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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
 Posted - 04/08/2007 : 02:59:53 AM
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Aloha kakou,
I wanted to ask you all an opinion question about dancing hula. I had been fortunate enough to take a couple hula lessons when I went to Maui two years ago and then another one this past February on the same island but with a different kumu. I only know one hula: "Hukilau." (You can laugh at that; I don't mind.) When I had the lesson this past February, I didn't say this out loud, but in my head I was thinking, "OK guys, I remember this one from two years ago. I'm ready to move on to other stuff now. Come on!" So the question is this: Do you think I need to learn more hapa haole ones before jumping into traditional Hawaiian songs, or if learning traditional ones is what I want to do, can I just go ahead and learn some? I want to learn to dance "My Yellow Ginger Lei" as a traditional one and maybe some Keali'i Reichel ones too.,
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He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
Edited by - alika207 on 04/08/2007 03:05:18 AM |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 04:38:53 AM
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It all depends on where your heart is. I would say that someone learning hula for the first time, and where Hawaiian is not your native language, the hapa haole hula may be easier to remember and to know when the different steps and hand gestures would be appropriate. Now, my own personal opinion is that hula is taught as your kumu would want it to be done....and how the kumu's kumu wanted it to be done. Hula is suprisingly similar to any other formalized dance, such as ballet. Each foot movement and each hand movement means specific things. Additionally, hula is much more than the dance...it is a way of life. It is hard toembrace that way of life on the mainland. Just because someone teaches you a hula, doesn't necessarily mean that they are a kumu hula. They may be merely a dance teacher. I would suggest you get some books or some DVDs. A very good DVD is"Kumu Hula - Keepers of a Culture". It features various kumu hula and halau, most notably Vickie Holt Takamine, who currently teaches At UH Manoa. Also, Eddie Kamae's film Words, Earth & Aloha, though not about hula specifically gives more background into the mele and the importance of words. It helps to provide an understanding of why hula must be carefully and respectfully danced, not just dancing to be dancing. Hula, when done properly, has great mana. Hula Kahiko is not only beautiful to watch and listen to, but it provides a great history of Hawai`i. Hula auana is none less beautiful, and perhaps more popular because the mele are of a more modern era. A very easy hula to learn when a beginner is "Puamana". The movements are not nearly as complicated and the song is short but sweet. I suggest an in-depth research program if you are really serious about learning hula.
Me ke aloha,
Wanda |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 04/08/2007 3:08:50 PM |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 1:34:03 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
It all depends on where your heart is. I would say that someone learning hula for the first time, and where Hawaiian is not your native language, the hapa haole hula may be easier to remember and to know when the different steps and hand gestures would be appropriate. Now, my own personal opinion is that hula is taught as your kumu would want it to be done....and how the kumu's kuma wanted it to be done. Hula is suprisingly similar to any other formalized dance, such as ballet. Each foot movement and each hand movement means specific things. Additionally, hula is much more than the dance...it is a way of life. It is hard toembrace that way of life on the mainland. Just because someone teaches you a hula, doesn't necessarily mean that they are a kumu hula. They may be merely a dance teacher. I would suggest you get some books or some DVDs. A very good DVD is"Kumu Hula - Keepers of a Culture". It features various kumu hula and halau, most notably Vickie Holt Takamine, who currently teaches At UH Manoa. Also, Eddie Kamae's film Words, Earth & Aloha, though not about hula specifically gives more background into the mele and the importance of words. It helps to provide an understanding of why hula must be carefully and respectfully danced, not just dancing to be dancing. Hula, when done properly, has great mana. Hula Kahiko is not only beautiful to watch and listen to, but it provides a great history of Hawai`i. Hula auana is none less beautiful, and perhaps more popular because the mele are of a more modern era. A very easy hula to learn when a beginner is "Puamana". The movements are not nearly as complicated and the song is short but sweet. I suggest an in-depth research program if you are really serious about learning hula.
Me ke aloha,
Wanda
Mahalo nui loa no kou post.
