Dancers, Computers

Yes, dancers have not been much for computers and I have heard some of the old timers "brag" that they have never had any use for a computer. And I believe they should do as they wish. However, dancers can make great use of this instrument if they learn to avoid all the crap on the Internet.

"When life is going a little too rowdy... take a step forward, then take
a step backward, then do a Chassè and you got a Cha Cha Cha!"

"The Last Waltz" by Englebert Humperdinck

If you’re not using your home computer, you missing out on a lot of great things. Not only for your home office needs but also from using the Internet. Whether you want to chat with friends and loved ones without running up your phone bill ... shop at great department stores without leaving your home ... get big discounts available only on line ... all the music you will ever want ... you can do it all with just a click of the mouse.

"Hey There" by Rosemary Clooney

But you need to know the basics? Yes, but you can get beginning help from just about anyone that knows a little and you can test the machine every day by yourself. Apple and Microsoft are our to bleed you for everything they can get so you must be careful. Others are there to try to force you into using their deals. Careful. If you are under 60 you could try Linux in which much of it is free, just too many different ones. Just be very very careful with anything that says, "free." You have no time limits. Just try it.

"Perfidia" by Glenn Miller

I continue to prune and change things and I am slowly evolving a good group interested in enjoying the dance scene. Perhaps soon they will be sharing their own personal opinions which are so valuable because they are unique.This dance blogging has never been done before and most of us are aware of it. I will also respect the wishes of those that want to be included out. Comments in the blogs are still welcomed and we hope some will comment. I know only what the counters tell us and "Blogger" provides the service to us for free. Not perfect but I make good use of it.

Quotation, Howzat Again?

"Begin at the beginning and go till the end. Then Stop."

The Evolving Social Dancer.

By Robert Lau,  Kahuku
The really significant feature in today's seeming revival of social partner dancing is the renewed interest in adults over 30. This is due partly to demographic changes. And due to a large part by the attendees of night clubs and social dance for the "dance impaired." They have acquired the knowledge that they can enjoy moving to their favorite music in very simple movements, the basics. Of course we all learn to do tricks along the way and we can all accept that.

"What on earth would people do with themselves,
if something did not stand in their way?"

We have all seen that some become so good that they just naturally gravitate to dance classes on a more permanent basis somewhere. They have the interest that makes them learn and with the many good teachers available on Oahu, perhaps faster than others. Sooner or later they will be asked to join into formations and we have seen that many of them do very good. From there is a short hop, skip and a step to doing exhibitions at your local dance club.

"Stranger In Paradise" by Tony Bennett

However from Kapolei to Kaneohe we will find more and more of our kind of social dancers. The ordinary run of the mill dancer that has social interaction with his friends, neighbors and fellow dancers in the dances. It becomes "Social Dance," just as these blogs are trying to become "Social Media." Patience, hopefully before the end of year we can see something more concrete. And perhaps we can end up having more respect for each others preferences.

The Exhibition Dancer:

"The dance is over and the applause has subsided, but

the joy and the feeling will stay with me forever." 

Music And Dance

After all the research I have had to do in the last 20 years, some things have clearly emerged as far as I am concerned. Going back far enough we do know that there was some kind of rhythm with sticks or stones and there was some wild movements usually made by the young when they were feeling frisky.

"Never judge us by the opinion of someone that doesn't really know us."

We also are pretty well in accord that the Rhythm, Music and Dance developed all over the world, at the beginnings of Agriculture some 10000 years ago. There developed three different aficionados of this section and we have them still today.

Listeners: All of us have this to some degree but some are more in favor of listening to good music comfortably seated and perhaps indulging in their favorite alcoholic beverage. And of course recently, (4 to 5 centuries ago,) music evolved into orchestras with over one hundred musicians and huge concerts were established to satisfy the listeners in this class. Some concerts have been held in Coliseums with over 100 thousand fans. And we all know of the Blaisdell Center here on Oahu, it is always well attended. Then we cannot avoid the millions who go around with ear plugs listening to music all day long.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

The Movers to Music: This faction has developed into a well know quality among modern dancers and that is the increased good feeling of "moving to music." To this day in Africa, they still dance to music just jumping up and down to the count. Nothing abnormal about that and most of us recognize it. We can also see a young man with a wire in his ear begin to move in a dance fashion and then stop when he realizes people may think he is crazy. Most of us social dancers appreciate the movements to the music and we know that we really do not need too many different movements to enjoy a good piece of music.

"I'll Remember You" by Don Ho

Exhibition and Competition Dancing: It soon became known and accepted as to which were the better dancers and had the most tricks. These dancers could then demonstrate their tricks before a big crowd of their peers. This became evident millenniums ago and they exist to this day to the delight of everyone. And once we had decided who were the better ones we evolved the dance contests to be judged by their peers and these may be considered the "disciplines." Social Dancers can live very happily in the first two groups but only a chosen few can qualify for this select group. Stands to reason, they work for it.

"Wine can make every meal an occasion - every table more elegant -

every day more civilized."

The Big Two

Shaping up so far: For what we have available, Town Dancer is just doing terrific and still in front of all the others. Went through thick and thin when I deleted the first four blogs. That left (The Magnificent Seven) to inform the dancers of our growing dance community and perhaps a better guide to make choices. Now the Platinum Horseshoe emerges as the leading contender.

Every person filters incoming messages through the prism

of their own prejudices."

No one has ever written anything on dance blogging so we are learning as we go along. We shall add and we shall prune as we go along. We are getting more quotes along with the photos and it is everyone's chance to say something. We just may have a social media blog someday. The best example to date is the Platinum Horseshoe blog on the Octoberfest Dance in Wahiawa.

"Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum

We have been trying to inform as many dancers as possible. If we missed anyone that wanted in, it was not intentional, please let us know. Suggestions are still welcomed and it looks like we will have the name of some club, mention of line dancing and classes specified, teachers and perhaps a name and a phone number for info. If they give us the information, Terrific - if not then ? We should give those that kokua with us the best information.

"I drank so much wine last night that when I went across the floor to get another glass, I won the dance competition."

Not That Bad

I am slowly recovering from my depression and my physical disabilities and I plan to be getting around more. I will start with the area covered by the #53 bus as the easiest way to get me to the clubs and the info to blog'em. And I now have set up two computers at home with Win 7 - that new stuff is not for me - and I will alternate to keep both of them up to date. I hope my friend will teach me how to transfer the data from one computer to the other.

“Life isn’t about finding ourselves. Life’s about creating ourselves.”

Fortunately I have a helper from Medicaid, comes every Thursday about a half day and helps to clean up my apartment, Terrific. He knows plenty about computers and he can also drive me to Walmart, Best Buy or wherever to make those essential purchases. I don't know who thought of it but it is the best thing I have come across in my old age. That coupled with the use of the Handi Van has made not only my day but my year.

"Living Without You" by Nohelani Cypriano

So my future agenda is limited by my physical ability to travel, I am on a walker. My eyesight is limited and so is my hearing. My hands fumble and have difficulty taking photos. But I have gotten some terrific blogs just by letting other people that know where to push the button, take the picture. Then I have some blank paper and get a few comments. We are not there yet, but we are getting closer to Social Media.

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Jimmy Borges

We have a good thing going in the Platinum Corridor blog too. Good group of dancers. and we are getting more men into line dancing at break time. Sounds pretty good from here.. It is solidly in second place and with just one steady information contributor it will put it into first place and a possible independence for the blog. Check it out and you will know what it means. The information from the Clubs from the Stadium west will make it Social Media to da max.

"Everyone - keep on dancing and enjoy.

Update September

As most of our reader/dancers know by now, our mantra has been for all the blogs "Of the dancers, for the dancers and by the dancers." But of course this has not included all the dancers. But we all know, that they have made the decision not us. So if we missed anyone that wanted in, it was not intentional, please let us know.

 "Most dancers realize that we should be careful who to choose

to open to. Only a few people actually care, the rest

just have something to gossip about."

Suggestions are still welcomed and it looks like we will have the name of some club, mention of line dancing, other specialties and classes specified, teachers and perhaps a name and a phone number for info. If they give us the information to share with the readers, terrific for all - and if not then ? We should give those that kokua with us the best. Remember we are not an "instead of," we are an "addition to." Big difference.
 

"Just In My Dreams" by Des O'Connell

This blog will continue to be interested in helping any dancer or dance group in Hawaii. We recognize that we have some of the best people on these Islands ready, willing and able to help too. For the present, we are more interested in the Island of Oahu. The dancing scene is changing for the better. And we are having much more respect for the different dance cultures on this Island. This means our high class social dance clubs, our regular run of the mill dance clubs, and naturally the night club action with its increasing importance with or without live music.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges
 

"Us dancers on Oahu don't just dance, we perform, we breathe, we watch the world disappear, we release our feelings, we lead and follow with our hearts, we tear down walls and stop feeling sad, we lose the pain, we let go and we smile. No, we don't just dance, we do much more."

Evolving Very NIcely

Fortunately I can now put my shoes on and I can walk with my walker. So I plan to do a little more moving around and making some personal contact with any dance group that gets in my way. I can get some written items from a few and I can take my camera but I am limited with my butter fingers, so a couple dancers can get me some pictures. I can make a blog out of that. My beginning kuleana is anywhere near the #53 bus which can pick me up a half a block from where I live in Pearl City and goes all the way to Ala Moana Center. Anything special and I can get the Handi Van.

"Many things can make you miserable for days on end;
few can bring you a whole day of happiness."

The group functions that I will be able to attend can choose the preferred blog. I have seven blogs and everybody should be able to pick the one they want. And whichever they pick the hits will go up for sure. I have a little experience now and I know we have a lot of polish ahead of us to make a good blog. The comments section should get some action, the information contributors should increase and from there will come the Guest Authors.

"Imaginary Lover" by the Atlanta Rhythm Section

As always, there will be those that are not interested in participating in our endeavors and they will be respectfully excluded. We should all understand that they will make the ultimate decision of opting out. And silence is still a great communicator but the door we close will still say "Welcome." No hu hu, because we will have a lot of ground to cover without them.

"They say a glass of wine a day is good for your health.
Hmm, a bottle is glass, isn't it?"

Plenty Dancing

We seem to be getting more dancers on the Island of Oahu. Town is doing just fine and there many indications of dancing in the outskirts. The entire Island of dancers, is communicating to everyone by the ordinary means, but increasingly by the newer electronic means. Much of the dance scene is still a hodge podge of music and dance. The ones that really have it together are the specialties like Line, Salsa, Swing, Tango and Country.

"In our Oahu Dance World, we must watch out for the joy-stealers:

gossipers, criticism, complaining, faultfinding, and a negative,

judgmental attitude. Fortunately we are already learning."

That is the why of our different blogs and it is going take some time for the dancers to understand what is going on. But it has always been that way and they have always been told what they need to know. But now in our Social Media of blogging, the dancers are going to be able to express their opinions. My blogging of SOS will be of little consequence compared with the varied opinions of our information contributors. And we will eventually be Social Media and I can look forward to resigning from my best blog.

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page

For now the Waianae Coast and the North Shore are the ones that know they need the most help in developing their own dance kuleanas. There are approximately 35000 social dancers on the Island of Oahu. And each one of them has their own preferences and will make their own decisions and not be dictated to from anyone.

"As dancers grow older they can love everything that's old, -

old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine."