Dance Guide

March

2012-03-01T00:25:00.000-08:00

With all the changes and adjustments I had to make, the total hits on our blogosphere remain comfortably above the 334 average hits per day. Ten Thousand hits for a 30 day month. But it has been the longest plateau we have ever had.

The Stats for the Month of February, 2012

Town Dancer still on top, but adjusting down slowly. Down to below 120 average hits per day. It will no longer be in the running for independence. It will just be the super blog to follow and learn all we can from it just because it leads all the rest in hits. Of course one Guest Author could send the hits up again.

Oahu And Beyond is the new one that I am grooming for independence. We have Calvin as a new administrator and we just got Richard back in as Guest Author. Just two more Guest Authors and it will be on its own, making its own rules. Should be hitting over 80 average hits per day in a couple weeks.

"Three Dog Night" by Joy to the World

Moanalua Corridor just holding on for dear life with only Elks Lodge and Fleet Lounge holding it up. The others just do not seem to be interested at this time. It is slowly coming down in hits. At present in the mid forties and destined for lower.

Oahu - West is low man on the totem pole. And with Central Valley back in the swing of things, it is going to have a tough time. But only time will tell. There is no one out there that can tell us. But it will come to the fore in the month of March.

Our Mini Web sites are still in process. not much news there yet. I have deleted some, but the ones we have now will remain for the month of March. There are a couple that may be added. I go slow in these processes.

Most reader/dancers are still having a tough time getting onto these blogs. The best and easiest way is to pick one blog and put in your favorites. Then you can access it anytime.

From there learn to use the side bar links to get into other dance blogs. Just click the one you want and it will appear like magic on your screen. Then photos or graphics can be enlarged with the left mouse button. Then you can save it to your computer with the right mouse button.

The New Spectator Division

2012-02-27T09:35:00.000-08:00

by Steven Jung, Niu Valley

There have always been spectators in what used to be called Ballroom Dancing but few with great enthusiasm. But in the last two decades there has been a marked increase in spectator enthusiasm mainly due to movies and television.

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

If you are beginning to enjoy watching, welcome to this wonderful world. We assume you have been or are thinking about being a spectator at a dance competition and/or an exhibition. It should be clearly understood that the spectators are a very necessary part of the "to be seen" dances.

As a beginner in the new spectator division of dancing you have some learning to do. You’ve probably already have a few opinions on the matter and looking for some more tips. One thing you don't have to be is a good dancer.

"Dancing Queen" by Abba

There are several kinds that you may be able to watch fairly easily in Hawaii:

Exhibition Dancing is the most popular in the routine dances of some social dance clubs. They may not be professionals but together with the costumes, they are fun to see and to do. Much of the choreography is intricate. Then some clubs excel in the availability of couple exhibition dancers. Many are very good dancers bordering on the professional in style.

The showcases are by the students of the studios demonstrating what they have learned. They are of interest mostly to the students in and around studio area. And these type of things have existed forever, most notably in the playing of instruments. For instance a piano recital. And more than that, you may see some real pros in action.

"It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move" byCarole King

Competition Dancing is one that allows dancers to demonstrate their skills and compare themselves with the other dancers. The only one we have in Hawaii at present is the Hawaii Star Ball. Generally a typical ballroom competition consists of events in various dance styles, proficiency levels and age classifications. Those interested can find the details easily enough. You may need some help, for they are somewhat complicated.

There are others that we do not see much of: Acrobatic, Cabaret and Nightclub Dancing. If we keep increasing the percentage of dancers on these islands we could see more of these types of exhibition dances.

Happy dancing and happy watching!

If you want to succeed in the life, you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The person who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find the seventh wave is a long time a coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit on the curb and wait until some one comes along and invites you a ride to wealth or influence."

Blogosphere Trimming

2012-02-25T00:15:00.000-08:00

I know that I have spread myself too thin, yet I am always seeking new ones to help. There are some that make it plain that blogging is not their game, so I take the opportunity to never darken their door again. It is always their decision and no hu hu, I should acquiesce.

"The polish on our blogosphere continues and it is evolving into a beautiful,
nice clean cut group, of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers.

Town Dancer, I will allow to slow down to about 100 average hits per day. I had them slated for independence and give the International people a soapbox for their views. And what better than to give them the best of our blogs. I gave up and it is no longer in the running. Town Dancer will remain just another super blog.

Oahu And Beyond fast coming up (in the 70s in hits) and a possible successor to TD, probable first independent spin off in our blogsphere. One more Guest Author will turn the trick. They have the advantage of covering a larger territory which is much nicer. The information contributors will make a big difference and very likely willl be Social-Cultural dancers.

"Sh-Boom, (life could be a dream)" by the Chordettes

We have the one time article writers that do an excellent job, but do not wish to make any further commitments. We must respect their wishes and be thankful to read what we can get. Then we have the many that give us verbal information which we later confirm and post. Those are very good beginners.

From there they could turn in a sentence or two and a name that could identify an opinion. The most important thing in social media is the differences of opinion. Once they are accustomed to that without feeling a commitment, then they can proceed much farther.

A paragraph or two of their opinion would be the most appropriate for the regular reader/dancers. Specially since most of the information contributors have been in dancing for some time so they know their way around very well.

The other blogs will be struggling up and down and we will have news on them shortly. Of course, in all cases, the information contributors will make the big difference.

Pub's Side Note: I am still receiving emails from Africa. The total money I have ignored is enough to bail out the Unites States from all their financial troubles. Fortunately, it all goes into my Spam folder.

Paparazzi

2012-02-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. Dancers who believe they are prominent persons have the tendency to think that anyone who wants their photo may be paparazzi.

"And all of us willl do what has been done by man before."

Paparazzi tend to be independent contractors, unaffiliated with any mainstream media organization. On Oahu most people are not sure what a blog is. Some people will use the term, "But he is not HBDA," or he is not "Filcom." or he is not "Dance Hawaii." It all implies the same thing, Paparazzi!

Paparazzi photographers are often described as an unacceptable annoyance by celebrities. Some of our social-recreational dancers may get into the appearance of a celebrity and you all know who you are, then bloggers who have good intentions may have the appearance of Paparazzi. But then, when your attitude changes, and only then, do you become irrevelant to the blogging community. And we must be on our way.

Translated from the Spanish:

I don't get mad and I don't get even.

I understand and I accept.

"We Must Be Very Careful." We have a million places to see tomorrow and we just don't have the time. Most of us just want to help wherever we can.

"I Believe" by Frankie Laine

Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

This practice is common in much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and some Baptist denominations.

Guest Authors

2012-02-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

Information Contributors are very valuable and some become accustomed to just sending in their precious bits of information and photos. Our readers are all grateful that they were willing to share the information. But they just contribute information and their involvement in blogging is minimal.

"Follow your honest convictions, and stay strong."

From there, of course, they have the option of becoming Guest Authors. It is practically the same thing except that as Guest Authors, they can open the blog, write what they want to write, post whatever photos they want to post and then get out without saying boo to anyone. And they can do this whenever they damn well please.

A blog with four or more Guest Authors becomes Social Media and the hits go through the roof. And we have yet to realize what that means in our blogosphere. The time will come. The days of the gossiping cliques are coming to a end, everything will be up front.