Actually, "My Yellow Ginger Lei" is hapa haole now that I think about it. I think I had always called it traditional Hawaiian because the second verse is a Hawaiian interpretation of the first one, but it's mostly in English with that exception. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2007 : 6:46:45 PM
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hi 'alika,
i got to learn one hula at the last aloha music camp - hope keawe taught us "kawika". it was so much fun! hope was a great teacher and worked us pretty hard while keeping it light. having the week to work on it before we performed at the ho'ike was good. i'm not sure who will be teaching us this year - i think that there will be one session devoted to hula kane. george's camp also has great hula lessons, too. so, i guess i'm just giving you an ad for the camps
since you're studying hawaiian, learning the dance a song in hawaiian might be more fun for you? one of the simpler hulas is "e huli makou". "lei nani" is more involved (how can it not be? the lyrics are a lot more interesting) but still not too hard.
is there someone who can teach you?
aloha,
keith
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2007 : 12:36:04 AM
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quote:
and maybe some Keali'i Reichel ones too.
Having attended a hula workshop in March 2006 taught by Keali`i Reichel, the man is a TOUGH taskmaster. He is meticulous about both language and choreography. He taught two hula -- one kahiko and one auana. He began the workshop by going over the `oli over and over and over. Important that you understood perfectly what the `oli is conveying. Then he taught the hula one line at a time from the `oli. After he felt the class had that down good enough for a quick weekend workshop, he taught the auana, yes, to one of his mele - Maunaleo. However, notice that his method is to teach the foundation...kahiko. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2007 : 1:32:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by marzullo
hi 'alika,
i got to learn one hula at the last aloha music camp - hope keawe taught us "kawika". it was so much fun! hope was a great teacher and worked us pretty hard while keeping it light. having the week to work on it before we performed at the ho'ike was good. i'm not sure who will be teaching us this year - i think that there will be one session devoted to hula kane. george's camp also has great hula lessons, too. so, i guess i'm just giving you an ad for the camps
since you're studying hawaiian, learning the dance a song in hawaiian might be more fun for you? one of the simpler hulas is "e huli makou". "lei nani" is more involved (how can it not be? the lyrics are a lot more interesting) but still not too hard.
is there someone who can teach you?
aloha,
keith
I love "Kawika," especially when the Brothers Caz sing it. Maika'i no, 'ae?
I am definitely looking into the Aloha Music Camp, not this year because I'll be doing other stuff at the same time but definitely in the future. It sounds like a great experience. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2007 : 03:35:54 AM
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I love "Kawika," especially when the Brothers Caz sing it. Maika'i no, 'ae?
i picked up Guava Jam by sunday manoa one sunny day while wandering front street in lahaina. i nearly wore out that cd playing that song. (I also thought that the name of the group was Guava Jam, but that's another story).
have you heard mark ho'omalu's version? nani kona leo ikaika...
quote:
I am definitely looking into the Aloha Music Camp, not this year because I'll be doing other stuff at the same time but definitely in the future. It sounds like a great experience.
it doesn't get any better. I've never attended george's camp, but my friends who have say the same thing that AMC people say. to me, it's like being part of a huge and somewhat unruly family of very talented people.
aloha,
keith |
Edited by - marzullo on 04/10/2007 04:17:48 AM |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2007 : 04:45:26 AM
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Many people learn "Ulupalakua" as their first hula. There are only three verses, the concepts are simple and it's in Hawaiian language.
Jesse Tinsley |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2007 : 07:39:35 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Many people learn "Ulupalakua" as their first hula. There are only three verses, the concepts are simple and it's in Hawaiian language.
Jesse Tinsley
It wasn't the first one I learned, but it's certainly the one that has "stuck" the best. |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2007 : 2:06:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Retro
quote:
Originally posted by hapakid
Many people learn "Ulupalakua" as their first hula. There are only three verses, the concepts are simple and it's in Hawaiian language.
Jesse Tinsley
It wasn't the first one I learned, but it's certainly the one that has "stuck" the best.
In that case, what was the first one you learned? |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2007 : 2:41:29 PM
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I was afraid you were going to ask that...I think the first one I STUDIED was "Waikaloa," but the first one I 'got' was "Kane`ohe." Then "Kawika" - first one in kahiko-style. Over the years, I've learned only a handful, including "Papalina Lahilahi" (as part of a couple), "Laupahoehoe," "Kapua E," "Ula Noweo" (kahiko) & one or two more that escape my memory at the moment.
