A Little Update

The readers of our blogs are gradually getting to know the places in their area where social dancers can find the best dance floors, the best music and attractive surroundings. I can only get a limited amount of dance information simply because I cannot get around the way I use to. If someone could email me a little information that I could share, it would help a lot.

"In our dance scene, we do not know what is more pathetic

people who gossip or people who pay attention to them."

On Oahu we are getting bigger dance floors so that is certainly in our favor. Though the days of the "Big Ballroom" and the "Big Bands" are definitely over and none will be built in the "Big Size" in the future. Most of the social clubs that exist at the moment on Oahu are just about the right size and have good memberships. And of course there will be a new one in town next year.

"Just The Way You Look Tonight" by Jimmy Borges

Many dance organizations have Web Sites and haven't got the slightest idea if they get two hits per day or 2000 per day. Many do not know anything about a counter or what is bounce. And by the way, what is a Blog site? If you want to promote your dance organization you could get with the most effective way of doing it. In town it’s sad to see people spend hundreds of dollars on advertising and marketing methods that are ineffective. You can spend money on ads without a clear goal or of getting a clear feedback on its effectiveness.

"The best wines we drink are the ones we drink with friends."

Over The Waves

Sobre Las Olas, was the Mexican waltz composed by little known, Juventino Rosas that conquered the world. I first heard it at local Mexican carnival Carousels in Los Angeles, in the 1930s. World wide, it is recognized as the only other waltz that vies with the "Blue Danube." It has the privilege of being played around the world every day, every hour. It is "Over The Waves" the most universal piece among those produced by the Mexican arts.

"In dance, your age does not define your maturity, your speech does not

define your intellect and rumors do not define who are."

The world was conquered by this Mexican waltz around the end of the 19th century even reaching the Orient. Its melody filled the air in dance halls, parks, fairs and carnivals throughout the world. In Europe it delighted listeners who danced and cheered it as if it were their own. In Scandinavia it helped to evolve the Waltz into the new Nordic Waltz which is spreading into Central Europe now.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

In Latin America there have been hundreds of beautiful Waltzes composed in the 20th century. And waltz has been danced in many different forms throughout the area from Mexico to Argentina. The music tempos have been two. One resembling the American type tempo and the other the Viennese type tempo. Both of them can be danced in one, two, three style, or using the rock step and chassé.

"Alejandra" por Enrique Mora

When we have the Mariachis and the Latin Night Club in Honolulu, then we will have Latin Waltz and our people will go for it as if it was Peaches and Cream. After all, most them can dance it easily, just going with music, only they don't know it yet.

"Dancers do not have to have to stress themselves with useless people (you know

who they are), who do not even deserve to be an issue in our lives."

Three?

From a blog to Pre-School teachers:
"What activities can I use that teaches SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE to a preschool class? I'm an intern at a preschool, I'm supposed to come up with an activity idea that will be able to teach preschoolers to recognize the difference between ....Small...medium...and large. What activity do you suggest doing? I do have an Idea but I need yours to see which is best."

"Dancing may be a beautiful poem of which each movement is a word."

The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dance.html

Suggestion:
Make it a fun activity that will give your child an opportunity to sort the contents found in his/her playroom. Gather a number of toys from your child's playroom that could be classified as small, medium, and large, (different sized toys, stuffed animals, books, buttons, etc.). Label the containers, (tubs or large baskets are good for this), with the words "Small, Medium, and Large."

"Aloha No Kalakaua" by Amy Hanaialii

Write the word "Small" in very small letters, the word "Medium" in medium sized letters, and the word "Large" in very large letters so your child can "read" the words independently. Have your child classify the objects by size and place them in the appropriate containers.

"With Or Without You" by Willie K

In our dance environment we usually have good and bad, only two divisions. But we surely need three. This maybe a good idea, a bad idea, or I'm not sure,

La Milonga y El Tango

Milonga and Tango are not the same but they may never be completely separate. There are many people throughout the world that believe that Tango is European. And there is a lot of European in the modern versions of Tango. Tango has evolved into the least likely dance to come from Indians. But the Milonga is strictly from the Incas in Peru. It went down to Chile and across the Andes to Argentina. It also traveled westward across Brazil to Uruguay and was pretty well established by the 1600s as an even step.

