Halloween Fright Night @ Aloha Dancesport Center

Lani and I got to the Center before 6:30 PM. A bit early but it gave us the chance to look over some of the Halloween spooks decorated around the dance floor and on the tables. There were a few guests already sitting at tables in the ballroom. Pretty soon more guests trickled into the ballroom.

Yanna with daughter Sky Valentina

Lani and I were invited guests of Lucas and Yanna as judges for the costume contest. We were greeted by our gracious host Yanna. Lucas was in the DeeJay cube but he reached out with a friendly handshake..


Nearly all the arriving guests came in colorful costumes to have a good time and vie for the grand prize of $100.00.. There was a second and third prize too. The 2nd and 3rd prizes were for a number of dance lessons. More on the costume contest later.

But first, it was time to go paparazzi with my trusty camera. Just my (bad?) luck. It was snack time and a few of the guests took off their masks to chow down the ono-licious shrimp cocktail, potsticks, three different kinds of cake, mini cream puffs and soft drinks..

The music was great and the Latin rhythm and smooth Waltz and Foxtrot music got dancers on the dance floor. The swing was there also. Had to break away from the delicious shrimp cocktail and cream puffs when the Rumba rhythm was playing. Couldn't pass off that dance. Lucas and a guest demonstrated a Latin dance, too.

After a while, it was time for judging the costume contest. Lani and I were called to the floor as Yanna got the contestants to parade around the dance floor. It was a good scene. The contestants put on a good show by acting the personality of their costume as they got closer to Lani and me. They were very impressive and fortunately we didn't get attacked by a monster or bitten by a vampire, or beheaded by the sword-swinging amazon.

Costume Contest Participants

After close deliberation, the judges selections were made. Here are the results:

3rd Place Costume Contest Winner Anna Mae Schwartz with Yanna

2nd Place Costume Contest Winner Lilavati Bergholdz with Yanna

1st Prize Costume Contest Winner Cammy Divers with Yanna

Hot Salsa music was echoing throughout the ballroom as Lani and I departed the Aloha Dancesport Center. It was a fun evening for us and one to remember. Aloha for now.  Happy Dancing!

                              Our hosts Lucas and Yanna

"THRILLER" at Kahala Mall

Dance like Michael Jackson to "Thriller"? Nah! Not likely but possible. And posible it was by the young, dance students of Roxanne Kaino. She brought her troupe to Kahala Mall Centerstage today to treat shoppers to a dance performance of  "Thriller."  And they did a good job. Appropriate time, too, since it's getting close to the night when Zombies and the Walking Dead will roam the streets.

I got to the Mall a short time before the show started. There was a large Saturday crowd  waiting near the centerstage. Nearly all the seats were occupied. It was SRO (standing room only) and the show promptly started at 12 noon. Roxanne who was the emcee announced, "five minutes more to go". And when it got to the last 10 seconds of the final minute, there was the usual count down (10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) roared by the audience.

The Zombies and Walking Dead showing their stuff before their dance performance to the tune "Thriller". (Previous performance photo).

   .      

Show Time and there were bodies all over the stage as well as the floor. 

                           
                               

Dancers performing on stage

Dancers were performing at floor level, too

The dance performance of Thriller can be viewed on YouTube "Thrill the World 2018 Honolulu".  The full six minutes performance was posted by Roxanne Kaino. (Much thanks, Roxanne).

After the dance performance of THRILLER, the participants encored with the group singing "We Are The World, We Are The Children".  It was a good touch for a too short program but none-the-last it was an entertaining dance performance and well performed by youngsters that were appreciated and applauded loudly by the audience.

The performers were called on stage for a final Photo-shoot.

Choreographer Roxanne Kaino with the Thriller dancers.

Aloha for now and Happy Dancing!

So What's Happening In Honolulu This Weekend?

Divino Ritmo Dance Grand Ball & Showcase 2018

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Join us for 10th Annual Divino Ritmo Dance 

Grand Ball and Showcase 

DECEMBER 2ND, 2018

SHERATON WAIKIKI HOTEL- Grand Ballroom at 5-10:30 PM

Tickets on sale now, make your reservations today to get the best table available. All tickets need to be purchased in advance,  
No sales at door.

We accept cash,  checks or credit cards.

You can pick up your tickets in person at the studio Aloha Dancesport Center or contact Divinoritmo@aol.com for more details 

Please see poster above..... World class Exciting Professional Show, sit down dinner, local entertainment, students showcases and more...