The problem is that I shifted from dancing to learning `ukulele after only about a year with the halau, and I was better at music than dancing - so the dancing kinda fell away. The nice thing is that, having studied a little of the dance, I think it makes me a better musician, because I now feel the songs a little more like the dancers do - I often catch myself shifting my weight to match them as I play. Now that I play bass in shows more than `ukulele, having that dancer's sense of timing and rhythm has been helpful. |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 01:19:50 AM
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| I know that no one has posted on this topic for what seems like a million years (lol), but I just wanted to inform you all that I might join Hui Na Kawaiuaili, a halau in New Hampshire! I've e-mailed the kumu to ask if I'd be able to, but she hasn't replied yet. I'll definitely keep you all posted. I hope I can fit it into my schedule. Wish me pomaika'i! |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 01:23:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hawaiianmusicfan138
quote:
Originally posted by marzullo
hi 'alika,
i got to learn one hula at the last aloha music camp - hope keawe taught us "kawika". it was so much fun! hope was a great teacher and worked us pretty hard while keeping it light. having the week to work on it before we performed at the ho'ike was good. i'm not sure who will be teaching us this year - i think that there will be one session devoted to hula kane. george's camp also has great hula lessons, too. so, i guess i'm just giving you an ad for the camps
since you're studying hawaiian, learning the dance a song in hawaiian might be more fun for you? one of the simpler hulas is "e huli makou". "lei nani" is more involved (how can it not be? the lyrics are a lot more interesting) but still not too hard.
is there someone who can teach you?
aloha,
keith
I love "Kawika," especially when the Brothers Caz sing it. Maika'i no, 'ae?
I am definitely looking into the Aloha Music Camp, not this year because I'll be doing other stuff at the same time but definitely in the future. It sounds like a great experience.
Now, after going back and looking at what we had all written before, I think the version of "Kawika" I was speaking of was the Sunday Manoa one. They confuse me sometimes because Robert and Roland were in it. Haha! |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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Kaiulani
Akahai
77 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2008 : 05:11:59 AM
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Aloha Kakou...
As a Kumu Hula with many haumana ranging from 3-80 years old - all levels...this is the procedure I follow when teaching a new hula:
>research...research...research-the mele, composer, the history, all levels of emotions...ALL involved.
>memorize the mele (kahiko, hapa haole, contemporary)
>then (and only then)does the movement begin
I love going to workshops...yes.
My husband, Kimo (he's a Slacker/Ukulele...etc) and I also give many workshops during the year.
The only issue I have with workshops - is that - there is usually not enough time to "work" on a hula...especially for a beginner student.
My haumana learn a new hula from me every 2-3 months and they are not allowed to "perform" it until all the beautiful pieces come together with the movement. There is never a rush to perform.
At my Gallery Kauai, Center for Hawaiian Studies & Performing Arts...beginners learn the "technique" first. By the word technique-I refer to the culture, history, mythology, basic steps...etc.
Once my haumana have a good understanding-then the hula choreography is taught.
Every Kumu is different and I respect (with much aloha) all the work which goes into the perpetuation of Hula. I am NOT putting down any other teaching styles.
I am very strict with my haumana. Everything must be pono. We have so much fun in the process!
Also as a Kumu hula...the more you know...the more you realize that you need to know...it is a life time of learning...it is living the culture with much...much Aloha...and research.
TO KEITH M. - Kimo sends a BIG Aloha from Rochester, NY !!
Mahalo & A Hui Hou,
Ka'iulani
www.GalleryKauai.com
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Me Ke Aloha,
Ka'iulani
www.GalleryKauai.com |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 2:32:09 PM
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| Follow-up news: I got an e-mail from the kumu this morning, and she said she'd love to teach me. I'm so excited! |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 11:49:29 PM
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| You will need to learn to leave your ego at home. Humility, obedience and patience are great skills to learn and you will probably be taught them first before any dance movements. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 01/17/2008 08:35:40 AM |
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