"The dancers good advice for life: Everything in the universe has rhythm.

Everything dances.  So we can dance and sing our songs while the party is still on."

The leading styles were developed in La Orilla, the biggest section in Argentina dedicated to the bordello. The beat of the musicians changed a little and slowly the Pimps introduced the rock step and the chasse into the Milonga. This was not only in La Orilla but south into Las Pampas with the influence of the Guachos. By the 1700s. the great grandsons of original Gauchos, now with more education. money and class had a bigger influence in the middle classes.

"El Dia Que Me Quieras" por Carlos Gardel

The first “head fake” evolved. The man would look at the whore and she would look at him, then away. He would then grab her forcefully, look toward the promenade and prepared to dance. She would look towards the promenade and then look the other way. “No” He would look at her again, bring her into promenade position a little more violently. “Come on bitch!” She would then look that way and the dance would begin.

"La Comparsita" por Placido Domingo

Blas Matamoros wrote:
“The Milonga’s main purpose in La Orilla came to represent choreographically the sexual relations of the pimps and the prostitutes and was danced by the brothel’s patrons." Many of the Tangos in the civilized world have absolutely nothing to do with sexual relations.

"Yeah, they told me about that wall that went into the

local Pearl City bar - and got plastered."

 

Makua Alii

Thursday morning busy with my helper on the computer trying to make a new set up for my two computers. Got a lot of other paper work done too. Prepared for the trip to town and take everything I should have to make a good blog. I was ready by six and the #53 bus was late, I missed the #2 bus in town and the next one got me to Makua Alii at 7:45. Tough!

“Every week should gives us a chance to draw in a breath,

listen to some nice music and dance.”

The place was jumping and I had the opportunity to say hello to many of my friends. They all looked pretty good. Most of the nice people were there and a few of the not so nice as in any other dance group. The whole enchilada is still acceptable as a social dance environment. As more people see the blogs, this place will get better attendance. And the International Style dance classes are free. You can't beat that.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

I took some pictures and also had a couple people take some for their point of view. As in most of our social dancing we have too much fancy stuff on the dance floor and not enough of the basic. I danced one dance with Rose and the time was getting close to 8:30. I had to walk all the way around but I got to the front door with plenty of time. The Handi Van was there on time and I got home by 9:00. Not bad.

Now we will find out the difference between "dancers" and "movers to music."

Latin Pop2

New York and Miami were home to a thriving Latin club scene during the 1980s. They led the rise of Latin freestyle, a club-oriented dance music that was rooted in Latin rhythms but relied on synthesizers and drum machines for most of its arrangements. They were a young modern generation and many were non-Latino.

"Always remember those who have inspired you to learn and live with your all.

Dancers who have inspired you to get up after every fall.

And those who inspired you to always shine through respect and to stand tall."

Both of these sounds influenced the rise of Latin pop, which retained Latin rhythms in its uptempo numbers but relied more on mainstream pop for its melodic sense. Latin pop's first major crossover star was Gloria Estefan, who scored a succession of non-club-oriented dance-pop hits during the mid- to late 1980s, but who eventually became known more as an adult contemporary diva with an affinity for sweeping ballads.

"Adoro" por Armando Manzanero

This blend of Latinized dance-pop and adult contemporary balladeering dominated Latin pop through the 1990s; most of its artists sang in Spanish for Latino audiences, although Latin pop's similarity to the mainstream helped several performers score crossover hits when they chose to record in English. Jon Secada landed several pop hits during the mid-1990s, and Tejano pop star Selena's album Dreaming of You actually debuted posthumously at number one on the album charts upon its 1995 release.

"Contigo A La Distancia por Christina Aguilera

At present it is gravitating back to a more Latin sound, with a more complete drum understanding. It had been sounding a little too "foxtroty" which was beautiful but another genre. Keep it Latin and keep it simple has been the rule for four centuries. We are learning, Lambada came in big and went out with a whimper. Many do not remember.

"No matter what anyone says, nobody can take away

all those good dances you have already had." 

May Still Make It.

