tool name

Friday, Aug. 07, 2009

Foothill Living: Three-day hula workshop in Mariposa

Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.

-- King David (Kawika) La`amea Kalakaua

MARIPOSA -- If you've always wanted to visit Hawaii, but have yet to make the trip, the Mariposa County Arts Council with the Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation is bringing a small part of Hawaii to the foothills.

Kumu Hula Keala Ching, a favorite cultural educator, composer, hula dancer and spiritual adviser of the island people, will present a three-day workshop next week on the techniques of hula dance. A minimum donation of $65 is suggested for the workshop. Children and adults may attend, with or without previous dance experience.

Also, with island dancers to accompany him, two free performances are scheduled:

At the Mariposa Arts Park on Aug. 15 at 5 pm and on Aug. 16 at 2 pm at the park in Coulterville.

The hula is a ceremonial-type dance typically accompanied by chanting or singing (called "mele"). It was developed by the Polynesians who settled in the Hawaiian Islands.

Ancient hula existed for centuries, before contact with Western civilization. This style is called "kahiko" and is performed with chant and traditional instruments.

Following the influences of Western culture, the hula changed, becoming known as "auana"; it uses songs and modern instruments, such as the guitar, double bass or ukelele.

Dancers often wear bright costumes with decorations in the form of jewelry and headpieces--oftentimes made of tropical flowers or leaves. They usually perform with bare feet.

Hula kahiko varies in style with moods from solemn to playful. It is a complex art form with many hand motions and leg steps. Serious dancers must practice and memorize every movement. To make a mistake in a performance can be considered unlucky and disrespectful. The dance may be performed to pay tribute to an important person, or can be used as a form of prayer at official state functions.

Kumu Hula Keala Ching spent his childhood on the island of Oahu, and began training as a dancer with the Men of Waimapuna. He speaks the Hawaiian language fluently, and has spent many years learning and building his knowledge of the art form, resulting in his recent graduation in the "uniki" rites. "

"Kumu Hula" is what a teacher of the hula is called, as kumu means "source of knowledge." Ching has performed in Switzerland, Japan, Italy and Tahiti and often judges hula dance competitions.

The Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation was formed to preserve and pass on the Hawaiian culture with the hula protocol, the study of the Hawaiian language, and by sharing the stories passed down from the elders, what used to be strictly an oral history.

Proceeds from the workshop will benefit the NWIO Foundation. For details including price and locations, please contact the Mariposa County Arts Council at (209) 966-3155 or e-mail: info@arts-mariposa.org.

(Sources for information used here are Wikipedia and the Mariposa County Arts Council.)

Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net, or at her Sun-Star blog: City Girl, Country Life.