"Because Of You" by Tony Bennett

In the West we will be striving to bring that section more into the prominence that has been overlooked for so long, specially as a social dance. The first and with the largest population outside of Waikiki is the Moanalua Corridor, from Pearl City to Salt Lake. Our lack of information in the upper Moanalua Corridor is sad.

Then we have the latest blog that is in process of deletion, Central Valley. The Oahu - West blog will now cover every thing that is available west of Pearl City. I live in Nanakuli, so I am right smack dab in the middle of it. I have spread myself too thin and take every opportunity to whittle my blogosphere down.

Thanks to the blogger who got on the follower with good intentions. I found out I could block it, then I emailed him and perhaps I was a little too hard, and I apologize, It has been so much trouble to get rid of that tag that just bothers the hell out of me.

The Changing of the Blogs

2012-02-17T00:20:00.000-08:00

Town Dancer is still number one and definitely in. Still looking for those two magic Guest Authors that could set it on the road to independence. But these things take time and no one wants to make the commitment. What commitment? No monthly or annual meetings, no monthly or annual dues, and you publish whenever you damn well please. If you want egg in your beer, maybe we can fix that too. If they seem to be committed to the "to be seen" categories, they have their rights too.

"You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming."

Oahu And Beyond is coming up fast and now firmly in second place. It does include just about any section in the world. We have ruled out Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. But we do get an occasional article from someone with a good viewpoint. The name of the game. And we try to cover the peripherals too. Line, Salsa, Tango, Swing and the like, BUT only if they like, some are pretty private and we must respect.

"A dance club’s success is tied to the dancer’s satisfaction."

Oahu - West is the upcoming blog and it may eventually cover the entire Western part of this island. We will play it by ear. Our most important client at the moment is Kapolei Chapter of HBDA. Probably the reason that the Philippines is now in seventh place among the hits in our blogosphere. Kapolei Chapter is getting to be well known in all the neighbor islands too. The Counters Are Very Important.

"Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need."

Moanalua Corridor is still in doubt. At one time it was destined for number two spot. Now it is wilting and losing reader/dancer interest. All we can do for now is nurse it along until the real thing comes along.

"If the wind will not serve, take to the oars."

We have gone about as far as we can for now. The total hits on the blogs are down. But the rest of the indicators are all pointing up. We will weather the storm.

The Contributing Editor

2012-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

One of the most important ingredients in a successful blog is the Contributing Editor. This person contributes information and photos of interest for the readers and the results are in the hit counters. Many have only one contribution and do not want any other commitments. We must accept on that basis and hope they will again contribute at some time in the future. The most important part of the contributing editor is the fact that it is a different point of view. And points of view and opinions are like noses, everyone has got one and they are all different.

"Is Social Dancing the same as Cultural Dancing?

For now we would like as much as possible to get our Contributing Editors as residents of the territory that the blog covers and many are not certain of the territories. Of course, their interest can go outside the territories as long as they think the information appropriate for their readers.

Town Dancers covers Honolulu downtown and Waikiki. And generally what is considered the "Ballroom" area. Extravadanzas, Exhibitions, Competition, Caberet Dancing, and deluxe Workshops, etc. Generally with the dancers in the "to be seen" categories along with their fans, the spectator division. They definitely consider Ballroom Dancing an Art. With one more Guest Author the hits would go where no dance blog hits have gone before.

Oahu And Beyond will cover the same area basically but more on the social or cultural side. Where dancing is considered a sporting pastime. Most kokua at present has been from Dream To Dance Studio and we are looking for more. The information contributors have the liberty of expanding all over Oahu, the Neighbor Islands and Pacific Basin. We are beginning to get hits from the neighbor islands.

"La Comparsita" by Julio Iglesias

Though the hits at present are in an adjustment stage, I expect a movement upward by the end of this month. The Google spiders and crawlers had a big effect on the hits. And the mini Web sites are available to one and all. Mahalo.

New World Dances: Latin

2012-02-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

The analysis of the new dances in the developing Cultural dance groups continues.

Latin Dances:

Rumba:
The greatest of them all, with the proper music a delight to move to. Developed from Cuban dancing over 100 years ago and will very likely continue for at least two hundred years in the future.The Cuban or Rumba motion is currently being lost in Salsa (Latin or not) it may be considered an Americanized version of Latin. The old Rumba just can't be beat by anything out there.

Cha Cha Cha:
For a mild swing rumba, mambo (steps and patterns can be interchanged) together with some good Cha Cha Cha music, also cannot be beat by anything ever invented. It can be arguably be the most fun dance in existence.

Merengue:
Solid for its simplicity and the music has the beat. Once you have the swing of the basic movement, the rest is a piece of cake. The leader has to know a dozen or so basic moves after that the rest is up to him, his partner and how he feels. Of course it is tough to find the basic moves, (you know LAGS.) The ladies are super at following.

"Adios Muchachos" by Placido Domingo

Tango:
Very peripheral, though it depends on the groups, a variety of styles are accepted in our Cultural circles.. Even in Argentina, there are a dozen different styles. In Hawaii, American and Filipino are most favored and there is some amalgamation going on. Could develop into one good danceable Hawaiian Tango where more people could appreciate the unique music. And it really is music, music, music, isn't it?

Samba:
They coulda been a contendah. But again the Dance Teachers added so many basic steps to it that they goofed it up for social dancing. One simple basic step is what has made most of the good dances out there. Two or three basics completely messes it up. To dance it you need a teacher? You got it? You can do just fine if you keep it to the chassé basic. Some day, some one will come in with the Brazilian Samba then it will take off like a rocket.

Pub's Side Note: Mambo, Salsa, Bachata, and a few others are still in doubt, but we must accept that fads come and go, always have and always will.

New World Dances, American

2012-02-07T15:51:00.000-08:00

The analysis of the new dances in the developing Cultural dance groups continues.

American Dances:

Foxtrot: The music and movement have become very complicated due to the influence of Dance Teachers with LAGS. The music may be slow, medium or fast and the quick step is becoming extinct in cultural circles. The Peabody became extinct a couple of decades ago. And other dances are being developed to make it simpler and more enjoyable moving to that music. Night Club Two Step for instance.

"We still want to be masters of our fate. We still want to be captains of our souls."

Swing:
This dance has many ramifications, enough for the Peripheral Swing Dance clubs. But of necessity, the East Coast and the West Coast Swing are becoming a solid part of our Cultural dance.

Line Dancing: In this century it is becoming more acceptable in the Social Dance world. It is also being recognized as an excellent interim learning process to partner dancing.

There are miscellaneous groups depending on the territory. The Double Blues of Hawaii has been extinct for thirty years. From the very first time I saw it, I thought it was simply terrific.

"Hey There" by Rosemary Clooney

Calvin and Hobbes dancng the Kalihi Shag

For our desperately needed Information Contributor:

Step One: Contribute a short article from a newspaper or magazine of possible interest of the reader/dancers for publication in the blog. Also can contribute a photo of a group of dancers. (no singles or couples.) You may just want to go this far regularly.

Step Two: Contribute a self written article of possible interest to our readers. Perhaps a few photos taken at a dance function. And you may just want to go this far regularly, the decision is yours.