Mahalo for your continuous support 

See you on the dance floor 

Halloween Fright Night hosted by Divino Ritmo Dance

CON CON, CON AM, or Political Dance?

Two issues facing Hawaii voters this coming November 6..CON AM and CON CON on the ballot. One cost 55 million dollars to fund, and the other is like signing over a blank check. Vote akamai so you don't get bite in the okole later.

First Sunday Social Dance @Holiday Retirement Community

It's gonna be a bit of a stretch introducing a social dance party at the Hawaii Kai Holiday Retirement Community on the first Sunday of each Month from 6 to 7:30 PM. But the IBDI big whips thought it was worth a try with the help of new IBDI instructors Daniel and Setsuko.

IBDI VP Arnold and Pez Diana

 Lani and I were invited by IBDI Prez Diana to attend. We got there a little before 6 and a small crowd were already in the dance area. We hadn't met Daniel and Setsuko before but I heard of their qualifications as dance instructors and exhibition experiences.
I thought Daniel handled the program pretty well as he introduced IBDI Prez Diana and VP Arnold, Lani and me, and Setsuko and himself. He also spoke about why we were there. Lani also spoke about the benefits of social dancing.

Daniel and Lani with Introductory Message

Daniel and Setsuko, who are both instructors of the American style and International style of dancing demonstrated the Waltz, Foxtrot, Merengue, and Tango, and later dressed in Latin garb exhibited the Rumba.

Setsuko and Daniel exhibited the Rumba

Lani and I demonstrated the American style Cha Cha, Swing, Rumba, Waltz, and Merengue.
Most of the residents were spectators and only a few joined in the dance.

Residents participating in the dsnce

Daniel and Setsuko were very cordial in trying to encourage the residents to participate in this introduction of the First Sunday Social Dance. I wish them every success in getting the program on solid footing..  

Happy Dancing in October 2018

Aloha Dance Club 44th Anniversary Party

AUWE! Was it all day and night humid this past Saturday??!! Yeah! but that didn't stop Lani and me from going to the Aloha Dance Club 44th Anniversary Party at the Palladium. It was a nice drive from Hawaii Kai to Kapahulu in my air conditioned car. Got to the Palladium about 7ish and was greeted by our host Gordon Wong. There were a lot of familiar faces in the ballroom and one lady out in the lanai serving slices of Happy Anniversary cake. More refreshments in bowls were served inside the ballroom near the kitchen. Henry Lee was playing music non-stop with a lot of dancers on the dance floor. Gordon had roped some seats for his VIP guests, so we had no problem finding seats. It was good seating among friends that we met long time ago. 

The Volunteers, the people who worked behind the scene to make this Anniversary Party a happy and successful one. Music was provided by Henry Lee.

Mistress of Ceremony Mai Wilkes opened the program with a welcome message and introduced presidents, representatives , and professional dance instructors from various dance organizations. She also spoke a brief history of how the Aloha Dancec Club was established in 1974 by Lois Takeuchi.  A short intermission followed then the exhibition of showcase dancers began with the International Waltz by Robert and Diana Diana.

Robert & Diana just competed this past July at the Gumbo Baton Rouge in Louisiana. They got to the final Pre-champ Senior 3 level. 

Wendy Wong sang a very famous

folk song titled LEMON TREE written

by Will Holt in 1950.

Calvin & Debra, a dynamic couple who are competitive dancers and loves to travel to dance competitions on the mainland and abroad. They have competed at the famous Black Pool in England.  

Led by Ms. Lan Ian, an experienced and establish professional dancer from mainland China, the all-star dance group performed the classical Chinese dance Lotus Blooms In Glory. The dancers are Nancy Chow, Melanie Siu, Jerrie Siau, Angel Lai-Rosenfeld, Yeemi Lam, Wan Ping Oshiro, Fawn Fong, Mia Huang, and Si Hong Wong.

 After the showcase performances, all the performers received appreciation gifts from Aloha Dance Club President Gordon Wong.
General dancing resumed till closing. Refreshments were still being served on the lanai as Lani and I left the Palladium. 
It was an enjoyable evening for my main squeeze and me...got to do a little dancing, watched a colorful and well performed dance and song exhibition showcase, and sat with good company. Thank you to our host, Gordon Wong who invited Lani and me as his (as he says VIP) guests. Also a big thank you to Mistress of Ceremony Mai Wilkes who kindly shared her program notes with me. Most of her notes make up this blog.
Until next time, HAPPY DANCING! 

