Hearing Protection - Ear Plugs when dancing

I enjoy the entire range of musical range from very loud to whisper quiet with volume being used for emotional expression. On the other hand most clubs and dances have their volume dials cranked to the max and stuck there! Mama was right -turn down those dials. Or the next best thing - ear plugs.

I am one of the few people who wear ear plugs consistently when dancing. It is one of those things that I just do not understand. I guess it is one of those "uncool" things or perhaps people are turned off by the cheap foam ear plugs that one can buy at pharmacies and home improvement stores - 50 for $5.00! If you know why you or your friends don't wear ear plugs please let me know. I am interested in finding out. You can read about why hearing protection is important here and below is how I came to wear the ear plugs that I wear today.

After I started dancing and going out on a regular basis I discovered a change in my perception of my surroundings after a dance, followed by an achy head and even a slight ringing the next day. I immediately went and got foam ear plugs. They worked, like stuffing toilet paper in your ears, BUT the music was muffled. It was distorted! Then I started researching other options. There were the expensive $150-200 custom ear plugs that musicians wear, but way too pricey for my budget and for the average dancer who does not even consider ear protection. Then I found a good compromise - $10-15 high fidelity ear plugs that reduce music volume across the entire spectrum, while not breaking the bank. These are reusable. After every dance night I clean them with warm water and they are good as new for the next evening. I must warn you that some people notice the ends sticking out, but for the price and saving your ears they are worth every penny.

Black bean xacuti curry

There is no excuse not to make quick and delicious home cooked meals nowadays. And it's very easy to make different dishes with the plethora of readymade spice mixes available. Today afternoon my spice was xacuti powder. I fried a cut onion, added a cut tomato, ginger garlic paste, pepper, a little salt and xacuti spice. Added black beans last and simmered. Dish in a nutshell!

Don't like xacuti, or interested in other flavors? Use a different readymade mix and you can get a different dish. For example one, you can make cooking even easier, use an Italian tomato sauce instead of cutting a tomato and get an Italian flavored dish.

Tales from the Wildfire Lounge

Wednesdays the band Djug Django plays from 6-9pm at the Wildfire Lounge. From 6-7:30 they play, they take a half an hour break, then they play until about 9pm, opening up the last hour to open mike where they accompany anyone who wants to sing. (Not many places where one can get an opportunity like that.) Anyway after 9pm there is dj'd swing music so I was staying on...and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find one of the band members, Mike. He said, "It was great to see you again out there. I always enjoy seeing you dance." That made my night. I dance for me, and for the person whom I am dancing with, but it is a cherry on the top when the band also gets enjoyment from the people for whom they are playing for.

So back to the dj'd dance. Second song of the night and I asked this old lady to dance. And she seemed reluctant and even when she agreed she said, "Are you sure you want to dance with me? I'm old enough to be your grandmother..." As we talked I found out that she seemed to think that I hadn't asked her to dance ever since her birthday a couple weeks ago. It had affected her pretty badly. I always make a point of not excluding people, and in fact including everyone my dance card so I was perplexed. I am pretty sure I have asked her almost if not every week. However, from now on I've got something to watch out for. It is a small thing to remember, a small courtesy for something that I enjoy anyway. And this cautionary tale serves as a reminder how the smallest action one takes can mean a lot more to someone else, so don't take care only with the actions that are important to you but with all that you do.

Dance Trinity

Partner dance is typically a conversation between two people in the musical and movement language of a particular dance style. That's where it stays for many, just like the everyday conversations that you might have with colleagues and acquaintances throughout your day. However, it can be much much more.
Trust is the key to getting the most of any endeavor, and that applies to dancing. It is only when truly letting go that one can be immersed in the river of musical emotion and motion, whether it be raging rapids or a gentle stream. Here there isn't necessarily a "specific dance style" but one of soul connection. Two bodies and the music being one together, music and souls transmuted into trinity, three yet one. It is a heavenly feeling and I encourage everyone to work on joining me in enjoying the same.
To start the Trinity trail get ready to move beyond the basics by practicing so that you can do the foundational steps and moves in your sleep. Spend time listening to the music so that you can be musical, such as knowing where the breaks are. Then when you are dancing and a familiar song comes on you can match what you do to the music and your partner. Finally, when these foundational elements can be done without thinking one can let go. This is not the only way to achieve the bliss of the dance trinity, but this is a journey that anyone can follow.

