Thursday, August 31, 2017

September Dance Venues




Sunday, August 27, 2017

No Posting For A While

No handshake this week and next. No kissy kissy on the cheek, too. But fist bump okay.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

The Secret To Happiness

Story at That's Dancing blog.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Mambo Madness and Sweet Water

Dario Garcia shared Fuego y Agua Dancers's post 
Fuego y Agua  is hosting our 2nd & 4th Saturday Salsa Social featuring the Mambo madness of DJ Rod 🎧💫🔥and the Sweet Water sounds of AguaDulce band 🎹🎻🎼🎺🎷🥁🎤🎶
This will be Yuki Garcia and I last social before leaving Hawaii. Please come out, if you can, so we can have proper goodbye. Our goal is to expand Fuego y Agua Dancers passion and make a bridge from Texas to Hawaii.

Sunday, August 06, 2017

Saturday, August 05, 2017

IBDI 56th Anniversary Dance Celebration

As my main squeeze and I got to the 2nd level of he Palladium last night, there were dancers at the nicely decorated tables having a good time dining and having spirited conversation among them selves. Through the glass windows, we could see a lot of dancers "hoofing" around the ballroom. (Must've been the Quickstep music playing 'cause every dancer was moving at a high octane speed.)

Okay, first thing was to check in at the Reception Table that was manned by Joe Lee and IBDI Prez Arnold Lee  Then pick up our prepaid bento at the kitchen counter. Didn't munch down the prawn and chicken bento 'cause as seniors, Lani and I only eat two meals a day (breakfast and late lunch) as most seniors do.
Bento Servers at the Kitchen

BTW, much thanks to IBDI President Arnold Lee and IBDI VP Diana Vo for inviting us as their guests and for the appreciation leis. Lani and I had received leis from IBDI at last Monday's Student Party, but last night was special. Both Lani and I got leis laden with dollar bills. I was told for appreciation of our service of teaching dancing for IBDI and now that we are retiring. (To me, "retiring" is a loose term for seniors planning to take a break from a routine.) Will we be back?????



Music player last night was Henry Lee, whose selection of dance music got ballroom dancers off their seats and cruising on the dance floor effortlessly, and the rhythm dancers just about burning up the floor with their Latin motion, and jump and jive movements.
Music Player Henry Lee

There was no Showcase of Exhibition Dancing at this event. As IBDI VP Diana Vo explained, they decided it best to give back to the members money (gift cards) instead of having a dance exhibition. This was done by awarding those with lucky number tickets, and was done after Prez Arnold Lee's welcome message. 

IBDI VP Diana Vo

EmCee for the evening was Prez Arnold Lee with VP Diana assisting. He welcomed everyone and appreciated their presence. He introduced the representatives from the other various dance organizations who came. After a short presentation of the history of IBDI 56 years, he gave recognition to some special volunteers in the club who greatly contributed to the success of IBDI since he became president. They were dance instructors George Suetsugu, Jim Prado, the Sierra family: Frank, Lani, Dean, and Nick, Dario Garcia & Yuki Komiyama, Thomas Campbell, and (Pro) Albert Franz. Also recognition went to Atlas Cooke who help built IBDI Website, DeeJay Henry Lee, Ticket Sales Annie Fergeson, Joe Lee, Herbert Omizo, and Kathy Uehara, and Refreshment Coordinators Jane Umeda, Arlene Prado, and Stanley Wong. He also thank members of the other dance clubs who pitched in to make IBDI successful.

IBDI President Arnold Lee

After the awarding of gift cards, general dancing continued till closing time. But the night was still young and my other passion for going paparazzi got the best of me between dances. So with the Sony camera that my son Dean gave me for Fathers Day, here are some of the dancers who were there to celebrate IBDI 56th Anniversary.

Bert Burgess & Aiea Dance Club President Deanie Bates


Aloha Dance Club President Gordon Wong, Richard, and Susan

Betty, Ticket Sales Kathy Uehara, and Friend

SnowJade and sister Linda

IBDI Dance Instructors Thomas Campbell and Assistant
(I'll get her name next time)

Dianne and Howard Ako

Friends of Ala Wai President Derek and Debra Kam

Richard and Friend




Kathy and Friend

Aloha Dance Club President Gordon Wong and Friend

Ticket Sales Annie Fergeson and Friend






.Thanks to the dancers who permitted me to take a photo of them last night. My apology if I did not name you in the photo. But..... I will get you next time. That's for sure.

Hast la vista!

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

IBDI 2017 3rd Term Student Party

The IBDI 3rd Term Student Party was held this past Monday at the Palladium. (Student Party are normally held a week after the close of a seven week or session of dance classes). The "party" is open only to students of IBDI and it's the evening when the students demonstrate with music what they had learned during the 7-week session.

Bento is usually served for a buck which includes admission to the ballroom for social dancing.

                                  Bento was prepared and served by IBDI VP Diana Vo.


Social dancing was in full swing when Lani and I arrived at the Palladium. It was gonna be a big night for us because our students were going to demonstrate the Bolero. After dancing with my main squeeze, I went paparazzi with my trusty cam. Got a few shots before heading back to dancing.








EmCee for the student demo part of the program was IBDI President Arnold Wong.
EmCee  Prez Arnold Wong
Classes on the Ewa side of the ballroom were called to  demonstrate first.

1) International Tango I (Instructor: George Suetsugu)
2) International Cha Cha I (Instructor: George Suetsugu)
3) Bachata (Instructors: Dean & Suzy)
4) Quickstep (Instructor: Jim Prado)

Then the classes from the Diamond Head side of the ballroom came out to perform.

1) International Foxtrot I (Instructor: Thomas Campbell)
2) Bolero (Instructors: Frank & Lani)
3) International Waltz I (Instructor: Albert Franz (Pro)
4) International Samba I (Instructor: Albert Franz (Pro)

All the students danced very well in their demo of the dances they had learned.

For the Instructors part of the program to demonstrate the dances for the 4th Term, Thomas Campbell and assistant demonstrated the International Foxtrot I. Mr. Albert Franz and assistant demonstrated the International Waltz II, and the International Cha Cha I.

Music was provided and played by Dean.
Mr. Albert Franz and Dean 

Lani and I want to thank all those dancers who joined in to dancing the Bolero with our students. Also a big mahalo to Suzy and Diana who presented Dean, Lani and me with leis, to IBDI for the parting gifts, to Heleen and Atlas for the gift, and to all those who wished us well and farewell.
Much thanks also to Richard Chung and SnowJade who assisted us in the Bolero class.

Suzy and Dean

Heleen and Atlas
SnowJade, Lani, Dean, Suzy, and  VP Diana