Politics, Auwe

Just found out about Schatz and the Present Rail Party. It is beginning to add up. Abercrombie, The Present Rail Party (mostly haoles) The Mayor, The Big Wheels in HART -- and the Japanese are out of the political business. Mazie Hirono has got to go even though she had the crooks on her side at one time. They even were able to pay Barbara Tanabe to help with the hatchet job on Ben Cayetano. Now, I have a choice and I will vote for Colleen Hanabusa, and David Ige. Easy as pie for me.

"Sometimes you have to forget what is gone, appreciate what remains,

and look forward to what is coming next."

In Hawaii, it has to be International or American. Any other is illegal, I think.

The downtown dance action seems to be slowing down, except for the few. And the Neighbor Islands are really revving up their night life and they all say the same thing. They don't have to put up with a Rail Disaster. And they are right, there are people arriving at the Neighbor Islands not from the Mainland but from Oahu. And Property prices on East Oahu are going higher while West Oahu is staying static. Nobody knows why, not me.

But we look optimistically at the dance scene. Hopefully we will get more news, and there are a few other blogs that may be interesting to reader/dancers. Frank always has good news, check in on him. The Kids must have change, every day, every week. Whatever they dance today will be gone tomorrow.  The over thirty, that remain as experience dancers, will dance for two different reasons.

"Sh-Boom, Life Could Be A Dream" by the Crew Cuts

Those that must be "seen" and those that dance for the music. The disciplines are based on "to be seen": Both in Exhibition dances and in Competitions. The music is secondary, the right beat somewhat more necessary. International dancers can dance an entire routine without a note, not even a metronome. Fortunately, most of our reader/dancers are in the purely social style kind of dance, gotta have da moosic.

Pub's Side Note: Don't forget to check the "Goodies" section in any of our blogs. Might be yours.

A Lil Bit of Salsa

Salsa On Two
by Aristides Raul Garcia, New York

Was everyone dancing on the "2" at the Palladium? If you look at film footage from those glorious days, and you really know how to count to the music, you see that people were dancing on different counts, mainly on what today is called the 2, and on the 3. You don’t have to take my word for it. Mr. Luis Flores, aka Luis Maquina or La Maquina (one of the greats) was interviewed by Marla Friedler.

"Learn the dance rules like the pros, so you can break them like a dancer."

He is one of the celebrated great dancers from the Palladium days. She asked him: "Did you dance on the 2?" His answer: "Don’t talk that shit to me, the 2, the 1. I danced on the clave." Something like that. but we are talking "dancers." Go ahead and go to the features section of Salsaweb. Look it up. What he meant by that could be a lot of things. For the time being I leave it there.

So far, we know the following: Mambo was "developed" in Cuba in the 40’s, and before arriving in New York it was in Mexico. Here we have to add that by no means was Mambo ever the sweeping rage, neither in Cuba, nor in Mexico, nor in New York. Mambo always had to share the stage with other music. If you buy the CD’s Dancemania vol 1&2, you will see that in those days even Mr. Puente didn’t call everything Mambo.

"Moliendo Cafe" by Placido Domingo

In the old days it was customary to call a song by its name. In these two CD’s you have Son Montunos, Mambos, ChaChaCha’s, Boleros, Guajiras, Son-ChaChaCha, Bolero-Son, etc. It is important to note this, because almost all the numbers in these compilations were recorded during the heyday of the Mambo. Later, Mr Puente said that it was all Mambo to him. It suited him well.

New kid on the block, but will never make it.

What about Cuba? What was going on there in the 50’s? By all accounts, they were not dancing Mambo. In fact they were developing what we know today as the Casino style together with its Rueda part. Were the Cubans dancing to the Ran Kan Kan or to Mambo Diablo? No. Some of them were swinging to the music of Benny More, some to the new Charangas, some to the music of Arsenio Rodriguez, some others to the Sonora Matancera, some were still crazy about the ChaChaCha.