Step Three: This can take some time and you make the decision of becoming a Guest Author. Then with a little coaching you can get get in, write what you want, post the photos that you want and get out without asking permission from anyone. And you can do this whenever you want.

Exclusivity in Dance

2012-02-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

The establishment of exclusivity in dance is endemic in most of its sociological.elements. In any group they gradually accept what is "correct" and by default everyone else is "incorrect." This is normal human behavior. In our social, cultural dance groups we are no different. So in understanding we will become more tolerant of our fellow "dancers."

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

"Ballroom" is becoming the exclusive property of the International groups and all the other "to be seen" types of dancers. They are assuming they have the right to that terminology and most of us agree. This is coupled with the disdain that the term ballroom has acquired over the years in the Night Club scene and with the Peripherals. This has gradually evolved into mutually exclusive conditions.. At present the peripherals include, Salsa, Tango, Swing, Country and Line dancers. "Ballroom" is definitely not nice.

That leaves us, the social, the universal, the cultural dancer to acquire a new more acceptable terminology. We are now growing into the biggest group by far. We will be the most powerful, once we all become knowledgeable of a fact that already exists. We will dance the way we want, to music that we like and will not allow dictation by others.

"Music, Music, Music" by Theresa Brewer

The analysis of the Cultural dances at the beginning of the 21st Century.

European Dances: Derived from the Old World.

Waltz: One of the most beautiful musical themes ever and of course has over the centuries acquired a great pleasure to move to that music. The Viennese has not always been accepted and is still a temporary peripheral because it has been too closely identified with "Ballroom." Maybe more acceptable now that the Mexican Indian waltz is coming out, which is danced with a chassé.

Paso Doble: Even in Spain, it is no longer a social dance. It has become an exhibition dance. For all practical purposes in Cultural dance, it is extinct. When was the last time anyone dropped into some Night Club for a little Paso Doble?

Pub's Side Note: The New World Dances are those derived from the Western Hemisphere, namely the American and the Latin Dances. We will have that analysis in the next blog.

February Lookin' Good

2012-02-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

The first thing I am going to try to get at the beginning of each month is the stats of our local blogosphere for the previous month. Not of interest to everyone, "yet." But we should all understand whats happening.

First Column is the name of the blog, the second column contains the total hits at the beginning of the month and the third column contains the total hits at the end of the month. This entire set of figures from the Blogger stats that are furnished at no charge, along with a lot of other stats.

Now we begin to finagle. The fourth column is the difference between the second and the third columns which give us the number of pageview hits during the month. This should be easily understood by everyone.

The fifth column we can skip for now. And the last column is the average pageview hits per day. This is column four divided by the number of days in the month, in this case 31. A nice important figure.

I will be phasing myself out of Town Dancer blog and the other Guest Authors can do as they wish. For sure they will need at least one more Guest Author to advance further. I expect to help more in the two newer ones, Oahu - West and Dance Guide. I must get them over 34 average hits per day(equivalent to 1000 hits/month.)

"I Don't Talk To Strangers" by Placido Domingo

Then most of our readers know something about Web sites. I have written some information on them. In the last century a Web site was a mark of business prestige, until they came across the free counters. Then many began to show some deficiencies.

And now I am starting the new Mini Web Sites. I have set up one in each of three Blog Sites. Dream To Dance in Oahu and Beyond, - Dance Waipahu in Oahu - West and Rich in Central Valley blog. Take your time, check them out, if you are a dance organization and you have no Web site, this could be the perfect place to start one in the Blog of your choice and at no cost.

No, I don't know what I am doing but I am going to find out. One or two or maybe even the three of them will evolve their Web sites into something reasonable for the reader/dancers. I am willing to help them wherever I can. Most Web sites are updated every one or two months. Here they would probably update at least once per month. Entirely up to them.

It is coming out!

2012-01-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

As the end of the first month of the new year comes around it is looking very good for our entire blogosphere. The hits continue to increase, not spectacularly, just steady. They will hit 400 average hits per day (12000/month) by the end of January. This is mind boggling, I had never imagined such a thing. There is constant change to please the readers. The Mini Web sites are no more on this blog.

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes."

It is gratifying to see that the reader/dancers are beginning to recognize the omitting of the word "Ballroom," in our ever growing group. Our people do not dance in ballrooms anymore. They dance in Night Clubs or other commercial enterprises of the kind. They dance at Community Centers, District Parks and School Cafeterias. And our people dance differently than the "Real Ballroom" dancers who dance according to their very own strict rules.

Ours is the biggest group of dancers on this Island, we dance for fun. And in this century this group is getting bigger every day and West Oahu is leading the way with the American style of dance. And as per usual, our most important need is the Information Contributor so that our reader/dancers can get the news.

Of course, an occasion will arise for a special and perhaps bigger get together and then they will dance, in celebration of dance, in a ballroom. But we are finding more and more places where we can dance our own way. This group is rapidly integrating with the Night Club dancers who have disdained "ballroom" dancing for so long. Now many are recognizing the "Social" dancers for what they are. And that it is quite a different bird irregardless of the feathers looking somewhat the same.

Life is a gift we're given each and every day.
Dream about tomorrow, but live for today.
To live a little, you have to love a lot.
Love turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The Social dance clubs on this Island are a very crucial factor. Specially in the fundamentals. And there are still too many with LAGS. Tough. The "folk" dance type of group routines are very good for portraying what amateurs can do and the good choreography of our dance teachers. The entire enchilada is looking better all the time.

Increasingly in the night clubs scene or in places like the Elks or the Fleet Lounge, there is the dancing of Rumba, American style but with the Salsa basic and they break on the accented beat wherever. This instead of the Arthur Murray box of slow, quick, quick or the Fred Astaire box of quick, quick, slow. They seem to know what Cuban or Rumba motion is all about. A disappearing factor in modern Latin dance.

Everything else after that, falls into place. We can all learn from each other, which has been happening more often in the club scene. This move is being carried over into the regular Cultural dance crowd. The rock stop followed by the slow step has been used in the Caribbean for hundreds of years in hundreds of dances so it is nothing new. How about a rock step followed by a chasse?

"Is Social Dancing, culture? - Is Cultural Dancing, social?"

Dancing Defined?

2012-01-25T00:43:00.000-08:00

The ones that were defining dancing (ballroom) in the last century will no longer be defining it in this century, not on this island.

"This above all, to thine own self be true." - William Shakespeare

Dancing! Even the English dictionaries do not have the exact definition. They are pretty close but not as far as Universal, Social, Cultural dancers are concerned. About as close as they can get is: "To move the body and the feet in rhythm ordinarily to music." Not good enough.

In the Spanish dictionaries it is little closer: "Mover el cuerpo siguiendo el ritmo de una pieza musical" Moving the body following the rhythm of a musical piece. Aha! Much closer. The musical culture is much more prevalent in the Spanish language.

To define dancing for the Universal, Social and the Cultural dance properly, I think it should state, "specifically to music." All the other types look down their noses and insist they are different from us. They are "correct," they are much, much different. We don't have to get mad at anyone, let's just get them out of the way so we can dance.

