The Leading Blog

Town Dancer blog has been the surprise of this year. It is still up ahead of all the rest of our blogs and only with SOS (my blogging.) This may not be the greatest blog in the world but  on Oahu but it is certainly beyond the accepted expectations. And when you think what it could do with a few more information contributors. Wow!

"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves."

Whatevah, Town Dancer blog is doing very well. And many of the readers aspire to the dance competition style of dance and doing very well in the exhibitions too. They have every right to it. The social dance clubs in town seem to be well saturated and the long standing top five are no longer the top five. There have been some changes there. And the Creative Researchers And Producers are losing their old punch.

"You, You, You" by the Ames Brothers

Only one of the dance studios who could have some information for us, get it into Dancing Nights blog via Richie Fun. The others do not know anything about us or don't care. Meanwhile, I will do everything I can to promote whatever information they give me. I get routine flyers too late for posting and direct talk to our readers is what makes social media, not advertising. In blogging it is much more effective.

"Tiny Bubbles" by Don Ho

The neighbor islands are waking up slowly. I am getting more routine flyers but nothing concrete that would be for the reader/dancers of this blog. I do get some beautiful posters now and then but too late for posting. Beautiful colors and a good example of what can be done for our fellow dancers on all the neighbor islands.

Live music seems to be increasing and the interest in dancing to the "oldies but goodies." It has always been there but the young are always for the new. Latin Music in being "introduced" more and Oahu already has the reputation of having the best Rumba dancers in the Pacific. This seem to be developing more in West Oahu with the rise of Kapolei as Second City.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

I am recovering my health a little and I must find out what kind it is developing in the West and perhaps it is danceable. My ability to hear is getting worse. Kapolei has some Live Music occasionally. When they get a couple bars with dance floors, that will establish a little late night stuff in the West. This can, in turn, only lead to a Night Club open until at least 2 AM. I used to pass by there on the bus sometimes at 10 pm and everything was closed tighter than a drum.

"We are dancers and we believe that we learn to dance better by dancing. Whether it means

to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living"

February 2016

Wow! It is looking very good all around. My Blogs of course, but also the general dance environment on the Island of Oahu. And the discovery that Honolulu is not the center of the Universe. The most promising section is the West Coast of Oahu and the development of Kapolei as second city. This is being done in spite of the Present Rail Party.

"We can start the whole smash by doing what's necessary; then we do what's possible; and suddenly we will be doing the impossible."

"Till I Waltz Again With You" by Theresa Brewer

The two leading blogs seem to be Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe, each with well over 40 average hits per day which is 1200 hits per month. The others are still in the background and the difference will probably be made by the information contributors and the Guest Authors. We must avoid SOS at any cost Hopefully we can get someone in the new developing Southwest Shore of Oahu. That's Kalealoa Airport and all the way to Kalealoa Harbor.

"Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley

There had been slow building development for the last 20 years especially after the Navy moved out and Ewa  Beach was getting most of the social action. They had community centers, district parks and a few bars. Then the wrong politicians got in there and Ewa Beach never got going. There have been at least two dance clubs started in that time but they just may have been before their time.

"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" by Jimmy Borges 

Now may be the time has come for Kapolei and if there is anything doing, let us know, we want to see these pages with dancers and news about dancing. We are not getting enough at the moment. And we need the hits to know that the reader/dancers are interested. And then we can try to do even more. The tide cannot be stopped, West Oahu is waking up. And we can start working on the Waianae Coast.

Computors and the Internet

Computers and the internet are becoming almost a necessity for our dance community in every day life on Oahu. There is a wealth of free information on the Internet today. We email and chat with friends and family far away. We watch our favorite shows or how to videos to troubleshoot a problem. A lot of us even bank or shop online. But we still must be very careful.

“Perhaps we should not believe things because they make our lives better,

we could believe them because they are true.” 

"Do You Hear What I Hear" by Willie K.

Whenever you’ve connected to the internet, you are opening up your private information to the world. Once online, the crooks and their computer viruses and malware find ways to infect your computer without your knowledge. Antivirus software provides the best virus protection and will remove most of these but we we must still be very careful. Many of the anti virus hucksters actually are guilty of installing malware on your computer. Then they offer to remove it for price. This should be illegal but we know the republican congress. Crooks all of them. It's the money, Sonny.

