I am a semi-retired Electronic Engineer/Math & Computer Teacher dedicating
my semi-retirement years DJing contemporary social dance music. I have a
very significant collection of 1940s music and play it on request. I tend to
play more contemporary social dance music (Swing, Disco, Salsa,
Merengue,Cha-cha-cha, Cumbia, Samba, etc.).
I am conservative but contemporary. I do believe that I have the most
extensive repertoire of contemporary social (non-studio ballroom) dance
music in South Dade. I definitely have the best and most extensive Italian
and Polish dance music in South Florida. I also have French and German
dance music. I am a dancer's DJ. I have an excellent collection of dinner or
listening music.
Sometime in 1998 the Hollywood Elks closed their doors. A very high percent
of the members then went to the Hollywood Moose Club. I DJd intermission
music there at a dinner dance. The ages ranged from the mid 60s through
the 80s. At 11:15 PM the place was almost empty. I do not recall seeing any
50-year-olds, therefore no room for expansion. All that was accomplished
was consolidation.
Shortly after, the Coral Gables Elks building was sold out, and they merged
with South Miami Elks. Again, this appears to be a consolidation. Any
building intended with the money from the sale, will not solve anything. It will
only postpone the inevitable, the fading out of the current 70+ generation.
Perhaps, some day as we get older and are not replaced by the next
generation, the South Miami Elks will feel obligated to join forces with Sunset
Elks, that is, consolidate further. Homestead Elks had also closed their doors
not too long after the closing of the Coral Gables branch.
The Polish American Club membership continues to get older. The German
American Social Club is also having trouble keeping its membership.
Latin Ballroom has been dead in Dade years ago for the same reasons.
Why is all this occurring? Because as our generation (I am 80) gets older,
some leave Dade and others simply die off. We are not replacing ourselves
with members of the next generations, the 40, 50 & 60-year-olds.
Mary and I offer one of many possible solutions to this problem.
I am a 80 year young male of Spanish-American roots. My mother came from
Valencia and my father from Salamanca, Spain. I grew up in New York City in
a ballroom environment, both North American, Spanish and Latin.
I got started as a ballroom DJ because I noticed that the attendance in the
dances were diminishing. It did not take me long to notice that the average
age of the dancers were going up with time. I developed a rule:
"In order for a club to survive, it must maintain a reasonably constant
average age among its members. If it does not; if the average age keeps
increasing, the club is doomed."
Why was the average age increasing? Simple. The music was the same as
in the 1940s. I decided to dedicate myself to today's ballroom (social dance),
to attract the next generation (40 & 50 year olds). Wherever possible, I play
music from the 1960s on. I believe that I have the most complete repertoire
of contemporary ballroom in South Dade. I could say the same about 1940s
music. I also have a significant collection of Italian, French and German
dance music.
I have a very extensive collection of 1940s music and will play it on request.
I tend to use the words social dance in lieu of ballroom dance to
distinguish between the non-studio environment vs the studio environment.
As you must have noticed, I am conservative but contemporary.
My experience as a Ballroom DJ and as a math instructor has led me to
suspect that individuals that excessively dwell in the past (such as insisting
that 1040s music is played) have a higher probability of getting Alzheimer's.
What is your opinion on this? I do not drink, smoke nor take drugs, not even
aspirins.
You are welcomed to my house for a demonstration of my equipment and
repertoire.
Miguel Melgar
305-553-0832
mmelgar@bellsouth.net
my semi-retirement years DJing contemporary social dance music. I have a
very significant collection of 1940s music and play it on request. I tend to
play more contemporary social dance music (Swing, Disco, Salsa,
Merengue,Cha-cha-cha, Cumbia, Samba, etc.).
I am conservative but contemporary. I do believe that I have the most
extensive repertoire of contemporary social (non-studio ballroom) dance
music in South Dade. I definitely have the best and most extensive Italian
and Polish dance music in South Florida. I also have French and German
dance music. I am a dancer's DJ. I have an excellent collection of dinner or
listening music.
Sometime in 1998 the Hollywood Elks closed their doors. A very high percent
of the members then went to the Hollywood Moose Club. I DJd intermission
music there at a dinner dance. The ages ranged from the mid 60s through
the 80s. At 11:15 PM the place was almost empty. I do not recall seeing any
50-year-olds, therefore no room for expansion. All that was accomplished
was consolidation.
Shortly after, the Coral Gables Elks building was sold out, and they merged
with South Miami Elks. Again, this appears to be a consolidation. Any
building intended with the money from the sale, will not solve anything. It will
only postpone the inevitable, the fading out of the current 70+ generation.
Perhaps, some day as we get older and are not replaced by the next
generation, the South Miami Elks will feel obligated to join forces with Sunset
Elks, that is, consolidate further. Homestead Elks had also closed their doors
not too long after the closing of the Coral Gables branch.
The Polish American Club membership continues to get older. The German
American Social Club is also having trouble keeping its membership.
Latin Ballroom has been dead in Dade years ago for the same reasons.
Why is all this occurring? Because as our generation (I am 80) gets older,
some leave Dade and others simply die off. We are not replacing ourselves
with members of the next generations, the 40, 50 & 60-year-olds.
Mary and I offer one of many possible solutions to this problem.
I am a 80 year young male of Spanish-American roots. My mother came from
Valencia and my father from Salamanca, Spain. I grew up in New York City in
a ballroom environment, both North American, Spanish and Latin.
I got started as a ballroom DJ because I noticed that the attendance in the
dances were diminishing. It did not take me long to notice that the average
age of the dancers were going up with time. I developed a rule:
"In order for a club to survive, it must maintain a reasonably constant
average age among its members. If it does not; if the average age keeps
increasing, the club is doomed."
Why was the average age increasing? Simple. The music was the same as
in the 1940s. I decided to dedicate myself to today's ballroom (social dance),
to attract the next generation (40 & 50 year olds). Wherever possible, I play
music from the 1960s on. I believe that I have the most complete repertoire
of contemporary ballroom in South Dade. I could say the same about 1940s
music. I also have a significant collection of Italian, French and German
dance music.
I have a very extensive collection of 1940s music and will play it on request.
I tend to use the words social dance in lieu of ballroom dance to
distinguish between the non-studio environment vs the studio environment.
As you must have noticed, I am conservative but contemporary.
My experience as a Ballroom DJ and as a math instructor has led me to
suspect that individuals that excessively dwell in the past (such as insisting
that 1040s music is played) have a higher probability of getting Alzheimer's.
What is your opinion on this? I do not drink, smoke nor take drugs, not even
aspirins.
You are welcomed to my house for a demonstration of my equipment and
repertoire.
Miguel Melgar
305-553-0832
mmelgar@bellsouth.net
 |
| |
 |
| Essays on Subject |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ballroom Activities Other Than Myself |
| Miguel Melgar, DJ |
| Contemporary Ballroom |
| (Social Dance) |