"Stranger In Paradise" by Tony Bennett

Those others are dancing in the old rather loose definition. And they have inherited the right to define it to suit themselves. They are dancers because of certain learned movements which they happen to do to music in a strictly specified manner. But their movements can be easily done without any music. And any of our modern day spectators can see and behold, "That's Dancing.

The Univeral, Social and Cultural dancer's bodies are far more natural and feel like moving when the music sounds. The ear hears and the body wants to move. That is quite common knowledge and its a much different distinction. A man can be dancing to his music and look like a horse stuck in a muddy swamp. But if he feels the joy of his movement to the music, that is dancing! Do not try to take anything away from him. Line dancers dance that way everyday.

"Green Eyes" by Jimmy Dorsey

At present the more advanced dancers in our cultural dance group learn to "phrase" their dancing according to the music and sometimes even to the lyrics. It is very difficult to give suggestions for phrasing. Some exhibition dancers on this Island seem to know of its existence. In dance it is every bit as individual as phrasing in speech.

The leader tells himself and his partner who he is. In an exhibition dance, the choreographer does the same for his/her audience. That is the very basics of the Universal, Social and Cultural dancer. I want to dance, my friend, - and my way.

Pub's Side Note: My Congrats to the reader/dancers and the Guest Authors of Town Dancer and Oahu And Beyond blogs. The hit barriers of 60000 and 20000 were passed yesterday. Both now solidly in the blog market with Town Dancer ready for independence. One more Guest Author and I can begin to phase myself outta there. I truly believe they will run up the hits to over 200 average per day. That is one blog, in Hawaii, with 6000 hits in a 30 day month. Unbelievable just a year ago.

Oahu - West blog

2012-01-21T00:15:00.000-08:00

I did not start Oahu - West with all the bells and whistles that I started the others. I am still testing, I simply do not know. So I want to see if I can do it within our blogosphere. The search engines have been notified but that is all.

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go,

we give and take a little of each other everywhere."

Due to circumstances within and beyond my control, I had to create Oahu -West. Then when Platinum Horseshoe was reinstated by Richard Sun, I decided to keep it. I had put in a lot of work to create it and I hated to just chuck it. It gradually evolved in my mind what to do with it but not in fact yet. Platinum Horseshoe will have a new name before the month is up. That will help to settle the dust a little.

Next comes the hype within the blogs for both Oahu - West and the New Central blog. In a couple months we should be sailing pretty smoothly again. Perhap even getting one of the other blogs independent and getting more Information Contributors.

That I have to see. Always three possibilities, they can run the hits up through the roof, which I expect. They can remain at the same levels or they can run the blog right straight into the ground. Whatever, it will be their decisions that will do it.

So the new revised Platinum Horseshoe will have from Waipio and up and perhaps including the North Shore. Oahu -West will have the Ewa Beach - Waipahu area and west to include the Waianae Coast. Overlapping? Of course, no one can set those rules, that is the beauty of it all, but generally they will set their own kuleanas.

The New Division in American

2012-01-18T10:31:00.000-08:00

By Robert Gacusan, Ewa Beach

American Style has always been more acceptable to changes and apparently there is another coming to the forefront. There is a growing faction in American of believers in dancing "to be seen." Fortunately the solid dancers remain, the ones that remember the old cliche, "Dance like no one is watching." A much different thing and not readily understood by the "to be seen" fans.

"Cultural dance teachers who attempt to impress their beginning students with

intricate details have lost sight of their final objectives."

The beginning of the differentiation is when you have an Instructor with LAGS. (Latest And Greatest Syndrome.) They are trying to impress with their knowledge of dancing. Of course, they do not do it by themselves. They are aided and abetted by the students themselves, who are interested in looking like Dancing in the Stars in five easy lessons. Nevah happened.

Now, the easy does it method of teaching is not flamboyant, it is basic. And basic may be misinterpreted many times. There are many cliches that are appropriate. The best one, in my opinion is:

"Beginners are interested in learning Intermediate moves. Intermediates are interested in

learning Advanced moves. And the Advance dancers are spending time and money with

expert coaches brushing up on their basics."

There is no need to explain slow and quick steps to a Social Dancer. However you must go into intricate detail with a "to be seen" dancer. And yet not many will teach a very good basic rock step or a chaissé. Dance forward or back, turns left or right. You learn those movements to rhythms well and you have got basic. You learn all six under arm turns and you are in. You can use them in Waltz, Fox Trot, Rumba, Cha Cha and perhaps 100 other dances. Everything new will fall into place and you can proceed at your own pace.

I believe we should dance for the music, the rhythm and for the fun of it.
Robert.

Pub's Side Note: No one is using the Mini Web Sites that we have in the left side bar. They will remain there for a while longer. Perhaps someone can use one. There is no charge.

The Ballroom Dancer?

2012-01-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

By Ronald Chong, Makaha:

Now that we seem to be giving the social club dancers a chance for their opinions we have them in error too. Things just get misinterpreted. The International Style of Dance was the beginning of the downward trend, 30, 40 years ago. People began to assume that this was Ballroom dancing and many did not like the style. To this day many do not know the difference between a Social Ballroom Dancer and an International (English) Style Dancer.They are miles and territories and agendas in difference.

Blogger's Law number 24D: It is a simple task to make things complex,

but a complex task to make things simple.

The English Style is very definitely show business and their prime existence is to be seen. They are very strict and have been in control for almost a century. The Exhibition and Competition divisions are the most prominent. There have been literally billions of dollars in advertising for these groups and the "Spectator" divisions have increased. But they insist they are a different world and I believe that they are "correct."

Fortunately, the results are that a growing sector is becoming more aware of their own huge presence in the world of dance. This sector dances for the pure enjoyment of moving to music, the same as the social "Night Club" dancer except that they acquire a lot of standardized steps and patterns in the Social Dance World. These steps and patterns are extremely leadable and followable. And where is this Social Dance World?

First, in the Night Clubs and Line dancing. That is the raw material. Then we have the Social Dance clubs with lessons in the American Style of dance which are of tremendous help. And of course the dance studios but which eventually tend to go into the direction of the exhibition styles. The fusion of all this is in our Night Clubs and in the Dances by the Social Dance Clubs and it is the largest group of dancers on the Island of Oahu. Perhaps 60 or 70% of the all those that admit to being dancers.

"How High The Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford

These "Cultural" dancers are just beginning to realize where they are and it is a most fortunate position to find oneself in. Every dance club on this island that started with the American style felt it necessary to teach the "advanced" International Style. But the next new club will be for the "Cultural" dancer only and they will not need "auditorium" sized ballrooms. Hopefully it will be on the Waianae Coast. And they will feel very confident that they are the "Da Reel Teeng."

Pub's Note: The new name for the "blog" will be Waipio North or Haleiwa South?

Age Divisions in Dancing

2012-01-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Age in the different sections of our Cultural Dance Scene is different. And most of us accept the difference in our youth and in our seniors. Those differences have been with us since time began and they will continue to exist. Mixing, of course, will ocurr in private parties, weddings and those kind of social affairs.

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher,

not that will drag you lower."

But in our public social scene, the first differences were made by Youth. They have made their decision and we should all abide by it. It will be less trouble for all. There can and will be a little mixing now and then, but generally the age difference will remain. "Never trust anyone over 30."

