Dance Hawaii

More good news from Maurice Morita, turning into the best Two Center in Da Business:

"Failure will never overtake us if our determination to succeed is strong enough."

Filipino Associations Dinner & Dance Events
if you are interested in attending, please let Maurice Morita know by calling or texting him at 808-225-0326, open to all members, families, and friends, This is the time to dance, dance, dance!

"Dahil Sa Iyo"

Was a song written by Mike Velarde Jr. in 1938, and sung
by the King of the Philippine Movies" Rogelio de la Rosa.

1. Quezonians of Hawaii (dinner and dancing)
Saturday, August 22, 2015 at the Pacific Beach Hotel 5:30 p.m. to 12 midnight $55.00 music by Villanueva

2. Prgy Solot-Solot Assn. of Hawaii (dinner & dancing)
Sunday, September 6, 2015 (Monday is labor day holiday) Pacific Beach Hotel 6:00 p.m. to 11:30-12 midnight $60.00 music by Augusto Jarra

3. Mrs. Sarrat Hawaii-Filipina Coronation Ball (dinner /dancing - limited)
Sunday, August 30, 2015 Okinawa Center 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. cost: $50.00

Note: if you know of any other Filipino Associations Events, especially with ballroom dancing, please let me know. Maurice.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

United Visayan Hall July 6 (social potluck with Thursday night)  all members and friends are welcomed to attend. Please bring a potluck dish - rice is already covered so please don't bring rice) all serving utensils will be provided along with the paper goods drinks: water and coffee

The dance classes for 3rd quarter (aug./sept) will be at the Waipahu United Visayan Hall,

Update

The bottom blog is destined for deletion  by July 31st. And we will have nine blog left. It will take some time to adjust. And Blogging Hawaii remains on top just waiting for comments, the first feedback. Fortunately, opinions are like noses and everyone has got one. And they are all valuable. Blogs are not radio and TV advertising nor are newspaper or newsletters.

"Every moment and every event of every person's life on earth plants something in their souls."

When they are ready, the reader/dancers may want to be Two Centers willing to share their two cents with their friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow dancers, just by emailing info and/or photos, From there it is only a skip and a jump to be a guest author. With one hundred average hits per day the blog can get independent from me and I can resign. I have enough to do.

"Music, Music, Music" by Theresa Brewer

The readership of this blog is very diverse, however they seem to be going in the social dance direction. Our social dance clubs have very good dancers as examples and the entire enchilada is phasing very nicely into the Night Club circuit. The Dance Studio Night Club is coming sooner or later. Not many strict rules and very much basic basic movements of which there are least 100 of them. The main thing is to be able to move to your favorite music.

New Name, Same Blog

The Old Latin Blog is due to be deleted by July 31st. We are definitely over diluted with dance blogs and I cannot use my eyes like I used to. We certainly make something of this with comments, Two Centers and Guest Authors. In these blogs the reader/dancers will make the decisions, whether they know it or not.

It will take a few days to straighten every thing out. Mahalo.

A Better Dance World

It is looking very good for the different factions in our dance environment. More acceptance of the different views and less people are pointing out the "correct" way to dance. I have not heard the term, "junk dancer" in quite a while but then I have not been in those circles for a while.

"Of course, it’s the same old story. Truth is always the same old story."

Dancers are beginning to recognize the fusion in the different dances and realize that no dance has a copyright on any movement. The social dancers that have always been there are beginning to coalesce into a more harmonious group. This includes the night clubbers very nicely. And may represent 75 per cent of the entire dance environment.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

Since our blogs all require computers and being on the internet that is about the only thing holding the blogs back. And of course, no one know who reads or how many read. Most web and blog sites get single digit average per day hits and will never go any higher than that. So my immediate goal on any new blog has been to get it into double digit average per day hits, with legitimate hits. That is, excluding scam, spam robot hits or even search engines.

