Lani and I got there a bit early 'cause we knew that parking would be a premium with "Sunset On The Beach" fans gonna take up most of the spaces in the parking structure. True to my thinking, it happened. Okay, it's 5:15 and the doors to the ballroom won't be open till 6PM. Fortunately for us, the name Gayle Kawahakui who sold us the tickets has some pull to it. We were escorted in to our table while the showcase performers were ironing out some rough spots in their dance. Got to meet Calvin and Debra Ota as they waited their turn to use the floor. Also met some long time acquaintances from our spell with IBDC (now IBDI).
As 6PM approached, more dancers and spectators started to fill the ballroom while the specially selected music by Al Franz played. Didn't take long for everyone to get into the mood for dancing. Al's barkering may have helped too.
Okay these hard working guys and gals hardly get recognition for what they do to make the showcase a success, too. That's the Frontline people... the guys and gals who greet the ticket holders at the reception table, the MC's (well maybe they do get some applauses), and the music players who have no official name (so they said you can call us "High Intensity"). A well deserved name since they have been playing dancing music for Al for 13 years.
Buffet dinner at 7PM right on schedule take or add 15 minutes. Gonna skip the menu specifically selected by Al Franz. But I gotta mention even without the chicken, everything was ono, especially the salmon, the sashime, and miso butter fish.
There were several professional and non-professional dance instructors in the attendance but Al made known that the "Sherlock Holmes" (Geoffrey Fells)of professional competitive dancing was in the audience...so to watch out on the heel and toe placements.
It was Showtime featuring Albert Franz, His Students, and Guest Performers. There were two parts to this showcase with General Dancing during the intermission. The whole event moved like clockwork. There were no delays with waiting for the next performer to get on the floor or those long excessive bowing. As soon as one couple got off the dance floor, the next couple entered without any ballyhoo. I gotta mention that because Al was in nearly all the performances, a second MC took over and he was well seasoned...great voice and explicit but brief introduction of the performers.
Like the ono entries that Pacific Beach Hotel puts out, I'm not gonna dwell on who performed only that the Showcase was very entertaining, very well performed by the dancers, and the long hours of practice was evident in their performance. They all deserved the loud applauses and whistles that ehoed throughout the ballroom. So with all that said here are the 2010 Albert Franz Showcase performers.......
(Left click mouse on photo to zoom in)