"Devorame Otra Vez" por Francisco Salas

Some were into the old Son and some to the Danzon; like I said before, region, race, economics, and (before I forget) age group, sometimes determines what or how people are going to dance. What I can guarantee you is that there was no Mambo on "2" club and never will be. Only fools and horses go for that.

Keep Goin'

So this blog is having a tough time. Should be only temporary. One good Two Center will send it on its way. It is taking quite a while but then many dancers out here in the middle of the Pacific simply do not understand Blogging or even Web sites. I am making good contact with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ much too well so that I am gradually pruning everyone outside of the US.

"Stifling an urge to dance is bad for your health and rusts your spirit and your hips."

I am also getting much more contact with the neighbor islands. There is an emerging night life in all the islands. Maui is coming in the strongest and then the Big Island. They are not getting screwed up by a Rail Disaster and this blog seems ripe for them. Maybe the first independent will be taken over by neighbor islanders. The entire enchilada takes time and for me, it's a nice hobby. We must all choose for ourselves and live our own lives from beginning to end; no one else can do it for us.

"Hawaiian Wedding Song" by Loyal Garner

Claiming full control over our health, dreams, and well-being are some of the areas in our lives where we get to be a little selfish and not feel bad about it. We enjoy dancing, can we dance it the way we want to? Many of our teachers seem to understand and if we want to reach our goals, can we be the center of this part of our journey? The point is slowly coming across.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

We have to make it work for us, the dance aficionados and perhaps us alone. It’s not selfishness, it’s self-care and self-improvement.  Anything less is a setup for failure. Just watch out for the Creative Researchers And Producers and their lies, they can be a stumbling block.

Pub's Side Note: The happiest reader/dancers and the unhappiest reader/dancers are our most valuable Two - Centers. And the tremendous value to the reader/dancers, is the fact, that they have their own unique opinions.

Mexican Dancing, part 2

By Edward Wilson, Hawaii Kai.

The “gente grande” (seniors) will get out there on the floor showing the rest of us how to do it, and we’ll see our friend, “el Gordito” (fatty), who’s got more rhythm than anybody else on the floor and who is shaking his “panza” (belly) like a bowlful of jelly - and over there is - why, it’s YOU! You’re out there, too, legs churning, arms pumping, being swept away by the powerful rhythms and general delirium of Latin dancing.

"Dance for there is no greater feeling in the world than moving to your favorite music and letting the rest of the world go by."

Then, just to show they’ve got a mean streak, the band might let down a fast mambo to warn you of what’s coming.

Set Three gets nasty. They play merengues, mambos and quebraditas. Really fast. I always remember the word quebradita because I think it comes from the Spanish verb, “quebrar” (to break) and I think it’s the band’s way of saying, “We’re going to break your back and both legs with this one!” Now is when you have to take tiny little dance steps or you’ll never even approach the tempo.

In Mexican dancing you just do what you want. Twenty couples on the floor, twenty styles, twenty different dance steps. Democracy in action. Just do it “como te dé tu chingada gana” (do what you damn well please). None of that “one step forward - close - one to the side, etc.” No time to think of all that stuff in Mexican dancing. You realize quickly that your fellow dancers are in fine physical condition and decide you should exercise more.

 "No Es El Momento" por Patricia Gamero

But, oh, barrio dancing! There’s where you see the really good dancers, the best since Gene Kelly hung up his dancing garters. When I’m invited to a dance in one of those working class areas I truly repent that in my youth I abused alcohol, cigarettes, and chocolate cake. Particularly chocolate cake. Watching them is like watching Olympic gymnasts performing at 1000 times their actual speed. I have never heard such music, so fast and so loud. How can the “gente grande” (seniors) move so fast? But they’re out there! And a lot of this stuff is coming to Hawaii where the Latin scene is slowly changing.
The End - Really, ~Ed.

"All people filter incoming messages through the prism

of their prejudices."

Slowly

Wow, this has been a good week. Good prospects all around. Hopefully I can get rid of my best blog by the end of the year. So we live in the present but work for the future. Your troubles? As the oldsters say down at the VA. "Cheer up friend, it is going to end, all too soon."