The Comunity of Tai Chi

I’ve been doing Tai Chi - Yang style - since June and have been told that I should stick with it for at least a year before I decide whether or not it is for me. There is a set of 128 moves that one does continuously when doing Tai Chi. I am somewhere in the 30s range and can do about the first 20 or so at home before I start forgetting what the next move should be. It is a great feeling when something flows and one feels the body relaxed or relaxing. I recommend Tai Chi as a great altermative to sitting meditation for those who find it difficult to "sit and empty ones mind"...Tai Chi also has many health benefits that people talk about, and I just read this article in the NY Times on how it eases fibromylagia at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/health/19taichi.html
I was attracted to the Tai Chi mindful practice of moving meditation because the foundation of this practice is based on community. I also like that it is a volunteer run organization and that monies from lesson fees and fund raising go to charities and fixed expenses like studio space and not for instructors or staff.
Tai Chi is also way of living, and I enjoy it as the people really make an effort to get to know each other and in this hectic fast paced world it is a refreshing change to be able to put on the brakes.
I know not much about has been said about Tai Chi so you can learn more about it at http://www.taoist.org/content/standard.asp

La Rumba No by Los Van Van - dj vs live band - and other ramblings

It has been way too long and I've missed so many oppportunities to share. It is a matter of getting into a new rhythmn, adding this blog to my daily pattern...

I discovered a great song at the Oasis last night - La Rumba No. This song is from a 2009 CD called arrasando by the group Los Van Van and can be heard on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3C9EpmC6S4 . So what makes it a great song? La Rumba No has a great clear beat, danceable by almost anyone. Secondly it has an additional piquancy, with the arrangement mixed a little. There are some songs where the band will be creative and change things up so often that only the most advanced/creative of dancers can be with/in the music. There are others where the arrangement is like deeply worn ruts on a dirt track. This song finds just the right balance in my opinion and will be enjoyed by both the advanced dancer who likes cuban salsa as well as those just starting their dance journeys. This brings to mind the difference between dj'd and live music.

When I go to a dance there are many times I feel that a good dj is a 1000 times better than a live band. Last Saturday I was entertained by the band "Grupo Calle Uno" based out of Rochester. A band that played covers of the most popular latin songs heard in the clubs, with few oringinal numbers and not enough playing time. This band took three long breaks, plus seemed to need a long discussion each time before playing the next song. Come on! Is this band practice or a gig? On the other hand I went to Taughannock Falls State Park yesterday evening and heard the "Caribe Jazz All Stars". Great danceable music, with many originals. In fact I like their latest CD - not their older ones so be careful - called "Jorge T Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz All Stars" which can be bought at http://www.jorgevisions.com/store.htm

black eye bean curry?

When I cook I use recipes as a guideline. I take the inspiration provided and make it my own. Just one ingredient can transform a dish. I made black eye bean curry today. It was good, then thought of adding tamarind sauce and wow! Nice tang on the palate! Too often we stop before taking that additional step that would lead us to transforming experiences. Maybe we should all try going beyond the usual more often. Anyway abbreviated bean recipe follows:

Soak a cup of beans, and then pressure cook until melting soft. In a pan heat oil and then add mustard and curry leaves. Add jeera/cumin seed and cook. Add a little fenugeek, but don't cook long. Add onion and fry, together with black pepper, chili powder, turmeric. Then add tomato and garlic and cook. Add pressure cooked beans and mix. The dish is done. Can be had as is or add the tamarind for that tang!