical number and a jam session was improvised music making. If you understood all this you were "in-the-groove" and had a flawless performance. During the swing era, a whole new vocabulary of slang terms evolved and many of them have been forgotten. But I am an old man and I still remember the title of a famous Duke Ellington number from 1932 called "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"

"Life throws curveballs. And while there might be blockers to success, 
it's imperative to keep pushing with the knowledge that mistakes
will be made and failure sometimes is inevitable."

Cancellation of Classes and Dance Socials

Received from Roscel Garcia:
Aloha.  Hope you and your loved ones are all well.

Kindly post this notice regarding our dance classes and socials due to coronavirus concerns:

"To heed caution, West Coast Swing Oahu is cancelling classes and dance socials until further notice.  We hope everyone will take care, stay safe and well.  Mahalo for your understanding.  Until we dance again…”

Thank you,

George & Roscel Garcia

West Coast Swing Oahu

danz@westcoastswingoahu.com

"Cuesta Abajo" por Carlos Gardel

Social dancing on Oahu is a language with many dialects which is what makes it fun. We have our own set of cues and responses that people understand and respond to with various degrees of efficiency. There’s people who speak fluently, people who speak basic, conversational dance, and those who only know a few words. Beyond the movements we use for actual steps, we have a second ‘hidden’ language. This language is what we use to communicate issues that we’re having with the other person’s dancing. This hidden language is sometimes MORE important than the ‘dance language’ itself. This is meant to be a guide to some of the most common or most widely-understood hidden language cues that we should know for our social dancing. But we do try to get along.

"My Molokai Woman" by Willie K

Closed for the month

The dialect in the new Swing era of the roaring twenties had meanings, -a hep-cat was a popular swing musician and a canary was a female vocalist. Killer-diller referred to a hot musical number and a jam session was improvised music making. If you understood all this you were "in-the-groove" and had a flawless performance. During the swing era, a whole new vocabulary of slang terms evolved and many of them have been forgotten. But I am an old man and I still remember the title of a famous Duke Ellington number from 1932 called "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"

"Life throws curveballs. And while there might be blockers to success, 
it's imperative to keep pushing with the knowledge that mistakes
will be made and failure sometimes is inevitable."

Pandemic, Part Three

Received from Richard Takahata
Subject: Fwd: Pandemic Response

One of the BIGGEST LESSONS LEARNED - fast reliable and effective communications is required to control the PANDEMIC. Email is NOT one of the best methods under rapid response situations.  Luckily we are not first responders, but be aware of the limitations.  We each have a close network we have frequent and strong ties with - we should be reaching out to them with  valuable news and public information.  We take care of each other.

The essential information about the PANDEMIC is about new and existing cases and the process for followup so we can know where the new dangers and problems are and act to protect ourselves and others.

On the other side is false and misleading information - its all mixed up in the avalanche of media out there, so be careful and think twice and check twice.  And it can be coming from the worst place - our public officials and government.

We can benefit through more cooperation and working together to seek the truth.

Richard

"Preparedness seem to be the key ingredient to handle this type of disaster."

The spread of the Corona Virus is scary, no matter who you are. But for dancers, who work in close physical proximity to one another, there's an added element of risk. Dancers can't exactly "work remotely," after all, and the dance world functions through large gatherings—classes, performances, rehearsals, events—that we have to avoid as the situation escalates. We've heard to wash our hands, avoid touching our faces and wear a mask if we're feeling sick. (No, really, please don't wear a mask if you're healthy.) But what else should the dance world be doing? We have rounded up some of the most helpful resources on dealing with the virus. We must keep working at it.

"Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are:

precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless

it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from."

Pandemic, Part Two.

Received from Richard Takahata
From: Rhrt11 <rhrt11@aol.com>

Subject: Re: Pandemic Response

Disclosure I used this source for what I am sharing on COVID19 - the author has a PhD in Pathology and experiences analyzing previous Pandemics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWEakkc_xxs

by Peak Prosperity

Emergency Communications - public news sources and government officials cannot keep up with this rapidly evolving event - and analyzing and evaluating the mountains of data lags even further.  The "facts" used by public new sources lags reality, by weeks and orders of magnitude.  Hawaii could easily have 10x - 100x times the reported number of confirmed case, because testing has been delayed by WEEKS, and even with the start of new testing programs to expand it, there will be weeks of transition delay, mistakes and more delays, and a steep learning curve to get it right.  Current test kits are only 70% accurate, so it will take several tries to just get one case properly tested - more delays in getting the truth.  A TIME is critical.  And when the truth starts to hit the US in a few weeks, it will look like this....AWFUL!

So don't feed the COVID19 MONSTER and make it get bigger and BIGGER, do this instead...

There aren't enough trained people and the proper resources in the healthcare system for infectious disease PANDEMICS with no pre-protection by vaccine/HERD IMMUNITY - PPEs ( personal protective equipment) will be all gone soon in days, if not already - how will all these new armies of testing technicians be able to suit up properly prepare to give a test, and then 1000s of tests?  The testing process could end up helping to spread the disease, by not changing out gloves, and PPEs more often. More problems!

FLATTEN THE CURVE - use NPIs!!!, much simpler and cheaper and SAFER!!!

So...avoid all this, please stay home, and avoid adding to the terrible problems we already have - more and more sick people in hospitals and enjoy the peace and quiet far away from the maddening crowds.

Richard - if I got it wrong in anyway - sorry, I am only human

PS - today's news says Hawaii just doubled the confirmed cases to 4 - using testing.  But testing lags reality by orders of magnitude... we could find out later the real number is 100 times that = community spreading is occurring now and no containment measures are effective, only NPIs.  Meanwhile, there are probably many new infected persons on Kauai, and Maui, on the airlines and airports affected in this case, spreading the disease throughout our community now...

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/14/visitors-kauai-test-positive-coronavirus-county-officials-confirm/

PSS - the world economic and financial crises is blowing up now... more losse$$$$, more disruptions, higher unemployment, social upheavals, bankruptcies, homelessness... more reasons to not get sick w/COVID19 and compound all those problems it is causing. 

Be a part of the solution - FLATTEN THE CURVE - NPIs

Richard

"By failing to prepare we may be preparing to fail - miserably." 

Pandemic Situation, Part One

Received from Richard Takahata: 

Pandemic Situation Analyses: ( based on experiences in UK- England)
ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTFk34nhoI

1. Containment phase - these measures to test, identify and isolate infected individuals, have all failed to halt the disease spread, so this phase is over

WE ARE NOW HERE-
2. Delay phase - social distancing, social isolation, cancel gatherings, close schools, testing, Testing, TESTING.  This prevents the disease for spreading more and overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers with new cases
3. Research and Treatment - develop and deploy a new COVID19 vaccine, and develop other medications and therapies - this requires additional time, which will be make possible by the DELAY Phase
4. Mitigation
I expect the City to close park facilities to private gatherings as a result, joining the many other public and private events that have been cancelled or postponed for safety reasons.  The state will be hit hard by a recession that heavily impacts tourism and will result in many new disruptions and higher unemployment, going into summer.

The Flu normally goes away in the summer and COVID19 could do the same and allow some return to normal - we have to wait and see and be prepared.  In the meantime, DELAY is the best way to fight the PANDEMIC.  In just a month, many more things will become far FAR CLEARER - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

The important things that can help you - get to know yourself better, learn and practice emotional intelligence, and be mentally balanced, in preparation for the many disruptions and changes ahead.  The ability to analyze and evaluate more new data and information about the developing Pandemic and financial crises will be the key to making the best decisions and taking actions.  Good communications and cooperation and teamwork will also be very important.

Richard

PS - I recommend the Monday Dance classes be immediately cancelled from now on to protect everyone, especially Felipe and Carol

"We may not be able to stop disasters of this kind in time,

but we can arm ourselves with the knowledge and

preparedness so that fewer lives are lost."

Whatsup?

Received from Richard Takahata:
RE: Mililani Town Association (MTA) Seniors Club
Rec Center 3

Linda Chun, the MTA program manager, has informed me that ALL weekly club meetings are canceled until May.

The exact reason was not given, but I suggest its for the added safety and protection of club members who are at far more risk of serious complications from the Corona Virus Pandemic. Please be alert to more news on this matter that could affect in other areas of your life.

Please pass this on.

Richard Takahata

“People you trust, some people you may have voted for, have spent weeks
minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem."

The Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership (MCBL) was established by YWCA Oahu, the U.S. Small Business Administration and a community of partners to become the only Women’s Business Center (WBC) in Hawai‘i. WBCs are designed to assist women in starting and growing small businesses, and seek to “level the playing field” for women entrepreneurs who still face unique obstacles in the business world. MCBL is named in honor of Patsy T. Mink for her dedication to helping women through legislative reforms. She was a transformative leader and a national voice for gender equality, education, peace, and so much more, 

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

Chassé: One of the most basic of movements from the beginnings of dance. One foot moves followed by the other foot that stays behind the leading foot with a weight transfer. Then the leading foot steps in the same direction. Basically six movements, forward, backwards with either foot leading and side ways left and right with either foot leading.  There are perhaps one hundred documented variations of the movements (mostly Mickey Mouse) and used in perhaps 4000 different dances. So things can get complicated if you want to go that route.

 "Social dancers believe that if you tell them, they may forget. If you teach them,

they may remember. If you involve them, they will learn."

Whatsup?

Received from Richard Takahata:
RE: Mililani Town Association (MTA) Seniors Club
Rec Center 3

Linda Chun, the MTA program manager, has informed me that ALL weekly club meetings are canceled until May.

The exact reason was not given, but I suggest its for the added safety and protection of club members who are at far more risk of serious complications from the Corona Virus Pandemic. Please be alert to more news on this matter that could affect in other areas of your life.

Please pass this on.

Richard Takahata

“People you trust, some people you may have voted for, have spent weeks
minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem."

The Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership (MCBL) was established by YWCA Oahu, the U.S. Small Business Administration and a community of partners to become the only Women’s Business Center (WBC) in Hawai‘i. WBCs are designed to assist women in starting and growing small businesses, and seek to “level the playing field” for women entrepreneurs who still face unique obstacles in the business world. MCBL is named in honor of Patsy T. Mink for her dedication to helping women through legislative reforms. She was a transformative leader and a national voice for gender equality, education, peace, and so much more, 

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

Chassé: One of the most basic of movements from the beginnings of dance. One foot moves followed by the other foot that stays behind the leading foot with a weight transfer. Then the leading foot steps in the same direction. Basically six movements, forward, backwards with either foot leading and side ways left and right with either foot leading.  There are perhaps one hundred documented variations of the movements (mostly Mickey Mouse) and used in perhaps 4000 different dances. So things can get complicated if you want to go that route.

 "Social dancers believe that if you tell them, they may forget. If you teach them,

they may remember. If you involve them, they will learn."