Wednesday, April 17, 2024

A COMPREHENSIVE NON-PROFIT DANCE GUIDE FOR RECREATIONAL PARTNER DANCING IN HAWAII (for 7 pages, see Web Version)

Dancing is communicative, kinetic art. The dance floor is the canvas, the music is your paint, while you and your partner become the brush that creates the painting.  

Dancing will open up new frontiers for you as you begin to meet wonderful people from all over the world who share a similar passion. It is also great for your mental well-being and physical health. 

If you ask the dancers they will tell you that partner dancing gives them a wonderful, and almost spiritual-like natural high...the sensation and emotions that one experiences from social dancing is totally indescribable.

Naturally it does take some work or lessons to get there, but once you know a few basics of the dance, it will all be worth it.



Recognized as a great salsa dancer by his peers, Frankie Martinez stated, "A good dancer is not learned, you only learn the basic steps and shines.  There is something in all of us that comes out through dancing that sets us apart from one other.  How we feel the music and express it is unique to each one of us...you need to be true to your feelings and of course practice makes perfect....."My way of dancing is a mix of basics and instincts applied to modern day music blending yesterday and today." 

                   Frankie Martinez, NY Salsa

Frankie Manning, the Ambassador of Lindy Hop shared his approach to dancing, "The music...fashioned my style of dancing." 

When asked about the secret to her success in writing music, multiple Grammy award winner and Gershwin Prize recipient Carole King said, "I try to get out of the way and let the process be guided by whatever is guiding me."  

Jimi Hendrix, one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, didn't read music or study theory, yet his guitar sang like no other because he could hear the music in his head, and he played from his heart. 

The point about this is that dancing is not about repetitive steps or pre-programmed routines, rather dancing in it's purest form occurs when your movement becomes an honest expression and interpretation of the music.

Just as it inspired Frankie Martinez, Frankie Manning, Carole King, Jimi Hendrix and all of the great dancers and musicians, let the music and how you feel be your guiding light. By tapping from within, you will be able to develop, create, and express new, unique and innovative movements in your dance. 


                    
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DISCLAIMER: This blog is for entertainment purposes only and therefore it's content, including performance times, dates, cover charges and parking accomodations may not be accurate and/or current, so please do your own due diligence prior to attending any of these events.

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DANCE NEWS - NEW PLACES TO DANCE IN HONOLULU 

Taqueria El Gallo Rosa at Ward Village. Free parking in the complex with salsa dancing on Fridays at around 630 pm - prior to that there is an excellent free salsa class from around 530 pm to 630 pm, with Salsa taught on the 'One'  😊. The music and food is excellent btw. If you like tacos it is cooked the Al pastor way where the meat is shaved from a vertical rotesserie and they also have the popular Birria tacos (with the consome dipping sauce). 

The Pau Hana Place (it is outdoors next to the Waikiki Prince Hotel on the Ewa side) is the hottest new spot in Waikiki overlooking the harbor, giving you the yacht club type of experience. The dance floor in front of the stage and off to the side can easily accommodate many dancers. Live music starts from around 530 pm (or a bit thereafter), usually ending around 830 or 9 pm, depending on the day of the week it is, so if you want to know who is playing on a particular night and what are the starting and ending times then please go to the website, or click onto the link here  Pau Hana Place. 

A HEADS UP TO THE DANCERS WHO FAIL TO PATRONIZE THE ESTABLISHMENTS: If you enjoy dancing to a particular band or singer at a venue and wish to see them perform there regularly then please patronize the establishment by buying food or drinks during your visits there. The bottom line for owners is whether they made a profit for the evening as it is the primary factor that determines whether management will, or will not invite a particular band or singer back to their venue. Owners will not extend another invitation to a band or singer no matter how popular they are if their followers do not spend (those who will bring their dance shoes but leave their wallets at home and ask for free tap water to drink) 🥴.  As a majority of the dancers don't drink more places are now adding a cover charge.  For those who haven't figured it out by now there is no such thing as a free ride in the dance world, and this could explain why many dance venues are no longer in business here in the islands. Management is aware that some dance groups and individuals don't spend any money so it should be of no surprise if in the future you don't see your favorite singer or band performing at certain venues that you frequent and enjoy. 

