ADC Good Friday Dance

Aloha Dancers and Readers,
Last night the Aloha Dance Club hosted a Good Friday Dance at the Palladium. Besides general dancing, there was a dance exhibition of the Foxtrot performed by guest May Ching (Zheng) from Los Angeles and Aloha Dance Club president Gordon Wong.

My main squeeze Lani and I got to the Palladium a bit late but with enough time to do some dancing before the dance exhibition part of the program started. We were greeted by ADC prez Gordon Wong as we entered the ballroom along with the Lovelies at the Reception Table. (This was the third time Gordon had invited Lani and me as his VIP guests).

The Lovelies @the Reception Table: Diane, Gladys, and Jane

  Music man for the evening's general dancing and exhibition showcase was DeeJay Henry Lee. Henry added some new music to his collection and that sure drew a lot of dancers to the dance floor.

DeeJay Henry Lee

EmCee Dianne Ako

Lady EmCee for the program was Dianne Ako of Aloha Dance Club who actually wrote the narration in this blog. Thank you, Dianne. The following are the words as she spoke to the audience as she greeted them, recognizing the workers behind the scene, and a short bio of the exhibition dancers.



Hello everyone. On behalf of the Aloha Dance Club and our President Gordon Wong, I would like to welcome all of you here tonight, and thank you for making our club such a great success and our evenings so enjoyable. We look forward to many great evenings to come. We are privileged as we are on many evenings to have Mr. Henry Lee provide us with his beautiful music.. May we also take this opportunity to thank our awesome kitchen staff directed by Jane Umeda, and thank Aala Bakery for the delicious "treats" this evening.

Kitchen Staff serving delicious "treats" from Aala Bakery

Tonight, we are happy to have a guest performer, May Ching (Zheng) to perform for us. May is an elegant dancer, who in her teenage years had a great passion for dancing which she has embraced with most of her leisure time. During the past 15 years, she has parlayed her beauty and popularity into fulfilling and realizing her life long dream to dance. May also attended a number of National Competitions across the United States with wonderful results. She has added to her success by being the Organizer for the Spring Event in the Dancing Sector for the Chinese Community of Los Angeles in 2015. We are happy that May Ching has now with her family, chosen Honolulu as her home.

Gordon Wong and May Ching (Zheng) dancing the Foxtrot

Tonight dancing with Ms. Ching is our own President, Mr. Gordon Wong. Gordon participated n the Hawaii Star Ball in 2009 with his then dancing professional teacher Renna Villanueva in 6 Latin dances and received 6 first places. Last year 2016, Gordon again entered the Hawaii Star ball with his partner Hana Yin and placed first in all 6 of their standard dances. He also danced with another professional teacher, Yanna Samkova at the 2nd Anniversary Ball of the Aloha Dancesport Center held at the (Waikiki) Sheraton Hotel.

Gordon Wong and May Ching (Zheng)

Tonight's performance of the Foxtrot is a "show dance" about a fairy tale, perhaps a myth, of a feminine little fox who meets some "company" and begins dancing for joy and harmony. As the darkness clears, she lets go of her loneliness and fears as she is finally united once again with her friend.

Now may I present May Ching (Zheng) and Mr. Gordon Wong dancing to the music and song from "The Secret Garden". (You can view the video of the dance exhibition on Frank Sierra Jr. FaceBook)

Wendy Wong,  May Ching (Zheng), and Gordon Wong

Awards to the exhibition dancers followed.

Dianne Ako, Gordon Wong, May Ching (Zheng), and Wendy Wong

Thank you, Dianne for writing and submitting this detailed description of the Aloha Dance Club Good Friday Dance.

 General dancing continued till 9:30.

Aloha for now.

Nostalgia: Flash Dance

Aloha Dancers,
 With all the nostalgia that's being posted on FaceBook, I'm going to slide in and bring you back to the 1990s when a group of senior-teenagers at Hawaii Kai took on the task of learning and dancing "Flash Dance" choreographed by Salome Sato. Lani and I had fun learning Jazz dancing from Salome along with ballroom and Latin dancing from HBDA. The video taken when HD was not discovered yet is the first rehearsal of the dance in preparation for HBDA's Masquerade Ball. To view the video, please go to Frank Sierra Jr. FaceBook. Photo is of Salome and Lani when they were performing dancers for The Steptacular Dancers.