Another agonizing adjustment but I have no choice but to keep on doing it as long as I still have most of my mental and physical abilities with me. I cannot delete either Blogging Hawaii or Ritmo Mestizo this year for sure. I have to see the results when we have a steady Two Center. And we are getting closer so I have my hopes.

"God is the DJ, Life is the dance floor,

Love is the rhythm, and We are the music."

Then I have come to my conclusions from the data I have and
I have divided our reader/dancers into three.

The Hot Dogs, - they are the max in kokua and in return we tend to go out of our way to get verbal information and photos to play them up in our blogosphere, which gets bigger daily. They are getting some good Public Relations in our dancing circles, And from them we will get our much needed Information Contributors and Guest Authors to share more information with the readers. They are the ones that will be known throughout the island and they will be making these blogs into real Social Media.

"Be My Love" by Mario Lanza

The good ones will kokua if you are there and they will help get some photos of the action and perhaps permit a quote or two. Perhaps even an information contributor or two. Good people but just not that much interested. We help them where it is convenient and we must respect and try not to interfere. Otherwise they are too busy, have a Web site or they do have many other important things to do.

"I Can Dream, Can't I" by the Andrew Sisters

The "No, Nos" They are adequately taken care of with their own PR elsewhere, Web sites, newspaper, radio and TV advertising and have no use for blogging of any kind. Some of them seem to believe that due to their good looks, talent, fame and fortune, blogs are benefiting too much from their pearls of wisdom. We try desperately to identify them and drop them like a hot potato. We have our hands full with the rest of the reader/dancer/bloggers and (as I will repeat often enough,) we will help only where we can help.

"Is it time for a little wine?" 

Latin Pop

Latin pop refers to pop music that contains sound or influence from Latin America but it can also mean pop music from anywhere in the Spanish- Portuguese-speaking world. Latin Pop first reached a global audience through the work of bandleader Sergio Mendes in the mid-1960s. Later it was defined by the romantic ballads that legendary artists such as Julio Iglesias, Lucho Gatica or Roberto Carlos produced back in the 1970s.

"Dancers that have time to judge other people - have way too much time on

their hands. Get off your butts and do something meaningful."

Latin Pop became the most popular form of Latin music in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. Even achieving massive crossover success among non-Latino listeners during the late 1990s, with the arrival of artists like Thalía, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias and mostly for young people. It did not do much in the Pacific Basin.

"Abrazame" por Julio Iglesias

While not restricted to America by any means, Latin pop was profoundly affected by production techniques and other styles of music—both Latin and otherwise—that originated primarily in the United States. Tejano music, centered in Texas and the U.S./Mexico border region, had begun to introduce synthesizers, slicker production, and a more urban sensibility to formerly rootsy styles like norteño and conjunto.

"Contigo A La Distancia" by Lucho Gatica

Various sectors have been introduce to Hawaii on various occasions without much success. But then, most Latinos in Hawaii come from too many different sectors in Latin America and the diversity of preferences is too great. Bachata and Salsa have done their share of unification and they are Latin, but have established themselves as specialties. Latin is not Bachata nor is Rumba, but there is the basic Rumba that has been there for over a century and now firmly in the Social Dancing of the World. Rumba is "part" of the Latin Scene worldwide.

"Dancers drink wine because they don't like to keep things bottled up."

Skinny, Just Right and Fat.

The good, the bad and the ugly, small, medium and large, as adults, we all know the three regular divisions. We assume there are three in looking at life too and it makes it easier that way than just lumping the whole enchilada in one pot. At one time I had eleven different blogs rolling. What did I know? But no one else did either and the reader/dancers will continue to make the decisions.

"Most Social Dancers deal with negative comments by first trying
to see if those other people are right. If not, we stay
positive,  focused and own our success."

I found out by lumping them in Good, Maybe and the Not so good. Later on I would get the four that were in the Not so good and deleted them. We are now down to the present seven and I only have the top two categories. And by the end of the year I can decide if it will be Blogging Hawaii or Ritmo Mestizo as the one to go. The Magnificent Six?

