Dance: idance showcase (6/16), Jose Luis Ferraro and Rika Fukuda Tango weekender (upcoming)

I went to watch idance studio showcase on 6/16/2018 (Sat).

Some of my friends were performing. Good for them.

Even for adults, it would be a nice experience to dance on stage. Knowing these backstage works and jitters as a performer would give us better appreciation for stage events.

The showcase had four Argentine Tangos. The reason? The studio invited instructors, Jose Luis Ferraro and Rika Fukuda from Buenos Aires, and their Argentine Tango workshops are upcoming in this weekend (6/22-24/2018).

Hazel, idance studio director, liked their Tango in the past Chicago Tango festival and invited them. 

(Note: Hazel favors Salon dancers from Buenos Aires. In my opinion, not all dancers from Buenos Aires are strong. Although I have seen great dancers from the city, some were fairly weak, like in any other arts. My professional habit as a scientist tells me not to blindly believe the title, until I see the goods.   .... I digress.)

Jose and Rika had a few dances in the showcase. They are Salon dancers, so they did not use Stage moves (lifts, dips, high kicks, etc) or nuevo moves.

Yet, to make a dance appealing on stage, dancers have to think of something, right?


In the particular dance they presented, they used dynamic or athletic version of classical Salon Tango. Use of fast giro and rotational moves, larger steps that move them faster from point A to B directionally; both were done smoothly.

I'd never seen them dance previously, so I was not sure about style characteristics of their regular dance. But the presented dance certainly looked good.

In the slow traffic in a crowded milonga, you cannot move like that. In the sense, the dance was "a step toward Stage" version of Salon Tango.


Looking forward to upcoming "Tango weekender" with them.



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This morning (6/19/2018) we had Japan vs Colombia world cup soccer game. I was anticipating a tough game. In the end, it was a nice upset, 2-1 for Japan's win.

At the very beginning of the match (5 min), Colombia lost a player with a red card-PK foul. Although 11 vs 10, the rest of the match looked pretty even. South American football teams are tough.

Dance: Farewell to Macias Dance Center

On Friday 6/8/2018, I went to this ballroom social party. It was farewell party for Macias dance center.

The event description said it well.

"After 48 years of ballroom dancing, Macias Dance Center is saying farewell. The doors first opened in April of 1970 under Town and County Dance Studio and after three years of operation was named after the owner and lead ballroom dancer, Mr. Louis P. Macias. Mr. Macias, “Louie” to all who know him, relocated permanently from the west coast to Oklahoma in the 70s and never looked back. His impact on ballroom dancing for Oklahoma has been felt by many.


There have been thousands of people of all ages taught to dance and grew to love ballroom dancing due to this amazing dance studio. Many have gained the knowledge and improved their dancing abilities along with having fond memories at Macias Dance Center. From the crazy fun dance parties every Thursday night, the family gatherings, infamous Louie birthday parties down to the countless dance performances at showcases. Additionally, Macias Dance Center has educated and trained many instructors of today and helped propel many to the professional ballroom dance arena. Louie and Yolanda want to thank all their customers of the years for joining them at their studio and hope you never quit dancing!


Macias Dance Center has experienced quite a ride over these last 48 ½ years at the corner of 23rd and Classen, however, it is time for the next chapter on their dance card. Louie and Yolanda Macias will continue teaching, however, the space we have all grown to know has closed its doors. Please join Louie and Yolanda for a final farewell gathering on June 8, 2018 at Macias Dance Center for one last dance. Louie and Yolanda have been honored to share their love of ballroom dancing with you and hope that you will join them from 7pm – 10:30pm on June 8th."


They offered many fun parties over years. The party of Friday was fun, too. 

Yesterday (6/9) I heard that the new owner already torn down the ceiling to renovate the place to a massage parlor.

Dancers come and go. Dance places do the same.

But life goes on. We all decide what to do next. My best wishes to Louie and Yolanda.

Science: Proofread, components of research science

Regarding the accepted manuscript, I signed consent form and paid publication fee on 6/5 (Tue).

On 6/6 (Wed) they sent me Galley proof for proofreading. That was quick. Work by the production department of publisher is now done much quicker than previous times. Maybe because publishing software have advanced so much.

For the proofread, I am supposed to answer the publisher's queries, read the galley proof and fix errors if any, and respond within 48 hours.


For research science, publication is a critical part.



Research science is made up of several components, including

   # Doing research (literature search, identifying important, new, and valuable work, hypothesizing, experiment, evaluate and interpret the data, make a statement, discuss,....)

   # Publish the work/disseminate new knowledge (write manuscript, submit to the journal, go through the review process, complete paperwork and pay publication fee once accepted, work with production department  [<--I'm here], contact colleagues once published,....)

   # Obtain funding (identify funding opportunity and granting institutes, write competitive grant application, send application with your institute, get funded, complete paperwork and see the money, [then do what you proposed to do/research].....)

   # Teaching your specialty (class, presentation, seminar, talk in a meeting, etc)

   # Contribute to your field (publish, peer review paper or grant, serve in editorial board of a journal, etc)

  # Take care of your business/team (administrative work, committee service, communicate with team member, funding agency, administrator, colleagues, etc)

  # Teach above to your students and/or postdocs

All are important, but some aspects are more important than others at a time.


The proof was sent back yesterday (6/6/18). The journal's production manager sent me an acknowledgement. Now they are working to finalize the manuscript.


In the meantime, we are working on the follow-up work.

You can make yourself quite busy for this profession. 


I noticed fireflies in my backyard yesterday. Today we had thunderstorm with some hails. Almost Summertime.