Good Friday Dance (Aloha Dance Club)

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Party Time @Aloha Dancesport Center

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Puka Pants Hula by RVM Dancers

 Aloha Dancers and Readers,
I gotta tell you that when it comes to health benefits, DANCING is tops in keeping mentally and physically fit no matter which senior age level you are on the ladder. Attached photo is a group of energetic senior-teenagers who competed in the 2016 Silver Stars Competition at the Rogue Valley Manor Assisted Living. They danced the Puka Pants Hula that was choreographed by Salome Sato who was Lani's and my Jazz dance teacher. Salome resides and choreographs dances for residents of Rogue Valley Manor in Oregon.  You can view a clip of the Puka Pants Hula video on Frank Sierra Jr. FaceBook. The video was produced by RVM's Jeannette Bournival.

IBDI Dance Tonight

IBDI Birthday Dance tonight at the Palladium. Members $3 and non-members $6. Creamy vanilla ice cream for refreshment. Check the IBDI ClubHI FaceBook for more info.

And my friends at Fuego y Agua Dancers are hosting HOT SALSA tomorrow night at the Atherton YMCA. See attachment for more info.

Aloha Dance Club Dance Party

It was a BIG treat for members of Aloha Dance Club and their guests last night at the Palladium. Speaking of guests, Lani and I want to thank Aloha Dance Club Prez Gordon Wong for inviting us as his VIP guests. We were greeted at the door by Gladys (who we've known since our early days into ballroom dancing), and by June K. and Diane W. at the reception table. The dance floor was already filled with dancers from various dance clubs dancing to the music of DeeJay Henry Lee.
EmCee for the evening event was Diana Ako who welcomed everyone and thanking the members of Aloha Dance Club and guests for making "our club such a wonder success and our evening so enjoyable". She went on to extend "thank you" to the Music Man (Henry Lee), and to the Refreshment Committee for their hard work. My whole hearted thanks to Diana for sharing her personal script to last night's program and which I will share with you in this blog.

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Before the dance exhibition showcase started, Diana said a short history of the professional dance couple, Jacky and Spring Lei.  "Tonight, we have a very special treat for all of you and are honored and privileged to have a professional couple from the city of Shen Zgen, a southern city of China to dance for us. Jacky and Spring Lei have won Championship titles in Shen Zgen and were on the final reel of professional rising stars in the competition in Guangdong Province, China. They were also teachers for 20 years in China. When the family moved to the United States, Jacky and Spring continued to dance professionally while giving demonstrations, teaching and lecturing".

Jacky and Spring's first performance was the racey Quickstep. It was fast and well controlled. At the close of the Quickstep Jacky ended the dance laying on the floor (picture at bottom left). To see Jacky and Spring dance the Quickstep, please go to my FaceBook (Frank Sierra Jr.).

Jacky and Spring Lei dancing the Quickstep.

Jacky and Spring's second performance was the Waltz. Like the Quickstep performance, it was danced with precision with a little playfulness making both dances fun to watch. To see Jacky and Spring dance the Waltz, please go to my FaceBook (Frank Sierra Jr.)

Jacky and Spring Lei dancing the Waltz. Insert: Jacky and Spring with Aloha Dance Club Prez Gordon Wong.

After the showcase performance, Aloha Dance Club Prez Gordon Wong presented Jacky and Spring Lei with gift envelopes, and roses for the lady.

Social dancing continued after the showcase. Refreshments were served while the music played on.

Next Aloha Dance Club event at the Palladium will be a "Good Friday Dance" on April 14. at 6:00 in the evening.

 Aloha for now!

What's Cooking In April 2017

HGC Latin Festival 2017

WOW! What a tremendous and electrifying showcase Hawaii Gardenia Circle hosted Saturday night at the Palladium. Gayle Kawahakui and committee did not spare anything to bring a dance exhibition showcase and a dance competition in one program under one roof and in one evening. My main squeeze and I got to the Palladium shy of 7PM. General dancing was in full swing since 6PM and I gotta tell you; the dance floor was already filled with dancers burning the floor to the upbeat music from the collection of DeeJay Bert Burgess.

DeeJay Bert Burgess

Lani and I gotta mention our appreciation to  Aiea  Ballroom Dance Club Prez Deanie Bates for giving up her seats for Lani and me. What a gracious gesture from a gracious lady!  Thank you, Deanie.