"Some days you don't need a plan, sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens."

In our blogosphere, we communicate with each other, the day we get involved with dancing and specially in blogging. No one is going to care what school you went to, what your grade point average was or who your parents were. Your interest in dancing and dancers is what counts so any sharing of photos and a few comments are certainly appreciated by all. Just keep the nasty gossip to yourself.

All that matters is whether you deliver results or you don’t. And we don't always know what those results are supposed to be. As dancers we want to make our instructors look good. If they are good instructors then everyone will know your received good dance instruction. Let's face it, we have been very lucky and have some of the best dance teachers in the Pacific. And if you change instructors always do what your present instructor teaches. After you have left the class, you are on your own and can feel free to dance as you please.

"Young At Heart" by Frank Sinatra

When a dream matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to achieve what at first seemed impossible. Our dancers may not always start that way but that is their inevitable goal. Let that person be YOU.  It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.  You can be a good dancer - go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others tell you it is.  What’s impossible to them may not be impossible for you.

New

The adjustment still looks just fine all around. Kapolei Social Dance seems to be firmly in second place, and it is between Oahu West and Blogging Hawaii for third. Whatever happens, the new Two Center will decide it for either one of these blogs.

"There is no path to happiness: Happiness is the path."

Town Dancer is looking better all the time. I have blogged only once this week and the average daily hits have been going up. Been handled very nicely by Rich and Calvin, we are creating Social Media. It is getting pretty certain that with two more Guest Authors, Town Dancer would run up the hits to over 200 per day and we could plan on their independence.

"Perfidia" by Placido Domingo

It would give me more time to dedicate myself to the other blogs and the Two Center gets more crucial everyday. The Two Center can email, photos and information to any standing Guest Author or me and it will be posted to the blog of their choice. And the good thing that in blogging they do it only when and if they want to. No commitments to anyone. The content us not so important at the moment, the different unique opinions of our fellow dancers is what has the value.

"I Believe" by Frankie Laine

The more permanent position of course is the Guest Author and anyone can make the decision as to whether they want "to be or not to be." If they want to, then they can get into Blogger with their password, write whatever, insert graphics, photos, publish and get out, all on their own without saying boo to anyone. Again the decision is all up to potential Guest Author.

In the end, you will not regret the things you have done nearly as much as the things you have left undone. It’s always better to be left with a few “oh wells,” than a bunch of “what ifs.” It’s better to have a lifetime full of experiences and mistakes you learned from, rather than a heart full of regrets and empty dreams. Someday you will want to look back at your life and say, “I can’t believe I did that!” instead of, “Gosh, I wish I would have…” Hey, now's your chance.

Mexican Dancing

by Ed Wilson, Hawaii Kai

The Mexicans can’t dance my legs off, I’ll tell you that -- oh, well, in the “barrios” they can, but there the dancing is more like Olympic gymnastics. If you’re just going out in the evening to “dar un chanclazo” (kick the old shoes around) at a neighborhood party or dance hall you can train for it like I do, by climbing eight flights of stairs and walking two hours a day, every day. Live music is inexpensive in Mexico and most of us refuse to dance to tapes.

"All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind."

A friend who used to dance at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago classifies our dancing there as, “Mexican jumping bean dancing.” “¡Ni maiz, paloma!” (No way, José!) That’s an unfair statement because many of the dance tunes originate in other Latin countries. Placido Domingo dignified this music singing two cumbias in his CD, “De mi alma mexicana” (From My Mexican Soul). He sang “Moliendo Café” and “Caballo Viejo.” The first is translated as "Grinding Coffee" and the second as "Old Horse." Good, solid song titles. Good, fast music.

"Por El Amor De Una Mujer" por Julio Iglesias

My friend is just sour grapes. Dancing in a Mexican ballroom is pure joy. There are hazards, sure, an errant five-inch spike heel on your instep - or, as I admit to, the temporary laming of a fellow dancer with an inadvertent kick to his ankles, but these are just “gajes del oficio” (goes with the territory). Shows our enthusiasm. Thankfully, he didn’t sue.

