Check out our first Hula Mai Road Show - now
available for bookings! Here's a few shots from the rehearsal. Click here for
the July 24th Road Show photos!
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Ho'ike at the Plaza - Fabulous!
What a show! On June 25th The Hula Mai Dancers and Mele Na Kapuna "sold out" the Grinstead Amphitheater with shoulder to shoulder standing room only. A year of hard work, fun, tears, and joy culminated in a wonderfully successful first public performance by Hula Mai. It was the first Hawaiian show ever performed in the plaza, and some say it was the best show of all.
See the rest of the photos from the show by clicking here. See the photos of the cast party by clicking here.
Both beginning and continuing hula classes resume on Friday, September 17. Enjoy your summer, then Hula Mai - come and dance! Call Linda Gavron, Program Director at Vintage House for more information. 707-996-0311.
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Overview of Hula Mai
Hula Mai offers classes in the hula at Vintage House in Sonoma, California, taught by Betty Ann Ka'ihilani Bruno. The name, Hula Mai, is a verbal beckoning, an invitation to come and dance, literally: Come here and hula. When Betty Ann established Hula Mai in May of 2009, her hope was to inspire a love for the hula through knowledge and understanding of the Hawaiian culture.
Both written and recorded materials are available so students can practice at home. The classes cover basic steps of the hula and choreographed dances which will include both 'Auana (contemporary hula) and Kahiko (ancient chants).
Betty Ann Ka'ihilani Bruno
The choreography includes both Kahiko and 'Auana
Kahiko
is the old style or ancient hula, danced to a chant accompanied by a drum
(Pahu) or gourd (Ipu-heke). Some ancient hulas were taught under very strict
rules, and were called 'hula kapu' because they were for ceremonial purposes
only, and not entertainment. Thus, they were not available to the general
public. That has changed, however, since the 1970's and today Hula Kahiko is
widely performed and can be enjoyed by everyone. The traditional costume for
women doing Kahiko is the "pa'u."
'Auana style hula can be described as the 'modern hula.' It
is danced to melodic songs accompanied by ukeleles and guitars, etc.The lyrics are often in English, as
opposed to the Kahiko chants which are always in Hawaiian.Costumes for 'auana style hulas can be
traditional ti-leaf skirts, or dresses adapted from western styles - the
mu'umu'u, holomu'u or holoku.
Kahiko - Merrie Monarch Festival
Auana - Merrie Monarch Festival
People
with all levels of dance experience are welcome.
Comfortable clothing is recommended and also a dance wrap or pareau.
(Some "loaners" will be available during the class for people who don'thave their own.)
Vintage House is in the town of Sonoma and generously sponsors Hula
Mai. For more information about Vintage House and other programs that
may interest you, click here, or call Linda Gavron, Program Director, at 707-996-0311.
Hula classes resume Friday, September 17. No experience, no coconut shells, no grass skirts necessary. Beginning and returning students welcome. Give Linda Gavron, Program Director at Vintage House a call for more information at 707-996-0311.
