dance and blog

We all have the time to think things over and we may gather some information to go into any blog and we can kicked around just for fun. I find that comments stressing the fun part of dancing while minimizing the importance of "good dancing" seem to come from individuals who are not qualified to speak on the subject. Do they believe that if they improve their dancing their pleasure would stay the same or not be enhanced? Certainly those of us who have experienced the highs from "good dancing" know better, Those of us who are experienced dancers, who love and enjoy ballroom dancing, of course, do it for fun and the satisfaction it provides.

“Social dancers believe that some days the bravest thing we can do, is to hold on,

have hope and keep dancing, even just for another day.”

This all comes about from having skill and proper attitudes. Over the years much of all kinds of "bad dancing" has been passed off to the public. Some of it has been damaging! So as not to be misunderstood, the word "bad" is used primarily for effect. To the experienced mind, being a "bad dancer" is one who is inept, unskilled, poorly trained, not well -educated, perhaps ill-mannered or poor in performance. In the hopes of making progress toward a society of better dancers, we must continue to pontificate, educate, disseminate, demonstrate.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

In blogging on  Oahu, we can have wide spread opinions and we may gradually evolve into more standardized and at the same time a more diverse social dance. We are beginning to know that there is an "us" and a "them." The high disciplines have their place. They have repeatedly pointed this out and we are finally getting it through our thick skulls. Helping people through dance is our increasing vision to create a cultural, artistic group and developing multi-cultural exchanges between ethnic communities on this island. But it is not easy through blogging. No one is yet sure what it is.

"Social dancers believe that they should keep steadily before them the fact

that all true success depends at last upon themselves."

Lockdown Again.

So we are stuck for at least another couple months. Families are gradually returning to some of the activities that paused when the COVID-19 pandemic began. With the virus still spreading on Oahu, however, it is important for everyone to continue social distancing. Social distancing means keeping physical space between yourself and other people outside your household. It is the number one step in helping to slow the spread of this virus. Social distancing for all families spreads easily through physical contact from person to person. This is why it is important to reduce the ways people come in close contact with one another.

“Social dancers believe that with hope, a grieving heart will turn into a stronger one.” 

Many communities have limits on how many people can attend events and gatherings or enter restaurants and bars. Today on Oahu, that means no more than five in a group. When close interaction with others is likely, such as essential trips to the grocery store or gas station, or at a gathering, the CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering over your mouth and nose and staying at least 6 feet away from others.There are some recommendations at ten feet so it may be that ten is better than six feet. Use your head Red.

"Old Devil Moon" by Jimmy Borges

The spread from person to person may be, even before symptoms start. So, if someone in your family starts to feel even slightly ill, run down, tired, or achy, it's important to stay home and practice “self isolation." This means limiting contact with others. If more severe symptoms develop, like a fever, cough or shortness of breath, call your doctor. They will let you know if a COVID-19 test is needed, and what the next steps should be. If it is believed someone in your family has COVID-19, quarantine will likely be recommended. We are getting used to our masks and it is some thing we do to protect ourselves and respect our fellow residents.

“Social dancers believe that hope may be the power of being

cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate.” 

 

Social Dancing

Most of us have come to the conclusion that there is no right way to dance. We accept that the Hawaiians can dance "correctly" according to their style of dance. Japanese want to dance Bon Dance their way can be acceptable to anyone. We do not have to judge but we can all applaud as enthusiastically as anyone else. And the same applies to the American style of dance and the International style of dance. American ballroom dance was developed a couple decades after the International by large American studio chains. The International had already develop a good reputation for competition and exhibition dancing. The American developed a more social aspect to it.

“Social dancers believe that they cannot erase the past. They cannot even change it. But sometimes life may offer them the opportunity to put it right.”

American Smooth
The American Smooth style of dance is loosely similar to the International Standard style of dance, with the main difference being that Smooth uses more separated and open figures, and International Standard is exclusively made up of closed figures. Basically, with this type of dance that Arthur Murray helped develop, there is the opportunity for a dancer to break away from his or her partner with some open footwork. Syllabus of American Smooth dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz.

"I Will Dance For You" by Willie K

American Rhythm
Just as American Smooth is similar but different to International Standard, the same type of distinction can be made between the American Rhythm and International Latin styles of dance. American Rhythm is most generally danced in the U.S. and Canada, whereas International Latin is danced in countries elsewhere. Latin dances move to contemporary Latin American music and perform their routines in pretty much the same spot (with the exception of traveling dances such as the Samba). The movements in both dances are free and sensual, as you’d expect from Latin dancing. Syllabus of American Rhythm dances: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast, Swing, Bolero, Mambo.

"Social dancers believe that the whole of life is about another chance, and while

we are alive, till the very end, there is always another chance.”

Working On It

It is a sad truth that in our Oahu dance environment, people cannot like you for just you. And in our dance environment many dancers have been easily persuaded to believe anything about anybody. Fortunately, in our present situation it is not so bad. Even if some may still enjoy participating in the story line of a good bit of gossip. So how are we to cope? In gossip no one seems to know where the "truth" originated. In social blogging we have a good opportunity to know where it is coming from and we can correct some of it with opinions in our blogs.

