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  • By Cynthia Richardson


    Don't think that you'll be just moving your body around in a grass skirt. When you do this, you chant as well while you do it. It's an essential part of the process. It portrays the words of the oli or mele (chant or song) in a visual dance form. There's a lot more to hula dance classes Hanover PA than you might currently imagine.

    Though this art form is ancient and changing all the time, one of the oldest forms is still the most popular, and it has stood the test of time. Before Western people brought their influence to the Islands, kahiko, the ancient form, flourished. There's a chant that people do along with the movements, and they use the same kind of instruments that their ancestors designed, giving a very cultural feel.

    Western influence came in, it began to change and shape the way hula was, and it evolved due to this. It is clear that the native people, the more traditional hula dancers, felt that the art was drifting away or wandering. Very fittingly, this specific style is called auana, which means just that, and usually includes a song and Western instruments like the ukulele, guitar, and double bass.

    If you're just looking for a casual, not too out of the ordinary experience, you might want to look at what kind of class you may be getting yourself into. There are a lot of classes that do things in a very traditional way, which, although you may be stepping outside your comfort zone, it may make it a more enjoyable, immersive experience. The classes are called halau.

    One of the things that still happens a lot in this kind of class is the practice of doing an entrance chant. This is something that has been done in this culture since ancient times. It's good to know that this is appropriate, and maybe even what some of the popular common chants are, before attending.

    The two main positions in dancing like this involve both a sitting and a standing position. The sitting position is known traditionally as soho, and the standing position is called luna. There are dances that involve both of these positions, meaning dancers get up and down a lot, so beware if you have weak knees.

    It's easy to get overwhelmed by the complexity of many of the hand motions and signals used in this style of dancing. Just know that there are also easier moves that are much simpler for the beginner to start with. That's why it's so important to get yourself a good teacher, because she or he will truly know what's best.

    By performing this kind of expression, you'll find yourself acting out the very forces of nature. Wind, the sea, and many others are depicted here, and this gives power and is an amazing experience to the performer and audience alike. Human emotions are also expressed, like yearning or adoration.




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