Feel like dancing?

Well, I'm back after a brief hiatus. It's been pretty busy around the ol'Kuniyuki house. This week on iheartfaces, the contest category is 'I wanna dance!' Seeing as how I met my wife dancing in Tucson, it would seem like I should have a bunch of dancing photos. Well I have a few.

This one is titled: Ghosts of Dances Past


The photo was taken when I was part of the thriving Austin Swing Dance scene. The venue is the American Legion in downtown Austin on a Wednesday night about a decade ago at a dance sponsored by Austin Lindy Hop. The lighting was never good so I had to use a fill flash.

The photo is raw and gritty because that was the scene at the time. It was real, filled with people inspired by the beauty of movement and the energy of music. Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, kick-ball-step, were words we innately understood along with tempo and musicality. When I took the photo I wanted to capture a memory and a moment, to somehow embody the organic movement and expressions of joy.

As you can tell we didn't often dress to impress. But we didn't have to. We would dance into the wee hours of the night and then go to an eatery (Denny's or local all night sandwich shop) to refuel before the next morning.

My brother and I would go down with a couple of our buddies, taking shifts at the wheel and managing some sleep between Killen and Austin.

Here is a short poem I wrote at the time when we would travel an hour each way, and dance up to five days a week, just for the sake of dancing...

O' Muse, where do you dance tonight?
Music abounds, 'tis weekend's start
Yet of you there is no sight

O' Muse, where do you dance tonight?
In the cavernous halls of my heart
Where rhythm stirs the night

The scene continues to thrive in Austin and around the US. Check out austinswingsyndicate.org if you're in Texas.

Some photo facts:
-That is talcum powder on the floor to reduce the friction and improve one's spin.
-The young girl on the left auditioned for "So you think you can dance"

Check out other photos at

The Places I Love...

So this week on iheartfaces.blogspot.com, the theme is My Story in Photos: The Places that I Love. Unfortunately, I do not have digital photos of all the places I love. My life has taken me around the world to so many interesting places, from Washington DC to Tanzania, to Stockholm and Singapore.

Despite the lack of photos in my digital repository, here are some of the most recent places that I love...


I love going out on walks with my wife and kiddos. Whether we're hiking the Adirondacks, roaming through Texas Hill Country, or meandering along Arizona Riparian habitats, the place I love most is with my family!


Another place I love is the dance floor. I've always loved the dance floor, but did not learn to dance until I was in College. Even then, I did not dance much until one day in Texas I gave it a whirl. The picture here is one I took of a buddy while in Korea. I love dancing because you can go almost anywhere, find a scene, and be happy. Most importantly, I met my wife Lindy Hoppin' in Tucson. So the dance floor has many happy memories!


I love the East coast of South Korea. The area is so picturesque, despite the fact that there are areas of beach lined with chain link fence and concertina wire.


The desert is a beautiful place. I've spent a lot of time in the desert and appreciate it for its beauty.


I love the coast and the beach, in particular because my sweet heart is a 'coastal soul.' We've been to some great beaches from Sanibel Island, to South Padre and to the sandy shores of San Diego. Great times, so they definitely rank among the places I love.


Geodesic domes. Fun in a geometric house! I love this place because it was our first home together on a lake named Desire in Renton, WA.


Seoul is an amazing city. Traffic is a problem, but a trip there is priceless experience just for the amazing food, culture, and experience!


Ah, the lakes of New York. Beauty resplendent in the colors of Fall.


Korea in the Fall. Amid the bustling city of Seoul and in the surrounding mountains, you can find the most amazing colors and natural beauty.




China. I am glad I had the opportunity to travel there with my sweetie. It is a country with a rich history and a vibrant culture.

Thank you for your indulgence! Check out other places that people love at the link below!!