"The Lights Of Home" by Don Ho

Viruses, spyware, and adware are all malware with distinct differences. All of them do damage to legitimate computer users but they fall into different categories depending on the intent of their attack. Viruses are a bit of malicious code that is secretly included in an application you decide to download. It replicates itself to infect other computers. Eventually, the virus is activated for its purpose: deleting important files, corrupting information, or randomly shutting off your computer. And Microsoft programmers do not have the capability of stopping them,

   
"First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Jimmy Borges

Spyware is malicious software that gets installed without the user even knowing about it. This is usually the most dangerous form of attack. It invades your Internet security to find sensitive information from your computer and sell it for a price on the black market. The programmers at Microsoft are helpless against these people. The complicaters at Microsoft have taken over from the simplifiers.

Adware, on the other hand, is a unique form of software specifically written to produce popup ads. The popups can start as the user uses a certain application, when they visit a particular website online, or simply as soon as they boot up their computer. The most deceptive form of adware shows a popup telling the user their computer is infected and that they need to install antivirus software.Theirs of course.

“In our dance: there is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action,  and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique."

Year Update

I keep running into it and I believe there will be another Dance Club in West Oahu somewhere. I would prefer to see it on the Waianae Coast but it will probably appear in the Waikele, Waipio area because of the Dance Pavilion that will not be built in the Patsy Mink Recreation Center. Then there is the possibility of somewhere between Kalealoa Harbor and Kalealoa Airport.

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness,

we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams,

we are the dancers, we create the dreams."

"Always In My Heart" (Siempre En Mi Corazon) by Dean Martin

Last year I was grooming Town Dancer blog for independence but it doesn't look that way now. Platinum Horseshoe and Dancing Nights are catching up. If I am the only contributor of information, the blogs should gradually even up. The difference in hits would be in any active information contributors and Guest Authors.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

It wouldn't be so bad because any blog with active information contributors would become the lead blog on this Island and be an example of how it is done because we will have so many outside ideas. And people are realizing how I try to work. I am hard of hearing but I usually can hear yes. No is just a little harder. But to be ignored, is deafening. I do not have to talk stink about anyone, but may I ignore them too? I am very busy, I have work to do and I must be on my way. Thank You.

Dancer's Law #28c:

"It is impossible for an optimist to be pleasantly surprised."

 

Dancing in the Outskirts

Downtown is far away for a lot of dancers and the traffic is due to get worse. Saturday nights in Waikiki is something awful. But District Park and Community Centers seem to be reluctant to allow social dancing. But we still know we must find other places to dance.

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."
~Mother Teresa

On the left, the Kilauea Recreation Center, the most indicated for those living in the East. Getting the wheels of the clubs together is a problem. There is a photo of the adjacent Gym at Kilauea Recreation Center, with a floor much better for dancing than the ballroom with tile floors. About the same size and ideal for a dance place even if only on Friday and Saturday nights. Perfect for the many Social Dance Clubs in existence.

"Morning Dew" by Melveen Leed

There are many community centers in the outskirts of Oahu that are big enough but for some reason or another Community Centers on Oahu are not pro dancing. The planned one at the Patsy Mink Recreation Center in Waipio was too big and had to be scrapped because the money is needed for the Rail Mess. There have been at least ten new millionaires created in Honolulu and all connected to the Rail Disaster. The original 5 billion dollar Rail is now at 7 billion and will go much higher because of "Cost Overruns."

"Perfidia' by Glenn Miller

In Hawaii, markedly in this century there has been an increase in interest by listeners and dancers to the oldies but goodies. The music from the 30s, 40s and dwindling out in the 70s. Admittedly, this has been some of the best music ever written on this planet both for hearing and for moving to it.

"Tangerine" by Jimmy Dorsey

However, this new wave cannot last by itself. For the dancers in Hawaii were changing with the introduction to Ballroom dancing in the late 50s. With it came the Latin music and the dances that go with it. Rumba and Cha Cha Cha have become a staple in dancing in Hawaii and it has become part of Social Dance. So the acceptance of the music is still changing for the better.