So we are talking about people over the age of 30 for our dance kuleana. This age has been picked by the young for as long as I can remember. Some may consider it arbitrary, but it just minimizes the conflicts. And even now there are some places in Europe, the US mainland and the Orient that have group dancing for "Seniors" usually over sixty. Now that gives us a different section yet. And divides the ages by the usual, small, medium and large. Once we accept that, we will get more people dancing, and that will feel comfortable in "their" age group.

That lead us to the type of dancing. Youth will have their dances more frantic and atheletic. Nothing unnatural about that. The regulars in the middle will leave out some of the frantic, And the Seniors will be very good in their more sedate dances such as Waltz, Slow Fox Trot, Rumba, Cha, Cha, Cha, Samba, West Coast Swing and Tango. And when it comes to dancing this is about as good as it can get. As long as you are enjoying the movement to music.

"Kiss Of Fire" by the Four Aces

As far as I know there have never been any rules about this anywhere and there is no need, The Age thing of dancing is a social cultural affair and it is just understood. For our type of dancing, all ages will be accepted but it will "generally" be for the over 30 and our blogger Guest Authors will generally be over sixty. So how do you like them potatoes?

And you Blogger! You want to write about teenagers dancing. Go ahead, no one is going to stop you. I suppose many will find it interesting.

Pub's Side Note: Amazing that though everyone seems to know that the Rail will not do the job. The politicos have made their commitments to the few that are going to make the Big, Big Bucks. Biggest mistake ever made on this Island. Ben where are you?

The Information Contributor

2012-01-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

The Valued Information Contributor:
:
Our rules for engagement within our blogs have been rather loose because we had hoped for the maximum of freedom for our Information Contributors. But our readers and potential contributors of information are not accustomed with that kind of thinking since most dance organizations have been rather strict.

Blogger's Law #45C: "Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed."

The new requirements for Our Information Contributors:

Helpfulness is a must requirement. I think I see this attitude of wanting to share and be helpful to others in most all of the ones who have made it with us. Reaching back and giving a hand to someone to help them up the hill seems to come easily to many of our information contributors.

"You can have anything you want as long as you're

willing to help others get what they want."

Consistency is also a requirement. A lot of methods have been surveyed and many determinations have been made. We must help to establish the consistency most acceptable to our reader/dancers. The information contributors will still conform according to their beliefs but consistency is the key in their regular contributing activities.

Determination will come naturally to most. They must have some kind of determination and aren't easily swayed by the latest opinions from the cliques. Although they are open to new changes, they know enough to be able to think things over. They are not distracted to the point they lose momentum in their weekly checklist of activities and tasks. These are the ones that will very easily swing over into Guest Authors able to open, post and close a blog on their own and confident of their opinions intact..

"With A Song In My Heart" by Frank Sinatra

Faith will also come naturally to most. They believe in themselves and their particular evangelism. They know that their news and/or photos are good and many will benefit from it. They are never involved in anything that is looks shady and they seem to make a great effort to select and promote legitimate items and services. And everyone respects them for their efforts.

Pub's Side Note: Now that all the blogs are progressing very nicely, my opinions change as well as anyone elses. Town Dancer is no longer the priority for independence. It will come but the promotion will lessen. The most likely is the Platinum Horseshoe, which also will be seeking a new name. It is a section most inacccesible to me, therefore a natural for independence. The plans coming up. For control of your screen, use Ctrl + or - you know this? Fine. What happened to Da Rail?

This One Opening Up

2012-01-05T00:31:00.000-08:00

The four older blogs are doing just fine and increasing hits on a regular basis. These are Town Dancer, Platinum Horseshoe, Moanalua Corridor and Oahu And Beyond. For readership, there is where the writer wants to post his blogs.

"Like snowflakes, my seasons memories gather and dance -

each beautiful, unique and too soon gone."

As per uusal, we seek Information Contributors first. Because there is the minimum of requirement. You contributed, it is posted and all is pau. So we ask all of our readers, share a little information now and then for the benefit of your fellow dancers. You may contribute more but that will come later and only when you want to. We just provide the platform.

The next two are Oahu - West and Dance Guide, both relatively new. Oahu - West is showing very good prospects with Kapolei Chapter HBDA and Dance Hawaii as good anchors. The possibility of something on the Waianae Coast plus something on the Ewa Beach section looks very promising.

Important Blog Info:

Bounces; The number of visitors that only accessed the associated page.

Bounce Rate; The percentage of visitors that access only one page. A high bounce rate for a page may indicate that improvements need to be made to the page to encourage visitors to continue on to other pages.

Must give thanks to Ki of Dance Fever Oahu for updating our blogs. There is much use of his Web site by the entire dance community. And I am not the only one that thanks him.

Then we have Mary Beth Van Hoogstraten who has a very interesting newsletter for all the dancers of this Island. Just email her and get on the list.

Pub's Side Note: There may be others that would like to be included in the Dance Guide, no charge as per usual. I just have to be careful not to include those that wish to be excluded. And I thank you all, this will be the best year ever for all.

Happy New Year, 2012

2012-01-01T01:30:00.000-08:00

This message comes to wish you happiness and every good thing too, to make this New Year, a wonderful one for you and your family. The kind of happiness desired by your heart for family times filled with peace and joy, right from the start!

"May all the dreams in your eyes, all the desires in your heart and all the hopes in your

life blend together, to give you the most spectacular New Year ever."

The three tiers of dancing are reshaping themselves very nicely for the new year.

The top ones of course are the real Kokua. They are very positive in their outlook for their fellow dancers, members, their blogs and their own organizations. Some are beginning to share a few dance facts and a few photos. A great beginning, and leading the group is Kapolei Chapter HBDA.

Dance Hawaii

Dream To Dance Studio

Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club

Hopefully these three will eventually get into the same level as Kapolei for the benefit of all the reader/dancers in our community.

In the middle are usually the largest group. The commercial dancing places are developing very nicely in the West and leading the way is "Dot's in Wahiawa" through the efforts of Richard Sun.

Pearl City Elks Lodge and Fleet Lounge are the upcoming contenders. Just need a little attendence from our fellow dancers. They, among the others, care but in a more care free manner. The top ones will send email kine flyers. They are much different than direct communication to our reader/dancers. Theirs are "To whom it may concern." Some don't mind our presence, they just would rather not be bothered. That's OK too.

Then we have the smallest third class and they will have made it plain that they would rather be excluded from any participation in our endeavors. The reasons are their reasons, they have a perfect right to them and we cannot question them. And yet, as everybody is welcomed in our Social Media, we shall not intrude in theirs.

Our version of the stats of our blogosphere.

Blogger furnishes us the count constantly for free. Then I must use my own tools to get the facts out of the counter. The first two numbered columns are furnished by Blogger and they represent the count at the beginning and at the end of the month. The third column is the difference between the two and one does not need a High School education to know that it will give me the total hits for the month for each blog and also the total for our entire blogosphere.

The fourth column has no meaning to most but those that can understand a little stats, it represents the percentage of increase for the month. The more hits you accumulate the more difficult it becomes to keep the same percentage. Suffice it to say that when it gets to less than 5% we can worry about the law of diminishing returns. I do not see it in sight just yet.