The Daze of Whine and Noises:

People who don’t work are often more tired than people who do - Be bold in what you stand for and careful in what you fall for - Today is the Tomorrow you worried about Yesterday - If you can’t convince them, confuse them - Our true nationality is mankind,

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

Pu'b Side Note: Careful, the internet crooks are now phoning to get into your computer with nonsense about something wrong with your computer. These crooks will try anything. And the Internet is getting more of them. Watch it.

Latin Music and Dance

Since the beginning of this blog, we have been trying to cope with the most essential question regarding Latin music. And there is no one person out there with a true and complete answer. But there are many very good educated opinions and we have no choice but to count on the best of them.

"Those people out there who have a why to live for

can bear almost any how."
 

What is Latin music? Good Question. From a general overview of this label to a tentative definition of a Latin music artist, this blog will attempt over time to introduced some of the main concepts behind the answer to that question. The popular music genre that encompasses a full spectrum of rhythms and styles from Latin America and the broader Latin world including musical fusions by Latinos in the US as well as genres and artists from European countries such as Portugal and Spain.

Latin music is mainly defined by four elements: Music style, geography, cultural background of the artist, and language. Music style includes genres such as the old solid Latin dances from the discipline culture which have been used extensively in social dance too. Also Salsa, Bachata, Latin Pop, Argentine Tango and Regional Mexican music.

"Contigo A La Distancia" por Christina Aguilera

For the most part, geography refers to Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. The cultural background includes artists from Latin America or artists with a Latin (Europe)/Latino (US) background. Language refers to Spanish and Portuguese.

Universe 4

So many of us still in our own small kuleanas and expecting to make the rules for the rest. We have shown the relation of the planets in the solar system and now we would like you to see more.

Arcturus is the big one in here. Our sun in comparison is just the tiny marble on the left. Prehistoric Polynesian navigators knew Arcturus as Hōkūleʻa, the "Star of Joy". They had no idea of the size in comparison with our sun but it was one of the brightest stars for the naked eye. Arcturus is the zenith star of the Hawaiian Islands. Using Hōkūleʻa and other stars, the Polynesians launched their double-hulled canoes from Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands.

The Impossible Dream, (the quest) sung by Richard Kiley

Traveling east and north they eventually crossed the equator and reached the latitude at which Arcturus would appear directly overhead in the summer night sky. Knowing they had arrived at the exact latitude of the island chain, they sailed due west on the trade winds to landfall. If Hōkūleʻa could be kept directly overhead, they landed on the southeastern shores of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

"Stranger In Paradise" by the Four Aces

For a return trip to Tahiti the navigators could use Sirius, the zenith star of that island. Since 1976, the Polynesian Voyaging Society's Hōkūle‘a has crossed the Pacific Ocean many times under navigators who have incorporated this way finding technique in their non-instrument navigation.

"Life is full of surprises. Just say 'never' and you'll see."

The Developing Latin Scene

And the entire dance scene is in process of changing. With the Rail Calamity so much in evidence, everyone is learning that the outskirts could and should live, work and play in their own kuleanas. The North Shore, the Waianae Coast, the Central Valley, and of course, Kapolei, Second City that is already on its way. The people on the Windward side seem to be downtown people and we should respect their views.

"It does not matter how slowly we go, as long as it is

in the right direction and we do not stop."

The Latin scene in downtown Honolulu is almost exclusively Salsa, with Bachata now taking over a big portion and which may spin off into a Bachata peripheral. Fortunately, there seems to be growing influence of Argentine Tango and with it the possible fusion of American and Filipino Tango into a Hawaiian Tango!

"Beautiful Maria, Of My Soul" by Antonio Banderas

We do not know much and we get very little comments in our blogs. Our dancers are not accustomed to voicing their opinions except in private. (the cliques) Comments would be a great step ahead for all the readers to know what other opinions are in public.

The next step would be as a Two Center willing to contribute your very valuable two cents in information for the benefit of your friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow dancers. When you are comfortable there you may decide to be a guest author. All up to you.

"Contigo A La Distancia" por Christina Aguilera

We are in the process, a Paradise of our own making, which is a paradox. It is available to anyone, but we have chosen this way for it to be our very  own. Join us and make it a good one.

Makua Alii, Getting Bettah

Left early and got the five o'clock Nanakuli Express bus direct to the Kalihi Transit Center and the Present Rail Party still screwing up the freeways. From there I caught the wrong #1 bus, and got off at McCully Club House on Kapiolani. Walked from there to Makua Alii, (good walking exercise) Got there before seven.

"The easiest way to not get hurt is to not care, but that's the hardest thing to do."

I nice lady let me in the front door to the ballroom and I did not have to go all the way around the place to the back. Not too many people there yet. I said my hellos to all and sat with Rose. I tried to explain about the camera but it takes a while to understand about blogging. By seven they had the usual crowd and Kathy was there, so Tad began the dance class.

I got Rose to handle the camera and she sure was doing good and took many of photos. And we eventually got other view points and yes, we are making mistakes but we are all learning; The results are getting better as we go along. I was even doing a little walking on my own. Of course, Rose was giving me hope and when Tad played a beautiful Waltz, I asked Rose, "May I have this dance?' And I told her she might have to hold me up but we danced. It had been quite a while.

Then there is the rumor of dancing to begin again at the See Dai Doo Society. They have the perfect dance floor and location. A good DJ and American Style dancing and they got it made in the shade. I thought we would have enough time when Kathy wanted one more dance with someone. Then we got held up to get going. Results, I missed the last express bus and had to wait until nine for the #40 bus. Holy Smokes, at 10:40 we were just leaving Waipahu and I did not get home until way after eleven. But I was still happy because I danced, even if it was only one dance.

The Basic Latin Dances

By Romelio Alcantara, Makaha

What is Latin Dancing? We are trying and most of us accept that Latin dances come from Latin America. Easy! But there are many different types of Latin dances that have developed over the years; beautiful folk dances that have morphed over into standard use. Their development has been influenced by different populations coming in and out of Latin America and even the different countries that have historically colonized it.

"What we need is more people that specialize in the impossible."

Rumba was the first and had many different versions all over the Caribbean. The name comes from "Rumbo," which means "li dat" or similar. Most foreigners merely could see that there was some connection in the different versions. Over the years many different types of Rumba dancing had evolved. Some of these are Cuban Rumba, Catalan Rumba, and the Flamenco Rumba and originally danced by the natives fairly fast.

With the introduction of the slow Bolero in the 1800s, there was a fusion between the Rumba and the Bolero into the Son and with a speed half way between both. The old fast Rumba was relegated back to the sticks and it still evolved more there.  The "Rumba" was exported to the US in the late 1800s but it was in fact the Son. And the Son later evolve into other dances in the Caribbean too. The black population were not picked as slaves for the music and dance abilities and did not have much culture to begin with, But they quickly adapted to the culture around them and did very well too.

"Moliendo Cafe" por Azucar Moreno

The old Rumba back in the sticks evolved into the Mambo in the 30s. This dance is often taught as "feeling the music." There are actually two different types of Mambo dancing: traditional Mambo and modern Mambo. The difference is that traditional Mambo dancing is taken from dancing to Mambo music, and follows the rhythms.

"Que Rico El Mambo" por Perez Prado

Modern Mambo has been simplified by dance studios in the US and during the changes through the years, has become unsuitable for dancing along with Mambo music, but is even more suited for dancing to Salsa music. All of them using the same rock step on the first two counts and a slow step for the next two. Most dancers can see the similarity of the dances, including Salsa. With the new jazzed up beat, it has become a hit throughout the world.

Then came the Cha Cha Cha, which has many explanations but the most easily accepted was that in a slow Mambo, there was a little time to chassé the slow step and get that extra movement. The music evolved into the present Cha Cha Cha which is still accepted as one of the most pleasant in Latin. Then came the Salsa which comes from a mixture of many separate and distinct dances.