OTHER DANCE SPOTS: Ilikai outdoor lanai, Hawaiian Brians, Rooftop Bar on Piikoi Street, Hilton Hawaiian Village's Tapa Bar, The Veranda (Kahala) and the Mango Room in Wahiawa may still have dancing periodically, so they are possible venues. The Beach House at Aloha Tower (formerly Nashville) now has different dances during the week. Buho's in Waikiki, Taqueria el Ranchero in Kapolei, Taqueria El Gallo Rosa in Ward Village, Aloha Dancesport on Ward Ave., and The District on Kona Street presently has salsa dancing during the week.

  Tito Berninobis every Tuesday at the Pau Hana Place. Dance tempos include Cha Cha, Waltz, East and West Coast Swing, Nightclub 2 step, Hustle, Samba, Bachata, and Salsa just to name a few.

View of the stage and dance floor at Pau Hana Place 

The side area next to the stage is wide and long

      More of the side area

There is a LOT of room to dance on the side of the stage if the area in front of the stage gets too crowded. Presently there is also free parking in the adjacent vacant lot on a first come first serve basis. Some street parking in the area is reserved only for resident boaters so carefully read the signs before parking anywhere else in the surrounding vicinity

.      Soothing waterfront views throughout

 See the Yelp reviews about the much acclaimed food here as it is gourmet style and well worth the price. The succulent and moist mahi mahi was cooked to perfection in butter with garlic, capers, diced tomato and some kind of chopped nuts (possibly macadamia nuts). In any event the meal was delicious and superb in every way, so a big shout out and 'Chee Huu' goes to the chef and his staff. On another visit there we tried the carne asada and kalua pork tacos and it was also very good 👍

No alcohol is presently being served here so until they get their liquor license it is BYOB


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DANCING IS BACK, HOWEVER BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND ASSESS THE RISKS.

COVID IS STILL WITH US EVEN IN THE YEAR 2024 AND CAN SPREAD IF THERE IS INADEQUATE INDOOR VENTILATION OR FILTRATION.

THE UNVACCINATED ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, SECOND WOULD THOSE THAT ARE NOT CURRENT WITH THEIR BOOSTERS.





          
Disclaimer: Some dancing events listed here may no longer be current.




Palladium is now open post covid. Click here for dance schedule dance fever oahu.

    Palladium @ 404 Kapahulu Ave.


.       The new Mango Street Grill (fka Dots          Wahiawa) is now open for dancing on certain weekends


SUNDAYS - Overlooking the ocean at Ala Moana/Waikiki, there is live music and outdoor dancing 'under the stars' every Sunday at the Ilikai Hotel outdoor lanai. If the weather is nice then this is paradise at it's finest as it is an amazing and trully idyllic venue (with no mosquitos too 🙏). 

As hard as it is to believe, this event is presently free and starts at 6 pm and ends at 9 pm. You can also bring your own food and beverage.

Various well known singers and bands such as Kevin Mau, Tito Berninobis, Lani T,  and Tangi Tully perform at these dances. Son Caribe has also played there on many occasions.

Dance styles and tempos primarily include the Bachata, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Salsa, Merengue, Hustle, Nightclub 2 Step, Waltz, West Coast and East Coast swing. 
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For Latin dancing events going on in town see Social Dancing on Oahu and Salsa in Paradise (Facebook).


              POPULAR  LEADER TRAITS

Popular leaders strive to create a wonderful experience for all of their partners.  Ladies usually are willing and eager to dance with these leaders and it shows as they often have smiles on their faces during or after a dance.

The secret?  These leaders all took lessons when first starting off on their journey and they all have danced socially over the years.