"Frenesi" by Artie Shaw

Unfortunately, many DJs, because they know so much about music will use much non Latin music for their dancing presentations. They know their rhythm and "You can dance Rumba to it" and we can all agree to that. However it is not the same thing when the DJ plays a real Latin sound and "You gotta dance Rumba to it." Many dancers on Oahu are beginning to know the difference. It's not only in the rhythm, Dude, its in the music.

 “We must dance for ourselves. If someone understands, good. If not, no matter.
 We go right on doing what interests us, and do it until it stops interesting us.”

The Information Contributors

Also known as the Two Centers, willing to stick their 2 cents of Information and/or photos for the sheer joy of making better Public Relations for their favorite dance groups. It is relatively  easy because all they have to do is email to anyone of the Guest Authors and the Guest Authors will probably be willing to blog it. Of course, it must have a name, your own or a pen name. Anon, unknown, etcetera is not acceptable.

"A lie can get around three times at the Palladium before

the truth has a chance to get up the stairs."

Richie Fun is the pen name of someone and we accept easily because it appears regularly in these blogs. And we may not know Richie Fun personally but we know what he writes about. Pepe is the pen name that I use. And we have three or four others that use their pen names regularly. Some will make it plain it is a one time contribution. Fine with us. At any rate, much of being a Two Center is sharing information, when you want to and what you want and it is all up to you.

"One Man Parade" by Jimmy Borges

What I write is generally known as SOS. (same old shit.)  If I say green on Monday, green one Wednesday and green on Friday, that is what readers generally refer to as SOS. You come along on the following Monday and you say "blue," - aha, - that is definitely not SOS,. Mary calls John, John calls Doris, and Doris calls Fred and so on and we have what is called "hits."

 "Sound Of Love" by Carol Kai

We have at present Town Dancer and Platinum Horseshoe blogs that are comfortably well above the magic number of 33 average hits per day. This is equivalent to 1000 hits per month and they are not "store bought" hits. They are really communicating to a large group of dancers that are mainly on Oahu. Dance information and a photo of our friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow dancers will certainly interest them all.

"Dance till the stars come down from the rafters. Dance,

Dance, Dance, and keep on dancing till you drop."

I'll be seeing you

Songs and memories for most of us old timers are regular occurrences and I just came across a dilly. This song has never attained "classic" but nevertheless for a lot of us it will be forever. In the Internet I also found a short love story to go with it, written by somebody from Georgia and I could understand.

"I'll Be Seeing You" by Rosemary Clooney

A young 18 year old paratrooper meets a beautiful young Parachute WAC at the Parachute Patio in Fort Benning, Georgia. The year was 1944 and he was just back from his first furlough home and finishing up his training. She impressed him when she explained that all of the Parachute WACs were extra careful in packing the chutes, "because your life depends on it."

The music was just perfect and they quickly found that they could dance Swing and Fox Trot with each other easily. And their favorite song became "I'll be seeing you," which of course, they would dance cheek to cheek. They were from different backgrounds and they were both homesick. At the appropriate time, they could sing along with the song, softly into each others ears, a short peck on the lips would follow hoping no one saw them.

"I'll Be Seeing You" by Jimmy Durante

Soon enough they both got the same weekend pass, from Friday night after retreat to Monday morning reveille. They went to Atlanta, had a wonderful time dancing every evening. When they got back, he could figure that even if he was killed where he was going, in his short but happy life this had all been worth it.

A few days later she faced him and said this was their last day. She knew before him that he was leaving in 24 hours. She told him she was not going to wait for him. "You are a Paratrooper and you are not likely to come back and I am not going to go through that. But let me tell you, I will remember you to my dying day." She kissed him on the cheek, made a half turn and left him. He was in shock but he never saw her again. She may have been a month older than him but in maturity she was a year older.

A week later he was on a troopship on the Atlantic headed for Naples, Italy to a War that was going on full blast. But he would never forget the words they sang into each others ears, "I'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new, I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you."

Happy Dancing everyone!

Wow!

On Saturday, the total of all our blogs here in Hawaii, went over the magic 167 average hits per day (equivalent to 5000 hits per month.) None of them are store bought hits, so we know that dancers are beginning to recognize the benefits of blogging to everyone in our dance world. That is, those that are willing to use it for the benefit of all.