"Because Of You" by Tony Bennett

The last column should be of interest to everyone. It is the increase in hits divided by the number of days in the month, which gives me the average hits per day. At 100 hundred hits per day, you have 3000 hits per 30 day month. Nice!

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears of the past. And as you reflect on the past year, also think of the new year to come. Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life. "You got it coming to you."

New Changes, Naturally

2011-12-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

Good news, Platinum Horseshoe is back in again and you can read all about in the Platinum Horseshoe blog of today. The total in hits for our blogosphere remains comfortably over the magic 334 average hits per day (10.000 hits per month.) We are in contact with the world.

"Don't you wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars

and open a jar of it every month."

The Philippines was not in the top ten, according to Blogger stats, at the beginning of the year. But now in seventh place. Surprised? Something is brewing from there. France or Spain or the both of them are going to have to move over by next year. I don't know how much affect the blogs in the Western part of Oahu are having.

Platinum Horseshoe is back in the running and it will go very nicely under the care of Richard Sun. They can probably get some kokua from Maile Yagi in Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club. From there something can develop from Whitmore Village and when they get a new board at Mililani Chapter, HBDA, it can evolve into a smash hit. For sure it will go over the magic 67 hits per day (2000 hits per month) in January.

Moanalua Corridor is at a plateau. We lost a good Guest Author and we need more information and photos for the blog. It is mostly in the lower Moanalua Corridor and we need some action in the upper. For now we have only Pearl City Elks once per month. It will help when we get something at the Fleet Lounge with Da Spin Doctor on the music. It is struggling in the 40s average hits per day.

"How High The Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford

Aloha -West is moving up very rapidly but it remains to be seen now that Platinum Horseshoe is back.in. I expect the famous Kapolei Chapter HBDA to remain there and their members account for many of the hits. After all, their socials, together with their photos give you readership. Then Dance Waipahu is starting to roll, That will help. One of these days we can also get a Dance studio that is interested. Then there is something brewing in Ewa, so we must be patient. It will hit the magic 34 average hits per day (1000 per month) in Janaury.

No I don't know where it is going. I have what I have in the West and it is developing very nicely. The readers and the information contributors will make any future decisions. I don't know what I am going to do with the pages yet. Fortunately, I have the tools (the hits) to evaluate and make decisions. I will cover the center of town in the next blog and wish everyone a Happy New Year.

What's Happening?

2011-12-21T00:22:00.000-08:00

This blog is developing all by itself. The recap of our kuleana's internet connections remains and it may expand depending on who notifies us. The photo albums seem to be evolving into something more presentable. The three week scheduling is out. Too many cancellation and changes. There will be other changes to please the dancers.

"New day, new month, new year, new blessings. Don’t let yesterday’s failures ruin

the beauty of today. The blessings of God are new every morning. Today has

its own promise of love, forgiveness, joy and success."

"Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison

We do find that helping in the dance environment is still our modus operandi. So at the moment we have the replacement for the Platinum Horseshoe blog to publicize. And Oahu - West is starting to move with just the links. It is a new blog and it should take about three weeks for Google and Yahoo to zero in with their spiders and crawlers. From there the other search engines will pick up easily. Should be on its own by the beginning of January.

If Town Dancer is in first place by a wide margin, second place will be a battle between Oahu - West and Oahu And Beyond. At the moment Oahu And Beyond is ahead by a comfortable amount. The rest will need work to get them going to please the reader/dancers. For sure the big difference in any of them will be in a good information contributor and/or a Guest Author. That special "different" view point is the key.

"Break Dance Party"by the Break Machine

I intend to expand the present links by exchanging links with whoever is interested. The list of our initial contacts is herewith.

Web Sites:
Dance Fever Oahu
Kapolei Chapter
Waikiki Social Dance Club

Blog sites:
The Dance Connection
That's Dancing

Any other Dance Web or Blog sites that I may have omitted and wish to exchange links, please email.

Then we must help the new Waikiki Social Dance Club and get them going on par with the big ones. Yes we have the list. They should be in the top five by the end of next year. They have a very good concept.

Our Blogosphere and information overload:
One of the biggest obstacles I faced when I started my first blog was being bombarded with advice from the internet. So much information on how to proceed that I didn't have a clue which direction to take or who to believe. Fortunately Frank Sierra had already started his and made it a little easier to learn.

There were thousands of different information products telling me to do this, not to do that. Offering to sell me hits....so much marketing information to absorb that you end up scratching your head and looking like someone auditioning for a zombie movie. To this day I still get the spam giving me the chance to contact 100s of search engines for a very low price. I end up copying everybody.

Pub's Side Note: You can get Oahu - West on Google already, http://nanakuli87.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 14th.

2011-12-14T00:04:00.000-08:00

It doesn't look too bad for the Christmas and New Year's Eve doings. Each blog is very slowly evolving and establishing their own kuleana. The way it should be, to each their own. By the end of next year there will be at least three independents and I will have an extra Rum and Coke on that.

"Blogger's Law, No. 8C: No matter what goes wrong,

there is always somebody that knew it would."

Town Dancer still leads of course, and with one more Guest Author they will be well on their way to independence. I just have to hope for an International person, then the blog will just naturally further evolve into a competition and exhibition blog. Could run up to 200 average hits per day.

"Ain't Nothin' But A Houseparty" by the Showstoppers

Oahu And Beyond, our second most important blog and headed for sixty seven average hits per day has Richard Sun to help cover the downtown club action and that certainly helps. We shall have more on the Waikiki Social Dance Club, the.newest dance club in town later. We can certainly use somebody to cover the various dance classes in town too. They can pick'em. Then we are hoping to get some non-flier kine information from the neighbor islands. Dis da blog!

"The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats

Moanalua Corridor, our third most important running blog. Still struggling to get out of the middle 40s in hits. Of course the action is slim in the upper Moanalua Corridor, no reportage at all. We just got one from the All Star Band that will be playing at Chez Aiea, I gotta be there. Dance Hawaii doing just fine in the lower MC with Radford and Aliamanu. Da Spin Doctor is doing his best with gigs at the Elks club and in January at the Fleet Lounge. The coming year looks good.

"Psychedelic Shack" by The Temptations

Oahu - West is the newest of the bunch and will be replacing Platinum Horseshoe blog. My mistake but we must go on. I have contacted Blogger but the silence has been deafening. These are the top blogs that provide the meat and potatoes for our dance community in what we consider our kuleana and most everyone is welcome. Your choice. Oahu - West will cover the "wall" from the South Shore (Ewa Beach) up through Wiapio, Wahiawa, to the North Shore (Haleiwa) and the entire section West to include the Waianae Coast.

We are going to have fun. because there are and will be other blogs. Platinum Horseshoe will be going out whenever Blogger decides. I willl delete Dance Guide Past next year sometime. Nanakuli Ridge remains my personal plaything along with Westerly which is in Word Press. And our entire blogosphere totals more than 334 average hits per day which is equivalent to 10,000 hits per 30 day month. We start the new year at a good level.

New Happenings

2011-12-10T00:25:00.000-08:00

The best of the worst news is the new blog, Oahu -West. I accidentally made a fatal mistake in Platinum Horseshoe blog and it is now without direction. Richard and I can both blog, but no one has the authority to make any changes whatsoever. Not even to delete it.

"Let that day be lost to us on which we did not dance once." ~Friedrich Nietzsche

So we must make do with what we have available. I created a new blog Oahu -West and it will cover a little more territory than Platinum Horseshoe. I originally created PH to cover the places that I went to and that was from Makaha down the Waianae Coast over to Kapolei and Waipahu, up through Waipio, Wahiawa and Haleiwa. An easy to see horseshoe.

Now the embers of dancing are getting solid from Ewa Beach, Ewa, Waipahu, Waipio and onto Haleiwa. From this solid line, the entire area to the Waianae Coast is our natural kuleana. There is new civilian housing near the beaches from Ewa Beach to Barber's Point. All of this increase in civilian housing will required more dance locations. All I have to do is wave more fans. (my blogs)

And somewhere in this vast territory is the one more Guest Author that we need to make Oahu -West a first class blog. In my blog experience, which is short and not very deep, a blog is viable if it can average 34 hits per day. This is the equivalent to 1000 hits per month. Anyone would have full confidence in having it grow from there.

"I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" by the Beatles

The very good blog would have 67 average hits per day (2000 per month.) This takes some doing, which only Platinum Horseshoe has been able to achieve, besides Town Dancer.

Of course, our very own Town Dancer has had better than 100 average hits per day (3000 per month,) and now with Richard Sun aboard it should reach 134 by January (4000 hits per month.) This is a first class blog.

According to my own personal stats, aside from Blogger, I cannot see the point of diminishing returns just yet. There has to be, somewhere, perhaps next year, I just cannot see it in my records and I am not aware that the law of diminishing returns has been repealed.

Wednesday, December 7th.

2011-12-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

Today is a day no one will forget easily, and it is being covered by many, but as per usual we have other things to do.

"A dance club’s success is tied to the dancer’s satisfaction."

This Dance Guide is finding its way into the information field of recapping the rest of our blogosphere. And not only the inner circle but any others that would like to join in an effort to disperse dance information for dancers and to help each other. No meetings, no dues and you contribute information whenever you damn well please.

The top communication media is still Town Dancer blog and just begging for one more Guest Author to get in, write what they please, include photos, graphics, close and get out without asking anyone. And in the process, help this blog run the hits through the ceiling. I can then resign as Administrator and stay on as Guest Author only, and get my licks in now and then.

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" By Roberta Flack

Meanwhile, I have the others to worry about. Platinum Horseshoe is coming along very nicely, steadily over 67 average hits per day (2000/month) specially now that we have Richard Sun, Haleiwa, who likes to dance at Dot's in Wahiawa. Of course the solid help that has gotten Platinum Horseshoe to these heights has been Kapolei Chapter - HBDA. And I just attended their Chapter Social at Kapolei Elementary School on Monday and made a ncie blog on it. And there is more coming from them.

In third place very solidly is Oahu And Beyond, now that I changed the name and also with Richard Sun as Guest Author. We are getting more direct news from Debby at Dream To Dance Studio, so it is looking good to get more of the same. Long drawn out schedules are not it. I hope to make it to the Holly Jolly Trolley Ride and get some photos to make a nice blog.

The rest of the blogs are still in their struggling stages. The only one well over 34 average hits per day is Moanalua Corridor, and we certainly need some information contributors there. The others I have to wean them by myself until ready for a Guest Author.

Web Site: Dance Fever Oahu, is doing great and we hope to hear from them soon.

Mary Beth Newsletter: Also doing great and covering ground we do not cover. Hoping to get some info from them now and then and a few photos would help too.

Any other Dance Web or Blog Sites that we could help promote, we are at your service. But as we have often stated, those that wish to be excluded will be respected in their wishes.

Saturday, December 3rd. Filler.

2011-12-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

I have decided to have a filler blog on Saturday or Sunday, to supplement the weekly schedules. Anyone out there that knows what we are doing, please let us know. We are learning.

"Our prayers for others flow more easily than those for ourselves.

This shows we are made to live by charity"

The Ballroom Dancers: Social and the "to be seen" Divisions.

During these last sixty years in the US, there has been a huge increase in the "teaching" of dancing by amateurs and professionals and there have developed many disciplines in American dance and then even stricter in International style of dance.

No one noticed that the height of ballroom dancing in Hawaii was soon after the Palladium opened its doors to the dancing public. From those heights, it then proceeded to lose fans very slowly. Many clubs came and went. There may have been as high as 30,000 fans on this island at that time. I don't know if we have 10.000 fans at the moment.

"Sunrise, Sunset" by Roger Whitaker

They have always had three different levels of dancers all sharing the same ballroom. The club dancers, the regular social dancers with some dance class background and the competition type dancers. And the Internationals have always regarded themselves as the elite.

They identified themselves more readily than the other groups which may have identified themselves rather reluctantly as "Social Dancers." The term "junk dancer" evolved. And the term "correct" to describe some dancing, and with no qualifications whatsover. If they said they danced "correctly" by default everyone else was dancing "incorrectly." Then we really start to lose our dance community. Even the dancing in Night Clubs wilted.

Now there seems to be a resurgence, also slow, but steady. The biggest growth has been in West Oahu and with the club dancer, with no one to judge whether they are dancing correctly or incorrectly. Whatta relief! You can enjoy the movement to music the way it has been done for ages. This guy points his toe that way and that guy points his toe this way. Who cares, as long as they got the rhythm. "It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing."

Let me tell you, "You've come a long ways, baby."

Then, in addition, there has evolved the other "to be seen" divisions. The exhibition, caberet and acrobatic divisions. All of them are show business, and quite different from our kuleana. We are going to know where we stand and we are not alone.

Wednesday, November 30 2011

2011-11-30T00:32:00.000-08:00

We have a large group of dancers on this Island. Unfortunately they cannot all be included in "our" dance community. The exclusion of some is quite natural, no harm or disrespect is intended. Hula dancing is beautiful, we all know that, but not ballroom. Same applies to other ethnic dances, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and whatever. Most are exhibition dances and we may enjoy them as spectators and applaud at the right time but not in our kuleana. Some day they will all utilize the new Dance Pavilion at the Patsy Mink Recreation Center in Waipio.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.

In practice, there is a big difference.”

Then comes the age division and it has been there forever. I remember when I was a young man, "Never trust anyone over thirty." The distinction has been made by the young and will remain engraved on stone forever. So in effect, we have not excluded them, they have excluded themselves. They have special kinds of "fad" dancing which come and go. Let's let them have their fun, their way.

After the age of thirty some give up dancing completely. They got married, had kids and jobs and their lives have taken on a different turn. A few will gravitate toward special kinds of social dancing. I always divide everything into three divisions and they are here just as easily as elsewhere.

"Change Partners" by Vic Damone

The first is the old style "street" dancer type, learned at parties, schools dances, night clubs, a dance class here and there, but many can learn quite well from other people and enjoying the movement to the different rhythms. The best way to learn rhythm in this present day environment is line dancing. They are usually pretty simple routines but once learned, the dancers develop their knowledge of the different musical rhythms and their own styling to go with it.