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

This blog was at its peak when we had the Spin Doctor with us, but does not do our kind of music anymore though he has some of the best in the world. Then this blog also made contact with the neighbor islands and somebody messed us up on Maui. Something about publishing their private letters. I asked, where, but no one provide the answer so I deleted all their blogs.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

I have made contacts with others but most of time they send me a "Mickey Mouse" poster that requires some special gimmicks to copy it. The old time methods of submitting in a regular format is lost to them. I like to just copy and post, just like that. And I can email a high quality photo in JPEG format so that anyone can print it without any trouble at all, just by using what comes with every computer.

I ask that guy at the last dance - what is the difference between Ignorance and Apathy? He said, "I don't know and I don't care." Clear enough!

Waltz

The Classic Period for the Mayan Empire, began around A.D. 250 and is considered their golden age. Classic Mayan civilization grew to some 40 cities of  between 5,000 and 50,000 people. At its peak, the Mayan population may have reached 2 million. And they had Professional Musicians and Dancers.

"Let us pray for all those who are in denial. Let

us pray for those that lie for attention."

They developed measures, in the 2 count and up to 7 count measures. But by the year 1600 the only ones remaining were the 2, 3, 4 and 5. The Chassé developed early and used in most dances. In the three count they had the same rhythm as the American Waltz. Accented on one of the counts and all equal. They also had a 2 1/2 measure which was played on three counts and using a chasse which is similar to the Viennese Waltz. And none were partner dances.

"Alejandra" por Enrique Mora

When the French arrived to establish the Mexican Empire in the 1860s. They just naturally introduced the new Viennese Waltz to high society in Mexico City. It spread easily for the Indians had been dancing this three count chassé for centuries. They also developed something similar to the American style waltz and partnered.

"Molokai Waltz" by Bill Kaiwa

In Peru with the late developing Incas, the 2 count and the chassé were most common, and danced mostly by men and solo. They took to the Viennese easily and the adaptation became the Vals Criollo or Peruvian Waltz. In the 20th century, the genre became symbolic of the nation's culture as it gained widespread popularity in the country and South America. Latin Waltz is still considered throughout the Latin world is some of the most beautiful music in existence.

The combination of European, and indigenous musical elements and the Vals emerged among the public in all of Larin America. The Viennese type music is characterized by the use of triple meter, sometimes compound duple time, and the lyrics in Latin America are all about the same style. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Vals became the main musical expression of the urban working class, with its lyrics reflecting their cultural personality, conflicts, and value systems. And the new resurgence of the Latin Waltz is with the older more experience social dancers that are able to enjoy the beautiful music.

"Most dancers know that it is nice to be important, but it is important to be nice."

WBDC

WBDC INVITATION TO "OKTOBERFEST DANCE!"

AuntyMaile@aol.com

ZIGGA ZAGA, ZIGGA, ZAGGA, HOY! HOY! HOY! 

THE WAHIAWA BALLROOM DANCE CLUB INVITES YOU TO

OKTOBERFEST DANCE!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

WAHIAWA RECREATION CENTER, HALE HOOKIPA ROOM

6:30 PM – 9:50 PM

POTLUCK! or a monetary donation is appreciated.

MUSIC BY DJ YAGI LOTS OF DANCING! BE WITH FUN PEOPLE!
WE WELCOME TRADITIONAL ATTIRE OR JUST YOU JOINING US!

Ok·to·ber·fest Note: Oktoberfest this year,

is celebrated from September 17 – October 3, 2016

/äkˈtōbərˌfest/

noun

1. a traditional autumn festival held in Munich, Germany,
every October that features beer-drinking and merrymaking.

NON-ALCOHOLIC

Latin? Who Cares?

In the newer Latin Music and dance it may take time before you can connect to the music, and able to use your instincts. You will be slowly realizing that it is whole new ballgame. And it certainly will not be the Latin dance of your grandparents. You will let it all go into your dance and you will reveal yourself. Just keep on dancing and your own style will emerge from the music. The dance also will begin to look and feel more natural and become effortless.

"Strong people don't put others down - they lift them up."

We all dance differently because of the way that we interpret the most important ingredient, the music, and express ourselves to it. We must not be a prisoner of the dance. We will find that we must take control of it, experiment, play, have fun with it, and it will set us free and lead to marvelous new movements and discoveries in the dance for all of us. Can we learn from our dance teachers on this island? Of course, but it is very interesting and not a discipline for us. And we will find it very useful to use the KISS method. Keep It Simple, Stupid.

"Voy Apagar La Luz" by Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel Gallego Basterin is now 46 years old  and known professionally as Luis Miguel, is a mexican singer and an icon in Latin America. He has often been referred to as El Sol de México, (the Sun of Mexico. He is one of the most successful artists in Latin American history, having successfully performed in a wide range of musical styles, including pop, ballads, boleros and mariachi. To date, he has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

 "Contigo Aprendi" by Luis Miguel

I copied his last show at Viña Del Mar in Chile - probably the most prestigious Latin Festival in the World. The first half contained many of my favorite songs but the last half is all new and not in my taste. Probably that I am just getting old. A show at Viña Del Mar is a song video album and very valuable if I  were to buy it but I just copy from the Internet. And now that I beginning to learn editing I will delete the last part.

Sign in Pearl City Bar: Warning, consuming large quantities of alcohol

may cause uncontrollable muscle spasms masquerading as dancing. 

Social Dance on Oahu

It is slowly coming together and even many of the Social Dance Clubs are beginning to recognize it. We do not have to look down on any other type dancer. No hu hu, we can all do our own thing. And for sure we are not going to allow international organizations to come in and tell us we dance "incorrectly." We are going to begin thinking for ourselves and of our enjoyment.

“Fortunately on Oahu, there are fewer insensibles among us.
such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, and murmuring,
envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that
might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.” 

The Rumba appears to be very popular in Town, just not promoted by anyone. It is just a regular and has always been there. Rumba in more or less its present form has existed in Cuba for five hundred years. It has been a generic term for different types of Caribbean music and dance. But what was exported to the US was not the Rumba but the Son, which is a different story. Now the present American Rumba is the most danced in Latin America and with an increasingly accepted alternate basic.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

On Oahu we are getting people to join in blogging and posting their opinions. We will all ponder: "What's the worst that could happen to me if I tell this truth?" We have to find a receptive dance club in town. Unlike dancers in other places our breaking silence is unlikely to have us jailed, "disappeared" or run off the road at night. Our speaking out will irritate some people, call us names, cads, or hypersensitive or whatevah. But then our speaking out will permit other dancers to speak, somethings may change and our dance world may be altered forever.

"Our dancers, bless them, are making a habit of shutting down conversations that aim to tear others down."

Samba

Eight years after Columbus the first Portuguese arrive in Brazil. There was no wholesale killing of the Natives and they tried to get along. Many of the lower class Portuguese would socialize with the Indians and even join in on their drinking and dancing. The two count was predominant in South America and the only variation was the Chassé.

 "In our dance world, sometimes not saying anything is the best answer.

We know that silence can never be misquoted."

The Portuguese had many dances with a Chasse, so that they were able to add a few moves to the basic Indian dances, and the "Maxixe" evolve into a pretty standard dance up and down the coast by Rio De Janiero by 1700s. Soon after the big influx of slaves from Africa began and they were not picked for their musical and dance abilities. They took to the Indian dances readily and in no time at all the Maxixe became their favorite. The third and fourth generations of slaves soon added new moves to the dance but none were from Africa.

"Chica, Chica, Boom, Chic" by Carmen Miranda

One of the most beautiful spectacles in the world is the Brazilian Carnival.

It was introduced in US, in the early 20th century several times without much success. It was never a smash hit in the States and the name was changed to Samba. However, big interest in the Samba was stimulated at the 1939 World's Fair in New York, where Samba music was played at the Brazilian Pavilion.Then the American Studios got a hold of it and went so far as to make three or four basics. (yes, it was the money, Honey.) Most successful dances have only one basic.

"The Girl From Ipanema" por Antonio Carlos Jobim

The peak may have been about the fifties but the decline has been gradual and the Dance Societies have kept it alive. The music has always been some of the best in the world but to dance all those goopy patterns is beyond most of us.

Some dancers were mingling at the bar in Pearl City when an Oxford graduate walks in. “Hi stranger,” one dancer says. “Where are you from?” The Oxford graduate answers, “I come from a place where we do not end our sentences in prepositions.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” replies the dancer. “Where are you from, jackass?”