Showcasing Divino Ritmo Dance HSB Competition Teamj

Come meet and cheer on our HSB Competition Team!
Defending HSB Top Local Studio, Divino Ritmo Dance, will be showcasing a dress rehearsal featuring their Hawaii Star Ball School Competition Team for 2018. 
Adm: $30.00 at Door/ $25.00 Pre-Sale, Students and Members
Teens 13-19 Years Old $10.00 Under 12 Years old FREE!
Buffet Pot Luck dinner with Free refreshments and Sweats.

Reservations Contact: divinoritmo@aol.com
Aloha Dancesport Center
808-200-5540

Ballroom Bash Social & Lesson

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Saturday Salsa Social

Aloha mi gente. 

Thank you very much for supporting this TRUE dance social for the purest of dancers.
You know we have always have something good in store for you at this social and, this Saturday will be even better!
Coming all the way from Tampa Bay, Senor Francis Rodriguez will be blessing us with his exciting and fun Casino Rueda Style. He and his lovely partner will also be celebrating their honeymoon while their here so, let's support this lovely couple and, show them a great time!

Cover Charge is $10
BYOB

Dance Venues This Weekend September 21 & 22, 2018

Arthur Murray Guest Party poster courtesy Arthur Murray Dance Center
Aloha Dance Club 44th Anniversary poster courtesy Aloha Dance Club

IBDI 57th Anniversary Dance 2018

The International Ballroom Dance Inc. hosted their 57th Anniversary Dance at the Ala Wai Palladium this past Friday. It's been many moons since Lani and I really got to shake, rattle, and roll on the hardwood floor. As always, I bow to have my main squeeze dance my a** off even when my back injury is down to one quarter speed. OOOps! I'm getting ahead of myself. First of all, I thank Arnold and Diana for inviting Lani and me as their guests to this Anniversary Dance. Much appreciate! We arrived at the Palladium a little after 7 PM. People were in the lanai grinding down the ono bento (musubi, shrimp, chicken, and a slice of salmon). Inside the ballroom, we checked in at the reception table before joining the long line of dancers waiting to pick up their bento. Not a problem...it gave us time to make small chat with some of our former dance students and other friends. All the time, the dance music by Henry Lee was echoing throughout the ballroom and dancers were moving in rhythm. Got our bento but no time to eat now...some music just grabs me to get on the dance floor. 

Time to start the program and IBDI President Diana Vo took to the podium. After a welcome message and a few announcements,  the dance exhibition started with a Round Dance Waltz performed by Snow Jade Bunch with Linda Batt, Dr. Beverly Robinson with Karl Ishikawa, and John Caywood with Betty Ngai. John Caywood is a visiting retired cuer from California. The performance was good and looked pretty much like American Social Waltz danced to ballroom music. There's a Round Dance Workshop scheduled for this month if you want to add Round Dancing to your social agenda. Round Dance includes Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Tango, and others. ( See the  previous blog for the workshop schedule).

A Round Dance Cha Cha soon followed and performed by Snow Jade Bunch and Karl Ishikawa with some nice moves. They also danced very well.

Top photo: Snow Jade Bunch, Linda Batt, Dr. Beverly Robinson, and Karl Ishikawa
Lower photo: Linda  & Snow Jade, Karl & Beverly. John & Betty, Snow Jade & Karl

The exhibition part of the program continued with a dance group from Dance Appeal Dance Studio. There were 12 dancers performing a show dance which had a touch of Charleston and Quickstep. After watching the performance for a while, the dance resembled a lot like the Peabody, a dance combination of the Charleston and Fast Foxtrot. Whatever it was, the dance was performed very well and was enjoyable to watch.

Dance Performers from Dance Appeal Dance Studio

It was a fun night for my main squeeze Lani and me.dancing and enjoying the showcase of exhibition dancers. It's been a long time since we shaked, rattled, and rolled on the hardwood floor but as long as the body is willing, we'll be back. Aloha for now and Happy Dancing!  

Round Dancing Workshop

IBDI 5th Term 2019 Dance Class Schedule

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Monday, September 17 Registration and Free Dance at the Palladium
Monday, September 24 Start first dance class
Monday, November 5    Last dance class

IBDI Welcomes New Dance Instructors

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