Dance Magic 808 Christmas Party & Dance

It's da "Glasses"
Photo courtesy Charlene Jay

Talk about Filipino Time. You know what I mean....getting to the party half an hour late. (I know what it means because us Filipinos try rush but sometimes no can get there in time). Traffic was at a stand still most of the way from Hawaii Kai....on Kalanianaole Hwy and on the H1. Getting off the H1 via the School St. Offramp and then head to Ft. Shafter was my tactical move but alas the right lane was clear for a fast getaway direct to the Ft. Shafter Offramp. Lani and I got to the Hale Ikena 30 minutes late but so did a lot of others who trailed behind me at the Ft. Shafter Maingate.

The sweet sounds of Henry and Joanne Rimas music was echoing from the ballroom. There were at least 110 dancers and guests in attendance for this first Dance Magic 808 Christmas Party & Dance. The meat of this event was also to give recognition to all the dance instructors who volunteered to teach for this newly formed dance club. Before I go any further, I gotta thank Chris and Charlene Jay, Prez and First Lady of IBDI who were at the party for sharing the photo of me and my main squeeze. Okay, no laugh out loud. Charlene is a shutterbug and a good one too especially at dance events. The photo is priceless since I'm always behind the camera and I had forgotten wearing the glasses with blinking lights and windshield wipers at the IBDI dance in October.

General dancing continued with the sound of Christmas tunes and other popular dance music.  Henry and Joanne have got the right selection of music for this seasonal occasion. EmCee was Audrey Fu who is on the DM808 Board of Directors. Like a true lady with CEO experience, she outlined the program with humor which brought good feeling laughs. The program began with Christmas tunes sung by Kim Anderson who Audrey described as a beautiful singer. Yes, she is beautiful and her singing voice is way above beauty, too.....da kine that is worth paying big bucks to listen to. Kim also treated the audience with two more renditions during the intermission.   Invocation was said by Millie Chun who expressed words of wisdom, thankfulness, and blessings for all present regardless of which dance club they belong.

More dancing after the buffet dinner and then it was time to introduce the Officers and Board of Directors of Dance Magic 808.....Lynn Nakamura (President), Richard Nakamura (VP and Dance Director), Candace Yap (Secretary), and Richard Nakamura (Treasurer). Board of Directors are Audrey Fu, and Gail Tamaribuchi.

The Dance Instructors got lei-d (pardon the pun). Among them were Richard and Lynn Nakamura (International Style), Andy and Monica Pascua (American Latin and Filipino Tango), Frank and Lani Sierra (American Style and Night Club Latin), Robert and Vanelle Hirayasu (Argentine Tango), Roxanne Kaino and Elsie McGrew (Line Dance), Joshua Manzano and Stephanie Shimizu (Night Club 2 Step and Hustle), and Lester and Henrietta Muramoto (International Style). Joshua was still on the mainland and did not attend.

It was a luau style dinner.....tasty and onolicious that filled the opu comfortably. The program included a sparkling Filipino Tango exhibition dance by Andy and Monica Pascua, and an exciting International Tango by Gayle Kawahakui and Jun.

To get everyone onto the dance floor, Richard and Lynn led a circle of dancers and guests in a group dance. It was fun changing partners as the dance went full circle during the entire time of the music. Along with Lani,
I can say that I danced with nearly all the ladies that evening. The Dance Magic 808 Christmas Party & Dance turned out to be a funfest and much kudos go to Richard and Lynn, and the support committee for making it so.