The band plays its first set pretty slow, songs like, “A Mi Manera,” (“My Way,” made famous by Frankie), a danzón from Cuba (slow, but with a very marked rhythm, I like ‘em), Agustin Lara’s, “Solamente una vez,” (called “You Belong to My Heart” in the U.S.), and maybe some show tunes like “Mackey Navajas” (“Mack the Knife”).

"Manha De Carnaval" por Placido Domingo

But the band’s second set becomes very Latin and brings on lots of rhythm. A tip of the hat goes to Uncle Sam when they play, “Rock Around the Clock,” but then they’ll go back to a Mexican favorite like, “Camerón Pela’o,” (‘Peeled Shrimp,’ which you’ll instantly agree is another very solid song title). This set of dances may be “puras cumbias” (only cumbias) because they’re the most popular; more people will get up and dance to cumbias than anything else.

(Part 2?, I will think about it.) Ed.

Competitions

By Mark Lowe, Los Angeles:

On the Mainland, the competitive dance industry has grown and largely consists of competition production companies (also often times called dance competition companies) that conduct regional competitions at stops along their annual, nationwide tours.

 "Yes, it may be difficult to be imperfect when there may be some around us who are perfect."

Competitive ballroom dance is a well-liked, widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several allowed dance styles—before a common group of judges. And the audiences have been increasing annually because of the big television programs in the US as well as in other countries.

"Be My Love" by Mario Lanza

Dancers who compete at these competitions are usually dance students. Dance schools usually arrange for their classes to compete singularly or as groups. Competitive dancers must be physically fit because even short dances can be physically demanding. Also, dancers must continuously train to maintain and improve their system, balance skills, strength and flexibility. Competitive dancing requires dedication as many months may be spent practicing dance and developing dance routines.

"Good Night, Irene" by the Weavers

Dance competitions are organized and conducted by independent competition production companies. There are, at present, about 200 such companies operating in the United States and Canada alone. Competition production companies move from one metropolitan area to another, stopping for a few days in each area to conduct a regional competition.

By touring in this manner, these companies can generate profits while at the same time enabling significant numbers of dancers to attend local competitions. Some companies also conduct one or more national competitions after their regional tours have ended. The competitive dance industry has no oversight body or standards organization, although at least one effort is underway to establish a limited set of competition rules and safety standards in the industry. Competition production companies seldom coordinate their tours with each other. Tour start and finish dates, as well as cities visited, vary from one company to another.

Most companies conduct regional tours from about January through May, while National competitions generally run from June through August. It is not unusual for two regional tours to be visiting the same metropolitan area at the same time. Yes, there will be one in West Oahu soon. Some have been notified that May would be the best time.

Regional competitions are held at high school auditoriums or other performance venues that include a stage and space for judges and audience. Such venues are usually rented for periods ranging from one to five consecutive days, depending on the number of dancers scheduled to compete. Competitions often start very early in the morning and last until late at night so as to minimize rental cost and other expenses.

Pub's Addtional Note: Is the Competition industry definition of a  single person "competition" really a competition? They are not "competing" with anyone, an "exhibition" is nice, just something not quite right about the terminology.

The Agonizing Reapppraisal

The entire enchilada is reconstructing itself very nicely and is at its point of diminishing returns.

Blogging Hawaii, the blog was at one time close to Town Dancer but then they lost the Spin Doctor and Richard Sun and the hits went down from there. They joined the other bottom ones and had remained in second place to Town Dancer for several years.

"Happiness is not getting what you want. It is doing your best and being grateful for what you got."

Then the best Two Centers (Kapolei Chapter, HBDA) in this Island came into Kapolei Social Dance blog and the hits went through the roof. It is now in second place and still surging. No telling what would happen if they got a guest author. Oahu West is in third place and Blogging Hawaii is now fourth.