The Final Name Change

By Carlos Martinez, Enchanted Lake

In 1900, the immortal Carlos Gardel was ten years old and singing folklore songs at local parties. When he was twelve he began his love affair with the folklore of the Milonga because of the poor neighborhood he lived in but later he studied to sing opera. He didn’t know it then, he was still a kid, but just for fun he was developing his style in the Milonga.

"Trifles make up the happiness or misery of mortal life."

The Milonga was still very popular with the less - than - respectable - poor. The (brothel district) Orilla’s residents both female and male had learned the newest steps with the pimps. And they were dancing the Milonga in the saloons as part of the fun along with the booze.

"El Dia Que Me Quieras" por Carlos Gardel

The Milonga was slowly becoming a rich blend of Mestizo and European music and outsiders including foreigners were beginning to notice. Men of the upper classes were dancing with ladies of the night and sometimes brought along friends from the foreign contingent.

"Cuesta Bajo" por Carlos Gardel

As the Milonga spread to the middle classes throughout the Rio de la Plata area, it very slowly redefined itself and the music and dance became indispensable. The structure of the dance continued but it began to lose it’s original roughness. Further it began to be influenced by the other capital cities in the region and it evolved into an aesthetic phenomenon. Towards the end of the 1800s, “middle class” composers began to standardize the music.

"Mi Buenos Aires Q:uerido" por Carlos Gardel

And to show that it was no longer “El Baile Con Corte” the aficionados agreed to call it the Tango (after the long defunct Andalusian Tango and with which it had nothing in common.) However, throughout this area of South America, the name Milonga could not be shaken. It became hyphenated into the Milonga -Tango and it has retained the characteristic staccato that had first appeared as L’Habanera. There may be 100 different but similar Tangos in the world today. Maybe a Hawaiian Tango?

The Latin Waltz

Actually it is two waltzes. One resembling the American and Country Waltz, together with that rhythm. And the other is one resembling the Viennese Waltz together with that type of rhythm and danced with a chassé. I have USB (thumb) drives with two albums of Latin Waltz and two of Tango on them. They are promotional items from Town Dancer and anyone can have one free. Fine if  you have a computer with good speakers.

"Cuando Escuches Este Valse" por Vicente Fernandez

Both dances have the left turn, and right turn. They both have the walk forward (for the lead) and the walk backward. They both have the cross body lead. Only for Salsa and Mambo? And the both have the underarm turns. Nothing too difficult for a good beginners. You can do just about anything. And the beautiful Waltz music and rhythm is there.

"Neologisms: a language characterized by pompous obscurity resulting from redundancy, the semantically strained use of words, and verbosity"

Pub's Side Note:
The Limerick packs laughs anatomical
In a space that is most economical
But the ones that I’ve seen
So seldom are clean and
the clean ones so seldom are comical.

We Don't Need Two Centers?

Our goal in these blogs is to help people achieve positive, lasting change in dance behavior. And very often we run across someone who doesn't want to change and already knows everything there is to know about dancing. What should we do to convince them that the change is good for them?

Nothing!

We have all seen the results of trying to change the behavior of an adult who had absolutely no interest in changing? How much luck did we have with our attempts at this "religious conversion"? Have you ever tried to change the behavior of a spouse, partner or parent who had no interest in changing? How did that work out for you? Ha!

My guess is that if you have ever tried to change someone else's behavior, and that person did not want to change, you have been unsuccessful in changing their behavior. You may have even alienated the person you were trying to enlighten. If they don't care, don't waste your time.

We have tried to get Two Centers and they have been very slow in coming. So this month we reduce the mention of the Two Centers and concentrate on more important things. If that is what they want we can exclude them until and when they are ready, but we cannot consistently bother them.

"We can live our lives with optimism. We can live our lives knowing that our
potential is greater than we can even comprehend ourselves."