Instead of using complex or esoteric leads on the beginning or less experienced dancers, consummate leaders will use comfortable leads that their follows can understand. They are however, capable of ratcheting it up a notch or two in order to bring out the best in the more experienced dancers. These leaders know that there is a 'time and place' for everything especially when it comes to dancing with people of varying skillsets and age groups. It should also be noted that the accomplished leaders have relaxed and comfortable grips that are not hurtful to their partners. If a leader is tense or nervous he should check if his grip pressure is too hard, if so it could be hurtful for his partners. Safety and comfort should always be given the utmost priority when partner dancing.

At times it is can be overwhelming for their partners when leaders steadfastly stick to patterns or set routines with a 'one size fits all approach'.  For those that are new to dancing and have no clue what to do, this experience can be intimidating and frustrating 😪.  It is sort of like someone trying to teach an elementary school student quantum physics, or fluid dynamics when they are still learning how to add and subtract. Social dancing should be a conversation or dialogue between two people, not a lecture or a monologue.  The preferred mindset in social dancing is to "share a dance" with others and not to intimidate or overwhelm them.

*NOTE:  It should be noted that many lady dancers do not appreciate being told by a leader how they should be dancing (this applies both ways by the way). The fastest way to become extremely unpopular and not have anyone willing to dance with is to critique others, so please refrain from giving unsolicited advice to strangers - unfortunately you don't learn this aspect of social dancing just from taking dance lessons so be mindful of it and be respectful of others. Social dancing is after all, all about having fun with the person that you are dancing with, that is all that truly matters 🤗

In order to become a better leader one should learn how to adapt and effectively communicate their leads to everyone that they dance with based upon each person's ability. One of the ways of accomplishing this is to dance with many other individuals of varying skillsets, and not with the same person all the time. Experienced leaders have danced with hundreds of follows over the years, naturally all leaders will have experienced rejection and frustration along the way but this is a part of the growth process. This hands on experience is invaluable and cannot be learned merely by taking lessons. In fact dance lessons are much easier than dancing socially with strangers, with lessons both the leader and follow know exactly what the movement is and what each person needs to do to accomplish that movement. Whereas when dancing with strangers the leads are spontaneous and totally unplanned. 

GENISIS: Dancers will first start by taking basic lessons for at least a year or two (more time is needed if you wish to learn the many different dance styles that are out there). Beginning dancers learn the timing and the basic steps of a dance. Intermediate dancers already know the timing and steps of a dance and are working on fine-tuning their techniques in order that their leads may become crisp and clear. Advanced dancers have solid foundations and have mastered a multitude of techniques and leading skills, this also allows them to amalgamate many movements with ease (even mixing dance styles) with a focus on expression, creativity, and musical interpretation/improvisation.  They are able to develop a true connection with their partners and a relationship with the music. Although this may take several years to attain, it is an enlightened way of dancing in it's highest and purest form. Dancing this way cannot be taught because it is not pattern based or choreographed, rather it is instinctive and "emotion-based". It is spontaneous and unique to each individual's unique dance 'DNA', this is when you are able to develop a style of your own to the music at hand.

YOU TUBE dance instructional videos: If you have not taken any dance lessons before then watching YouTube in order to learn a particular dance may be a bit intimidating for many. On the other hand however those that have taken beginner lessons and  learned the basic steps and movements of a dance can definitely improve by watching YouTube. If a movement is a bit fast or complicated for you then you can adjust the playback speed (under settings) and watch the lesson in slow motion. Some movements take weeks to develop your muscle memory so that is where YouTube comes to the rescue as another source of dance instruction.  Youtube has helped many leaders to brush up on old leads as well as to learn new ones.  As you can watch and study the lessons at your own pace it is very convenient, better yet the lessons are free.

[Comments from an accomplished lady dancer (who is a regular club dancer and a part-time dance assistant/instructor):  "I read your blog and it is the most fascinating and helpful information a dancer, beginner or otherwise, can and SHOULD read! Keep up the good work!"

Comments from a recent visitor to the islands
"... I had the good fortune to discover your terrific blog.  I found it very extensive, very well written, very informative and right on target re all the key points of social partner dancing....congrats on such a great blog!"]

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  • Captivating video dances! Watching these videos will give you an idea of what each dance style looks like.


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