Of course, the only one that knows that this is only temporary is me. That one Two Center in any one of those blogs will make a difference. Richie Fun is coming across very well in Town Dancer with the help of Marie to share information with our reader/dancers. Then they have the cream of the crop of blogs to work with. With a couple of Guest Authors, they would go over 200 average hits per day and be ready for independence.

"Hey There" by Rosemary Clooney

Some are finding out that if you want to make an impact, big or small you will get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  All growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.  Maybe the thing you’re scared of is exactly what you should do.  Sometimes life is about risking it all for a dream no one can see but you. The neighbor islands are staying pretty private and we respect. Meanwhile, come one, come all and let's dance.

Pub's Side Note: Member satisfaction does not have to be a goal.  It's the by product of a well run dance club.

What's Happening in Latin on Oahu

Apparently Salsa still rules the roost, with Bachata coming up in the back stretch. This type of dancing is the Night Club version where they await new fads every day and which are always coming in. The hype keeps them going much longer than fads in the past. This is strictly a commercial business and there is certainly nothing wrong with that as long as we are aware.

"Don't worry about those who talk behind your back.

They are behind you for a reason."

But we as dancers must always think, what's in it for us? The young must always have the new but after they are 30 it may be different. 40? We are beginning to recognize the type of music of the ages and the dance to be enjoyed forever. And that latest mickey mouse stuff is definitely not it. How about the people that appreciate the oldies but goodies? They may know something.

The music of the peoples of South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean has never received a comprehensive treatment in English until just lately. It is taking a sociocultural and human-centered approach and music in Latin America and the Caribbean is gathering the best scholarship from writers all over the world. They will cover in depth the musical legacies of indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Iberian colonizers and other immigrant groups including African descendants, that met and mixed in the New World.

"Abrazame" por Julio Iglesias

Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Samba and Tango were well established in the world as Latin music and dance in the last century. And the only thing that has messed them up is the increase in variations and hundreds of patterns and new steps every day by commercial interests making for one big mess in the social environment. They completely ignore Rudolph Laban. And I am talking dancing, not money.

Pub's Side Note: Fortunately, I am meeting more people that have good speakers on their computers. With some good speakers you can play music that may sound better than your high class stereos. Or a good set of Earphones. I can give them some of my music.

Optimism

We are getting more people interested in the possibility of contributing a photo and perhaps a little dance information for the benefit of our reader/dancers. It will take time and we must be patient. Social Media like this has never been done before.

"We fall, we rise, we make mistakes but we live and learn. We are human not perfect.

We may have been hurt but we are still alive and we will make it."

On our island of Oahu, this huge body of different dancers is now being acknowledged and dancing as a spectator sport is not increasing as before. Our social dance will settle down to a common name that will be acknowledged by all. Key people will be the amateur dance teachers for they are well aware of the kind of dancing that is being done now.

AAAAA - American Association Against Acronym Abuse

The new social dance clubs that will emerge will be lacking the "old goat" social structure and not run off the "young goats" with the help of the women who were not asked to dance by the young goats. The cliques will be smaller and of little consequence. The ratio of men to women will become more equal.

They will become more open and understanding of the different dances. And yet they will be more resistant to the fad dances of the young. They will tend to favor the solid dances that have been danced over and over again in sheer joy for decades.

There will be a standard to be danced in Social Dance and Night Clubs, there will be clear divisions in those specializing in Line, Salsa, Swing and Tango. Some of the best dancers I have seen go only to the specialized dances. Everyone will find the place where they are the most comfortable.

"I Will Wait For You" by Andy Williams

There will even be a movie someday soon without a dance contest and portray the stars as enjoying dancing for the pure unadulterated joy of moving to the music of their choice.

Los Olmecas (1400–400 BC)

By Federico Guzman, Kahala

The Olmecs first appeared along the Caribbean Sea (in what is now the state of Tabasco) in the period 1500-900 BC and they appeared well established in agriculture and in gathering in large living areas. The Olmecs were the first Mesoamerican culture to produce an identifiable artistic and cultural style, and may also have been the society that invented writing in Mesoamerica. Some of their head statues resemble Samoans. And no record of Samoans in Mexico.

