IBDI 2016 1st Term Student Party

Teaching two dance classes for IBDI during the 1st Term this year isn't new to Lani and me. We've done that when we were teaching ballroom dancing as a Special Interest Course for Kaimuki CSA, and Kaiser CSA (Community School for Adults), and also during the 5th Term last year for IBDI. But this 1st Term was special for my main squeeze and me. We taught Jitterbug Swing and Bachata for the first time and we were excited to see how our students were going to perform after seven weeks of lessons at this first Student Party of  2016.

When Lani and I got to the Palladium about 7:00 PM this past Monday, there were a few dancers on the dance floor dancing to music player George Suetsugu's collection of fine music. Greeted faithful Dana Morey at the Reception Table and then headed to pick up our prepaid bento from VP Diana Vo. My girl and I decided to forego dinner. So that meant going back to the car to store the bento in a cooler bag. When I headed back to the Palladium ballroom, more dancers came into the ballroom. Lani and I got to find a little room for a bit of dancing the Cha Cha, Waltz, Swing, and Mambo before the break.

Music Player George Suetsugu

 Nick Sierra served as EmCee during the call of lucky numbers for door prizes and also during the student dance performance. The door prizes consisted of six pack cans fruit juices, six pack cans tea, and those large bottles of soda, and two sealed envelopes of surprise prizes. There was something different about tonight's program compared with past Student Parties. There were more student showup and appears the dancers were more energized. Was it caused by Nick's vibrant way of EmCeeing or was it the upbeat music of George Suetsugu's collection? Or could it be both?

EmCee Nick Sierra

After the door prizes giveaway, it was time for the students to perform the dances they had learned during the 1st Term. It was gratifying to see so many students get on the dance floor to dance. First was George Suetsugu's International Cha Cha students, followed next by Nick Sierra's American Rumba students, Jim Prado's American Samba students, Lani and my Jitterbug Swing students and Bachata students, and lastly Al Franz International Quickstep students. All the students of each class performed with gusto.

Tonight was a special occasion for Lani and me seeing our students and students of the other dance classes enjoying and performing what they had learned. The special effects lights (Blue, Green, and Red) in the photos courtesy IBDI Prez Arnold Lee. Kudos to Nick for his role in EmCeeing and calling out the lucky numbers for door prizes, and to Arnold and VP Diana Vo for assisting. And okay, me too. And many thanks to the students who came to participate in the program, and to our assistants Dean Sierra and Kathy. Hasta la vista for now.

P.S. Registration for the 2nd Term Dance Classes is next Monday (March 14, 6PM) in the Ewa Ballroom at the Palladium. There will be a Special Workshop by Geoffrey Fells in the Diamond Head Ballroom (7-8PM) that same evening. Pau fo' now.