Haven't you ever set a time to leave the house to go somewhere, in this case to a Big Time dance ball at the Pacific Beach Hotel and you find yourself leaving the house half an hour later? When I was younger, the old timers in the sugar plantation called it Filipino time. No pun intended for my racial background. Got to the Pacific Beach at 5:30 PM hoping to find a parking space before the big crowd got there. The Kuhio Avenue entrance was closed with a big sign "Limited Parking! Use Liliokalani Entrance." Circling around Waikiki was a driving adventure fo' sure.
Da lovelies Delia, Nancy, and Dana were at the Reception Table. As usual, you can always get a smile and a hello from them whether at the Palladium or at the Pacific Beach Hotel. And if you're a member of IBDI, they got a good memory of your name.
The participants in the dance showcase were practicing their routine. So the "watchman" Stanley was on guard making sure that no one entered the ballroom. Of course with diplomacy and with a smile.
About 6:30 rolled by as the sound of heavy drumming echoed throughout the ballroom. It was the formal opening of the program with a Dragon and Lion Dance by the young kung fu students of Yeung Dak Dragon & Lion Dance Association. The Dragon and Lion made their tour of the ballroom as guests fed them with the green stuff to bring the traditional good luck to the dance organization.
EmCee for the evening was Curt Young who handled the program with ease and humor.
Then it was time to munch down the onolicious buffet that Pacific Beach Hotel is famous for. Renna Villanueva gave a lengthy and meaningful invocation and it was worth the wait. Social dancing continued as others lined up for the buffet.
Dinner all done. To continue the program, EmCee Curt Young introduced Misty Kalai, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural and the Arts who pinch-hit for the mayor who was not able to attend the function. She read the Mayor's Proclamation about ballroom dancing and the physical benefits that one can attain through dancing. A wonderful proclamation by our mayor.
It was time for the Installation of Officers part of the program. EmCee Curt called the present officers and members of the Board to the floor. Then he introduced Toni Robinson, Director of City & County Parks & Recreation to install the new Officers and Board Members.
The 2013 Officers are President: Christopher Jay, 1st Vice President: Marsha Ninomiya, Secretary: Eugene Shen, and Treasurer: Diana Vo. 2013 Board of Directors are Robert Diana, Dawn Le, Arnold Lee, Beverly Mau, and Dana Morey. Congratulations to all.
Prez Chris Jay took to the podium and gave the President's Message. You gotta appreciate this man for his energy and leadership he has given to IBDI. I think 2013 is his 8th tour as President of this fine dance organization.
The ice-breaker "snowball" dance soon followed. This time with a Latin flavor to the Cha Cha Cha....a good choice to get the seat-warmers on the dance floor.
The Dance Exhibition had two parts. Part One brought Professional Greg Henry with Emi Matsuoka to the dance floor dancing the BACHATA/SALSA Medley. Ay Caramba!.....the moves and the energy was so crisp and sure enough Greg and Emi burned the floor to the delight of the audience...a perfect dance to set the mood.
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I think among of all the International Standard dances, the Tango is supreme because it has passion, and display of strength and control. I've seen Gayle and Jun exhibit their rendition of the Tango before and Lani and I enjoyed each of their performances. Gayle and Jun's International Tango had impeccable style and drama.
I've always enjoyed watching youngsters dancing in showcases. They are not professionals by a long shot but they sure move like rising stars. Ikaika Villanueva and Brandee Nakamura were magnificent in dancing a Latin Medley...a potpourri of the Samba, Cha Cha, Jive, and Rumba.
Concluding Part One of the program were Richard and Lynn Nakamura with the International Quickstep....another Standard dance that requires good control as well as technique. And Richard and Lynn had those qualities as they danced this high octane Quickstep with non-stop finesse.
Social dancing continued during the Intermission.
The short intermission was a good break for most everyone to get on the dance floor for a good stretch and relish the dance exhibition performance of Part One. The dance floor was always filled with dancers but everyone moved with care....no accidental bumping.
Part Two opened with Professional Joe Shorba with Ellen Ostler dancing the American Showdance Rumba. This performance was indeed a well choreographed and a superbly performed Showdance Rumba that was ingrained with exotic, and seductive moves.
Professional Renna Villanueva with Robert Schiff opened the next act with the American Smooth Showdance Foxtrot. This dance performance had a touch of Broadway that was playful and fun to watch.....fresh, bold, ritzy and a bit of sassiness that made it all the more entertaining due to Renna's impressive magical creation and a touch of dance fantasy.
Ed and Charlotte Bugarin has always put on a good showing whenever they performed in a showcase. They came on the floor ablazed with their firey International Samba...full of vigor and vitality. Fo' sure their performance was totally fierce and magnificent and filled with passion of the dance..
Closing the Dance Exhibition part of the program were Glenn Okazaki and Anne Ho with the International Waltz. All the Stars that performed in the showcase tonight glittered with brilliance and it was a good choice to have Glenn and Ann perform at the end of the showcase. It was a big treat to watch competition champions at their best. Glenn and Ann danced so smoothly and effortlessly with excellent control and technique in every movement....creating a beautiful moving picture of two sparkling bright stars floating over the ballroom floor.
General dancing continued till about 11:30 with a short break to award each table's centerpiece to the guest whose birthday was the closest to March 15th.