"Try not to get upset with people or situations,

both are powerless without your reaction."

They began to recognize their knowledgeable people and developed a professional group within them. Agricultural experts, astronomers, religious, mathematicians, music and dance professionals. By the Middle Preclassic Period (900-300 BC), Olmec artistic styles had been adopted as far away as the Valley of Mexico and even to Costa Rica in Central America.

What Is a Civilization, Anyway?

"Por El Amor De Una Mujer" by Julio Iglesias

They had the even count, 1,2 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 and they had measures going into five counts. They had the rock step and the chasse. But the top got greedy, like the rich in the US. and the lower classes simply abandoned them and went somewhere else by just moving on. Of course, the rich have never recognized the fact that they make their money by taking advantage of the poor. Same as happening in the US now.

We have progressed (if you can call it that) to over one thousand different "Latin Dances" that exist today. We can include the fact that there have been over six hundred different patterns recorded in Salsa, alone. Turn, twists, back flips. Is there a harder way of doing this? Or a way to make more money? He, He, He.

"I just wanna do a lil dancing."

Planned Retirement

We are getting closer to where I can retire gracefully from the Dance Scene. The latest contribution by the Kapolei Chapter HBDA to making the Kapolei Social Dance blog into a hit parade just proved it. Getting notice not only the neighbor islands but the US and even the Philippines. I am sure other potential Two Centers will see the advantage and I can get the first of these blogs into independence.

"Your mind could be a garden, your thoughts, the seeds.

You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds."

Town Dancer is way out in front on hits, with just two more Guest Authors they are on their own.  Blogging Hawaii is in second place with Kapolei Social Dance and Oahu West competing for third place. The news to the reader/dancers is getting out and that is where the hits are. Simple.

The Maui Waltz, by Loyal Garner

I look forward to retiring gradually and just helping a little here and there. But the blogs must become independent and be able to exist on their own. I have done most of the set up and leg work. The gingerbread I can coach and there is plenty out there. Dancer of the Month. Teachers of the Month., Slide Shows, Music and videos. These blogs can evolve into the best dance social media on these islands.

Links are a great indicator of how well a piece of content is doing.The more popular and better the content, the more that people will link to it. This can sometimes be artificially inflated if the blogger in question is a victim of negative SEO or they are using some dodgy tactics to build links, so bare that in mind. Most of you need not worry about any of this. Just make your fellow dancers happy with photos and a few notes.

Valse Criollo

by Adolfo Gutierrez, Waialae Iki

Officially, it is the Waltz of Peru with "Criollo" part hinting that it comes from the Spanish born in the Americas. And it very true that there was a huge influence from Europe even before the arrival of Archduke Maximilian of Austria as Emperor of Mexico in the 1860s.

"Life may be like a garden, a flower doesn't have to compete

with the flower next to it, it just blooms."

However the three count measure had existed in the Mexican civilizations for at least a couple millenniums. It was danced in the American way, on an even count, and also danced according to the music with a chasse.

"Sobre Las Olas" by Juventino Rosas

"Over The Waves" first published in Mexico in 1888

Originally the Indians made special efforts to keep their style of music and dance separate from the Europeans styles. But within a decade of the revolution and the execution of Maximilian there was much fusion. Today there is little difference in the Waltz Criollo danced in the upper echelons and the regular street waltz dance by the lower classes.

Because of the huge Negro population in the Caribbean and Brazil, there is very little Waltz in those sectors. Most music and dance in the Negro regions is based on variations of the Indian Chasse. Traditionally they have been easier to transport to the Atlantic Coast of the US.