"The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, stupidity

may deride it, but in the end, there it is."

I started blogging about fifteen years ago with the intent to unite the entire dance community on more social grounds. It would be for the benefit of all dancers regardless of dance club affiliation. And I have stressed the importance of being honest, forthright, aboveboard and goal driven. Our next goal is 200 average hits per day. Impossible? Easy with Guest Authors and Information Contributors.

"Days Of My Youth" by Carol Kai

Some from the outset have declined to join us in this endeavor and gone their own ways and I have tried to respect their wishes. Others have decided to become participants at a later date which is just fine with me. The fact remains according to our counters, that every time we lose one reader, we gain two. And I just cannot keep it up by myself. It just becomes too much SOS. The information contributors are increasing too and not only from Honolulu.

"Stranger in Pardise" by the Four Aces

Many of them have become aware that, in these blogs, everyone's opinion is important and I make every effort to make it easy for them to express it. This is Social Media on Oahu. Our information contributors will share photos and commentary on our dance socials. We believe in having fun dancing to our music and we want to include it in the lives of our friends to the fullest. I believe that our blogging and social relationships should benefit all the parties involved. Come on Two Centers we need more of you.

"To hear beautiful music, to touch someone, to move, to inspire.

That may be the true gift of dancing."  

Social Dancing

By Jonathan Kim, Kaiihi

Dancing is one of the most valuable assets you can acquire in life. Social dancing permits you to step forth into a colorful, glamorous setting and dance your way to fun, friends and happiness. Say, how about a Tea Dance on every Wednesday evening? Anywhere on Oahu is just fine.

 “In our dance world, much of what has been said has not mattered,

and much of what has mattered has not be said.”

Rhythm, we all have it. Our hearts beat to rhythm, and we walk in rhythm and there are many other things we do in rhythm. Many doctors recommend social dancing as perfect exercise for keeping the lungs and heart strong and healthy. It is also a healthy way to release pent-up tensions and forget worries.

"I May Be Wrong" by Music Unlimited

No special equipment is required to participate, and there is almost no risk of injury. Trying to comform to the disciplines may be difficult but most social dancing is easy.  Best of all, dancing teaches the important social graces necessary to relate comfortably to a person of the opposite sex.

"I've Got You Under My Skin/Night and Day" by Jimmy Borges

And in Honolulu there are numerous places where you can dance in an exclusive dance environment. And of course, there are plenty of Night Clubs with many different kinds of music, dances and age groups. You can pick the ones you are more comfortable in.

“This world may be running out of water, but it isn’t running low on music. So let the dancing flow!”

Looking Good

I was able to stop a lot of the scam spam robot hits last year and the hits went down. I cut the blogs down from ten to seven and that was another factor.Then I missed four weeks waiting for my phone and the hits went down even more. Dancing Nights was held up nicely by Richie Fun blogging but otherwise it was pretty bad.

"Love and good intentions know no season and

we are very fortunate in our dance world."

Took a few days to get the blogs back to 133 average hits per day which is equivalent to 4000 hits per month. Now I am certain to get to the next magic goal by Saturday of 167 average hits per day which is 5000 hits per month. With a little work I can get them to about 200 average hits per day but that is about all I can do by myself. The Guest Authors and the Information Contributors will make the difference.

  "Luck Be a Lady" by Jimmy Borges

"Stranger in Paradise" by Tony Bennett

Fortunately, all of our reader/dancers have their own personal opinions and it may not be the same as yours or mine. But they certainly have the right to express those unique opinions in these blogs. And our reader/dancers have the right to see all sides of the story. Individually, they will make our blogs into real Social Media. With enough hits one of these blogs will go independent and I am looking forward to that.

"We may be fools whether we dance or not, so we
might as well dance if we want to.".

The top blogs are Town Dancer (naturally), Platinum Horseshoe, Dancing Nights and Blogging Hawaii. The bottom ones and still struggling are Extrava Danza, Latin Rhythms and Dancing in the Dark. But we  all know that the Guest Author will make a blog solid, simply because it is not SOS.

The Grateful Dead

"You need music, I don't know why. It's probably one of those Joseph Campbell questions, why we need ritual. We need magic and bliss, and power and myth, and celebration and religion in our lives and music is a good way to encapsulate a lot of it."
Jerry Garcia

"Casey Jones" by the Grateful Dead.

Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was a musician, songwriter, artist, and lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. Though he vehemently disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group. One of the original founders of the Grateful Dead, Garcia performed with the Dead for its entire three-decade career; and also founded and participated in a variety of side projects, including the Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, and Legion of Mary.

"Eyes of the World" by the Grateful Dead

Garcia co-founded the New Riders of the Purple Sage with John Dawson and David Nelson. He also released several solo albums, and contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was well known by many for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story. He passed twenty years ago, may he rest in peace.

"Friend of the Devil" by the Grateful Dead

With beautiful Articulated Buses we coulda been a contendah.

Everybody that takes public transportation says the same thing. And I definitely do not mean the ones planning "Da Rail Disaster." Everyone is going to want to ride it one time just to see what it is like. After that there will be other ways to get to and from Honolulu, the car being one of them. Let the others ride the rail. If we had had comfortable seating in the present buses, it would be relatively painless to ride from Makaha to downtown Honolulu.

Of course, with the development of Kapolei into a real Second City, we will all learn. To live, work and play in our own kuleana will be real paradise. But there are many organizations funded by the Present Rail Party that have stopped most business and industrial parks in the area. The Waianae Coast and the North Shore remain in a third country status.

“We dance for ourselves. If someone understands, that's nice. If not, no matter, we go

right on doing what interests us, and we will do it until it stops interesting us.”

The Guest Author

This is the name given by Blogger to these people. We have had several in our blogs but most have just decided there are other things to do somewhere else and I believe they should do as they wish.The only way you can get on nowadays is to want in. This applies to anyone. If  you want to,  you are in.

"All truths should be easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."

When I am notified, I inform Blogger and they in turn email the potential blogger the invitation. Once you accept you are in. And what does that mean? Easy, you will have a blog within the blog of your choice.The password is between you and Blogger. Now you can open the blog, post text and graphics, publish, delete it or close it, and get out all without saying boo to anyone. Make it simple to begin and learn as you go along, you will do just fine.

"Til I Waltz Again With You" by Theresa Brewer

If you are sharing your dance information and photos, you will feel good. The people mentioned or in the photos will feel recognition and the readers of course will be glad to know the latest. The hits will go through the roof and it is a win - win situation for all concerned. Check out the latest Dancing Nights blog by Richie Fun and you will understand.

'Vaya Con Dios" by Les Paul and Mary Ford

With enough Guest Authors, any blog can go independent of me. I can appoint a back up administrator and I would remain for awhile, When you people are ready, I will resign from my administrative position  I am not going to live forever, so we must plan accordingly.

"Of course, music can be your life because you love it.

And dancing to your favorite music can be heaven on earth."

Bachata

I am slowly getting wind of the fact that Batchat has become very popular in town. And mostly danced in places that are "Salsa" locations. And looking things up on the mainland there are some places that are highlighted as Bachata and they Salsa on the side.
.

 "It may be very hard to say the exact truth, even about your own immediate feelings –  and it
 may be easier to say something fine about someone which is not the exact truth."

"Moliendo Cafe" por Azucar Moreno

Origin: Bachata originated in the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. It has become one of the most popular Latin dances throughout the Caribbean and on the Mainland in recent years.There has also  been a lot of hype by the profit makers.

"Me Voy" por Hector Acosta

Music: Bachata is also in 4/4 time but has its own distinctive sound. In the early days, it was a guitar music played by peasants and were often slow, sad and romantic. These days, Bachata has gotten more upbeat and incorporated electronic sounds. Some contemporary Bachata Artists and groups include Luis Vargas, Aventura, Prince Royce, Juan Luis Guerra and Xtreme.

  "Te Buscaria" por Emilio

  
Steps: Bachata basics consist of 3 steps and a tap. The chassé basic goes "side-together-side-tap" and can be spiced up with a hip motion or a lift of the leg at the "tap" step. Dancers keep their knees bent throughout to promote hip motion. Bachata can be danced in two-hand hold, open embrace but is often danced in close embrace at nightclubs. It can be sensual, intimate, relaxed and have a pleasant hip motion

“Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk.

Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering.”