Deanie Bates with Bert Burgess

 The program lady emcee was Shari Berinobis who welcomed owners/teachers of professional dance studios and presidents and representatives of the various dance organizations. Among the professionals were Mr. Geoffrey Fells, Mr; Albert Franz, Sergio and Renna Villanueva, Carlos Chang, Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Divino Ritmo Dance Lucas Jaime.. My apology if I missed any professionals.

HGC Host Gayle Kawahakui and Lady EmCee Shari B.

Greeting us at the door was the prez of Hawaii Gardenia Circle and the lovelies at the reception table.

The lovelies: Beverly,  Eileen, and Diane

The program started at 7:45PM featuring the showcase of dance exhibitions. There were some group performances as well as solo performances.

After the showcase of exhibition dance performance, there was a short break for general dancing.

The Latin dance competition started with a parade of the various dance clubs and schools participating in the competition.

Calvin & Debra Ota leading the group of competitive dancers
from various dance clubs and schools.

Sergio & Renna Villanueva Dance Appeal competitive dancers

Competitive dancers from Arthur Murray Dance Studio

The Latin dance competition commenced with the Cha Cha Cha first. There were eight dances in which the dancers were competing in. They were the Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Bolero, Mambo, Paso Doble, Night Club 2 Step, and East Coast Swing.

Dancing the Cha Cha Cha

Dancing the Rumba

Dancing the Samba

Dancing the Bolero

Dancing the Mambo

Dancing the Paso Doble

Dancing the Night Club 2 Step

Dancing the East Coast Swing

Not everyone competed in all eight dances. The dancers chose which dances they wanted to compete in. However, it was a spectacular showcase of exhibition dancing, and competitive dancing. Colorful and electrifying and most of all it displayed the art of entertaining. Kudos to Gayle Kawahakui and her committee, and to all the participants in the dance exhibition and dance competition showcase..

Social dancing continued till closing.

View videos of the HGC Latin Festival at Frank Sierra Jr. FaceBook.com, ibdi clubhi FaceBook.com, or Hawaii Gardenia Circle Latin Festival 2017 YouTube.

Go Latin Tonight!

Hawaii Gardenia Circle LATIN FESTIVAL at the Palladium 6PM $10 at door (no refreshment).

SATURDAY SALSA SOCIAL at Atherton YMCA 7PM $10. Please see ibdi clubhi FaceBook for more info on both venues.

That's Dancing Goes To Sleep

IBDI 2nd Term Registration & Free Dance

Happy Birthday, Geoffrey!

IBDI 2017 First Term Student Party

Monday, March 13 marked IBDI first student party of 2017 at the Palladium. Student Parties are held after each term to encourage the students to perform what they had learned during the past seven sessions. Lani and I got to the Palladium about 7 o'clock. Most of the students and instructors had already finished eating their pre-ordered bento and were already on the dance floor moving to the music of DeeJay George Suetsugu. After a while, it was time for the students to take the spotlight and demonstrate the dances they had learned. IBDI Prez Arnold Lee was the emcee for the evening. (You can see some videos of the student performances at the IBDI Face Book). As per tradition, there is always a break from dancing when it was time for door prizes. After that was done, then it was time for the instructors to demonstrate the dances they will be teaching during the 2nd term.

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Professional Albert Franz demonstrated the International Tango featuring the Spanish Drag with partner Theresa. He also demonstrated the West Coast Swing. You can watch the video of Mr. Franz demonstrating both dances on the IBDI Face Book (ibdi clubhi).

Lani and I demonstrated the Mambo but unfortunately we couldn't do a selfie. But you can view the video of us on the IBDI Face Book (ibdi clubhi).

 Dean Sierra demonstrated the LA Style Salsa with partner Anjanette. During the 1st term, Dean taught the Bachata with three different partners..Anjanette, Katie, and Suzy. All three partners are accomplished Salsa and Bachata dancers.

Thomas Campbell demonstrated the International Waltz II with partner. During the 1st term, Thomas taught International Waltz I. You can view the demo at IBDI Face Book (ibdi clubhi)

Social dancing continued till closing. Registration for the 2nd term is on March 20, 27, and April 3. There will be Free Dance on March 20 & 27 for students who register.

What's Cooking In March?

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Dance Connection Back Online

IBDI on Web and FaceBook