"Morir Por Tu Amor" by Xavier Solis

Throughout the early part of the twentieth century El Valse, in most of Latin America, had become a big part of musical expression of the urban working class, with its lyrics reflecting their cultural personality, conflicts, and value systems. The Latin waltzes have been some of the most beautiful in existence. They may be decreasing in popularity in this century due to hype on the new dances which seem to be appearing every day.

Night Clubbing

By Leonard Chong, Manoa

Dancing people do drink but not excessively. There are many that arrive as couples but many people are just looking for people of the opposite sex but not really needing a partner for dancing. They enjoy the social atmosphere and adjust readily to the music and the rhythm. They just enjoy the simple movements and do not consider themselves as great shakes with fancy moves.

“The dance is the mother of the arts. Music and poetry exist in time;
painting and architecture in space. But the dance lives at once in time and space”

This group is at least twice as large than what is generally considered "ballroom dancers". And that is where the potential ballroom dancers are just waiting for the right time. Now that line dancing is starting to become a "fad" in night clubs, there is a good beginning. And in night clubs they are getting more men too. Can they sell something besides booze?

"Moon River" by Andy Williams

However, we must also distinguish between age groups. We try to be fair but we must also have understanding. "Never trust anyone over thirty" was coined by someone under 30. They are just a different kind of dancer and they are comfortable in their niche. The young will also drink much more than the more mature. The Clubs have two distinct audiences and they have preferred the young. It's the cash, Nash!

This younger group (under 40 tops) must and will have ever changing fad dances. That is their destiny. They are learning and seeking new things in everything. But Fusion will come from these younger groups, in the Night Clubs and the Dance Studios.

"Golden Tango" by Andy Ross

The older become more conservative and settle down to something more permanent such as Social dance. Universal dance, Cultural dance, Fusion dance, Recreational dance or whatevah you want to call it. The changes will be slow and much will come through the newer Social Dance Clubs.

Perhaps the new Night Clubs in the West will give these more mature dancers what they want. There has been recent recognition of the music, "Oldies But Goodies." Different dancers? Yes, just get a place far enough away from the Rail Calamity, at an Industrial Park?  Ha, Dream On.

What is Latin Music?

The Latin beat: By Ed Morales, excerpts.

The rhythms and roots of Latin music from bossa nova to salsa and beyond

The Latin explosion of Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and the Buena Vista Social Club may look like it came out of nowhere, but the incredible variety of Latin music has been transforming the United States since the turn of the century, when Caribbean beats turned New Orleans music into jazz.

"These blogs are not here to help you get over it,
We are here to help you through it."

In fact, we wouldn't have any of our popular music without it: Imagine pop sans the mambos of Perez Prado and Tito Puente, the garage rock of Richie Valens, or even the glitzy croon of Julio Iglesias, not to mention the psychedelia of Santana and Los Lobos and the underground cult grooves of newcomers like Bebel Gilberto.

 "Frenesi" by Artie Shaw

The Latin Beat outlines the musical styles of each country, then traces each form as it migrates north. Morales travels from the Latin ballad to bossa nova to Latin jazz, chronicles the development of the samba in Brazil and salsa in New York, explores the connection between the mambo craze of the 1950's with the Cuban craze of today, and uncovers the hidden history of Latinos in rock and hip hop. The Latin Beat is the only book that explores where the music has come from and celebrates all of the directions it is going.

"An accessible combination of serious study and exciting pop reference, The Latin Beat explains each of the wildly varied Latin musical forms - bossa nova, cumbia, merengue, tango, ranchera, rumba, son, salsa - in the context of the countries in which they arose (Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Domincan Republic, Mexico). Morales then traces each of these forms as they migrated north, and explains how they were absorbed into the American mix.

"Jalisco, No Te Rajes" by Jorge Negrete

He travels from the Latin ballad to the cocktail-lounge bossa nova to Latin jazz, chronicles the development of the samba in Brazil and salsa in New York, explores the connection between the mambo craze of the '40s and '50s with the Cuban craze of today, and uncovers the hidden history of Latinos in '80s and '90s rock and hip hop. The Latin Beat explores where the music has come from, and celebrates all of the directions it is going."