Okay, students of dance, hop on my time machine and we're headed for the early 1990s. Competition Dancing and Exhibition Dancing were telecasted only on KHET at the time. Previously, the other TV stations featured Arthur Murray Dancers and Harry Kanada's Dancers. But they were more of learning how to dance programs instead of competitive or exhibition.
Anyway, back in the early 90's, KHET decided to feature a followup on the first Dancing In The Islands. The TV station wanted to feature Professional Dancers, Pro-Am Dancers, and Amateur Dancers on the program. How the selection was made, I really don't know.
Lani and I had just completed a one week dance performance with 24 other couples at the University of Hawaii 25th Anniversary. Our names came up to be the Amateur Dancers. Carmelo Baysa and partner (sorry her name escapes me) were selected to be the Pro-Am Dancers, and Albert Franz and Cindy Mead were the Professional Dancers.
The late Big Band Leader Del Courtney and his Orchestra was a big boost to the show. So were our dance teachers Carmelo Baysa and Judy Allen of the University of Hawaii Department of Theater Arts. Albert Franz and Cindy Mead were an even bigger boost as they danced several smooth dances with elegance. (Three years later, Albert Franz choreographed the Bolero for Lani and me.)
Dancing In The Islands Part 2 aired on KHET as the TV station's Spectrum Series. It was an energizing point for Lani and me to continue to perform in other dance showcases.