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not

everything that can be counted counts." 

Our kind of dancing is for the masses not the classes. And many of the new dance fads for the young are for show (lots of tricks and flashy moves) and not really to enjoy the music for its own sake. Their movements intend to be seen. Notice all the trick moves they start out with. That is their view of Dancing. For social dancers the basics are the BASICS. And now we are getting closer to the Two Center and we will probably get one from the Micros. They already write something so it will be easier to just email the information and/or photos and they can pick the blog of their choice. I will post it.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

What is this we hear about an Industrial Park at Barber's Point. Terrific idea, think of the people that live near by and could be home in 20 minutes. Time with the family, enjoy a little recreation and make living, working and playing in their Paradise a reality. Of course, the Present Rail Party is going to try to stop that nonsense. Big Big Bucks in Profits from the Rail Disaster. And of course, the Downtown Money People.

“Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it may come

back to you in abundance. This is a law of nature.”

Keeping Up

I don't run into so many people anymore but all the ones I see are still interested in our "past time." I seem to be getting it over to some good people that the blogs need Feedback. They may just be willing to share information of our groups to the reader/dancers. Take it slow, when you are ready is fine. That will be your viewpoint and very necessary for the good of the entire dance community. Do I have to agree with everything you cover? Of course not. To each his own. And those differing opinions are what will make this real Social Media. We need many more.

“Social dancers believe that the good thing about hope is that

it may act exclusively of the thing being hoped for."

Meanwhile, what do I know? The follower's hand is held lightly by the leader. Neither dancer should clutch the other's hand and hang on. Nor should they press downward with the hand. While pressure through the hands aids the dancers, a tight grip by either dancer inhibits turns and other open moves. Downward pressure on the hand is uncomfortable at best and can strain the shoulder of the "pressee" at worst. Once the dance begins you will both feel modest centrifugal force, which is as it should be. New dancers usually try to avoid this feeling.

"Pearly Shells" by Don Ho

The leader withdraws his right arm because he is afraid he will knock his partner out of balance. or the follower steps out of the arm so she won't feel "heavy." You drift apart. Self-consciousness may be fine for other social transactions, but when dancers over accommodate each other, they will alternately drift apart and then collide, precisely the result they are trying to avoid. The leader must take both arms with his body everywhere he goes and the follower must stay in the leader's right arm in order to fully "feel" the lead. A little hint here and there might help.

"If we don't stand for something we will fall for anything."

Feedback

We are not doing much blogging because we are not doing much dancing but we do have some bits of information to share with our fellow dancers. What is Social Media? A newsletter or a radio can be social media as a social instrument of communication. In our Oahu blogosphere, we have blog sites you can connect with on the Internet, that don't just give you information, but are asking for feedback while giving you that information. And you can send this feedback very easily by email.

"Social dancers believe that hope is precious, and you’re right not to give up.”

This interaction can be as simple as asking for your comments somewhat like Twitter or Facebook. But these are blogs, not as current but you can find it easier and better to make a full paragraph and include a photo of the gang because it is by email. That is Social and completely up to you how much you wish to share. For us, the readers, we need those snippets of information of your dance scene and one or two of your favorite photos. "Six" is the magic number of people but there are no rules. Then there is that special photo of a couple in a beautiful dance pose in exhibition costume that I may make use of in a poster.

"Walk Through Paradise" by Melveen Leed

Whatta deal for the blog, the sender, and the readers. Think of regular media as a one-way street where you can read a newspaper or magazine, see something on Television, but you have very limited ability to give your thoughts on the matter. Social media, on the other hand, is a two-way street that gives you the ability to communicate too. Unfortunately, not many of our possible reader/dancers have understood any of it. So there is nothing to do but have patience and wait. Email it and I will blog it.

"Social dancers think that if you can laugh at it, you can live with it."

Covid 19 on Oahu

At this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and reopening guidelines on Oahu's public health order have created confusion in some sectors of the economy, including for those working the local dance environment. According to county public health officials, dance studios can choose to classify either as a gym or a day camp, and then follow the respective guidelines for each. Generally they are stricter than that because the people running things are thinking about the dancers.

"Social dancers believe that to hope and to act may be our duties in misfortune.”

There are many Trumpanzees willing to take chances with their neighbor's health. Although it might be odd to classify a dance studio as a day camp, it also might be the answer some Oahu area studio owners are looking for after recent state orders tightened restrictions on businesses such as gyms and hair salons. The order was just directed to fitness and gyms and yoga studios and there may not be any difference of having space if it’s an indoor activity. Masks and social distance are required.

"My Molokai Woman" by Willie K

Instead of focusing on dancing in the past few months, the studios have been closed and trying to navigating the ups and downs of state and local guidelines. The studios had a soft reopening after gyms were allowed to reopen in July, but restrictions soon were back into place as the state’s COVID-19 numbers surged. Classifying as a day camp — rather than a gym — allows for some indoor activity in small numbers, according to the county. But for now, many will continue to provide online lessons. They’re also considering holding dance classes in a nearby park since that allows social distance very easily.

These blogs, "Of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers" All the dancers?

Of course not, they do not all want to be involved and we must respect."