And the facility is there to just phase over into partner dancing. Many become "club" dancers which is a better term than "street" dancers. However it is tough to find a place to dance because everyone knows, "Dancers are not drunks." Dancers do not wish to get drunk. If you get drunk you can't dance. Fortunately most can dance pretty good with a few drinks in them. In Hawaii, this solid group has for the last 50 years been overlooked by the people in the "upper" classes of dancing.

"Sch-Boom, (Life Could Be A Dream)" by the Chordettes

In West Oahu, we will develop the first Night Club with a Juice Bar. Dancers must have liquids and if you wish non alcoholic there it is. Also in West Oahu, they roll up the streets by ten pm.

So there will develop the Pau Hana Dance, right after work, a Dancing Happy Hour. Then some Night Clubs will find other income during the day, to compensate for closing at midnight, And fortunately too, night clubs are no longer the smelly, smoky places of yesteryear.

Someplaces in the mainland are a combination night club and dance studio. Naw, not in Hawaii, but it may give somebody an idea.

Pub's Side Note: This blog is projected to be published on Wednesdays every week until we get more feedback. Thanks all.

Wednesday, November 23rd.

2011-11-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

"Don't forget to raise a Thanksgiving toast to your hosts for their hospitality. Giving

thanks for the holiday meal around the table with friends and loved ones this year doesn't

have to be stuffy. Blessings and prayers for the meal are always expected, but there may

be a lighter side to the stressful holidays."

This blog has been going through some changes since first created a couple months ago. Some of the original plans remain. Like getting this blog to eventually resemble a Web Site, but first thing I was advised by two different well intentioned persons. The consistency and currency of the information will make the big difference. I looked further into the matter and I believe they are right.

With the help of these two and other very able advisors it is shaping up. And we must respcct the opinions, likes and dislikes of other blogs and web sites, newsletters etc. They have a right to their opinions and their efforts should be as they see fit. We reserve the right of our guest authors to do the same.

"Here In My Heart" by Al Martino

Since this blog contains schedules it must be periodic and up to date, so the new time table set up will be for a weekly Blog, every Wednesday. It will contain a "Special Pages" widget on the upper right with three pages labeled by the Week end date and cover only the parties. The first page will always be deleted for the next blog and a new page for the next week will be added,

For now we have to accept the "flier kine" email notice, we have to start somewhere and it is going to be work digging that stuff from all the emails. Information Contributions for all of our blogs is crucial. Then there are those not in it. And of course we will have our photo album section though there will be a time limit because we don't have that much space.

They have a choice. We have stated it before and we shall state it here again, This may be the last time it is necessary. "For those that choose to ignore us, may we ignore you?" Mahalo to everyone, this is the coming year of the big adjustment in our Dance Community.

"Rags To Riches" by Tony Bennett

Dance Fever Oahu: The best Dance Web Site on the Islands for the current dance situation in Hawaii. May not be perfect but they are way ahead of whatever is in second place. I invite Dance Fever Oahu to contribute any additional information in this blog for the reader/dancers if they wish.

Mary Beth Newsletter. The best newsletter on the Islands is very informative and covers a lot of ground that we don't or can't cover. She may also contribute a short paragraph to extend this notice. She has plenty photos available, that too would be more than acceptable..

We will carry the two above until the end of the year. If there is no response, then we don't have much choice. Any other dance Blog or Web sites are invited to contribute additional information on their publications. This can be "an addition to" any other information you share with your readers.

I try to make the choice, "yours," to all of you. Mahalo

Pub's Side Note: We welcome Richard Sun who has joined us as Guest Author in Platinum Horseshoe blog and Town Dancer blog. The hits are going through the roof, naturally.

Repeat the last blog

2011-11-13T17:14:00.001-08:00

Five days and the hits are still dropping and we certainly should understand why. What is a dance blog? Most people are still not sure and actually nobody knows for sure. But if anyone is going to know something, it is us and we change things every day. The entire group of participants which will include the readers will develop a very good definition in a short time.

“Every person has a right to their opinion. No one has the right to be wrong in their facts.”

We are not there yet but this blog will cover no dance classes or workshops, only parties.So far we know too much advertising can kill us. And more, my intention is to make this blog evolve to resemble a Web site. With one big exception, I would like to eventually establish some regularity in the update. This particular blog is after fivc days, but perhaps I can make the next one after ten days. I will cover this one to include the week ended Saturday, November 26th. And have it cover more or less two weeks in advance. This has to stretch out further but I will play it by ear.

Of prime importance is, "Of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers" but most of our readers understand perfectly that it does not include all the dancers. There will be some, that will not wish to participate in our endeavors and their wishes must be respected. There should be no misunderstanding on that point. We have too many others to include and I do not have the time or the help yet.

Town Dancer is still in the number one spot, hovering in about 100 average hits per day. It is leading to the best way to blog and the kind of blogging that is read by our reader/dancers. All of the other blogs can follow whatever they wish to make their own. The information for this blog will probably be contributed by Calvin or June.

Platinum Corridor firmly in second place. With two apparent information contributors, Tim Cubero Jr. and coming up very good is Richard Sun from Haleiwa. Tim goes to many different club dances but he writes only for Kapolei Chapter HBDA. Richard Sun establishing a very good voice from the North Shore so his main stay will be dancing in Wahiawa. But he just wrote a terrific review of the Pearl City Elks club and Da Spin Doctor. Helping to bring up the hits up in both blogs.

Friday, Nov 11, Rotary Charity at Dot's in Wahiawa
Saturday, Nov 12, Dance Waipahu at August Ahrens School
Friday, Nov 18, King Pins at Dot's in Wahiawa
Saturday, Nov 26, Wasabi at Dot's in Wahiawa

Moanalua Corridor coming up now strongly in third place. With Richard covering the Elks and possibly another person from Dance Hawaii for their dances, this blog will be headed for the 67 average hits per day necessary to make it 2000 hits per month. HBDA is taken care of by June, but they do not have much interest.

Oahu And Beyond is the combining of old Club Dancer and Beyond Oahu blogs. It is still looking for its rightful audience. It is looking more like those studios that wish to be involved and the dance clubs that wish to be involved. We must be patient and let it move by itself with little help from me. Dream To Dance Studio is the most direct contributor of information.and good kokua.

Saturday, Nov 12, Dream To Dance Studio, Salsa with DJ Rod.
Friday, Nov 18, Dance Hawai at the famous Palladium
Saturday, Nov 19 Dream To Dance Studio, Zumba with Kelly Siu
Salsa with DJ Rod, el Moreno de la Salsa.
Saturday, Nov 26 Dream To Dance Studio, Salsa with DJ Rod.

Pub's Side Note: The other dance blogs and dance web sites are still welcomed. And we may make another attempt next month to include some in here so that they can get a better angle of how they would look. The final decision is theirs.

First Post in the New Blog

2011-11-13T15:38:00.001-08:00

There was just too much baggage being carried from prior blogs. I want entirely new stats for this blog specially because it is destined to be Web Site look alike. I can carry most designs over to this one and the other blog will remain available until the hits drop down below 20 average per day.

They almost stuck a follower deal on us so we must be very, very careful. So please bear with us and the changover. I expect some suggestions from others.