Mahalo for supporting my hula class this session. We had a really great last class and reviewed the items that we learned this session. Godiva chocolates also helped. We also warmed up to Kawika, a hula kahiko that we will learn in the future.
Also, apologies for missing the 5th class post. It is the holidays after all and things to get really busy. Here's some notes from that class:
New footwork:
- `Uwehe (oo weh' heh) - step with one foot (usually the right first). When both feet are on the ground, both knees pushed forward and the heels are raised. Remember the hips are swaying when all this is happening. Repeat with left. It's actually easier to do than write. `Uwehe means to open, reveal or uncover.
-Ami in a circle - also known as an ami moku. You can do this by making a T with your feet when you start to pivot. As you do this, make the back curvy part of your ami. Complete the ami once you are facing the new direction. Moku means island.
Next session, I am planning to teach To You Sweetheart, Aloha, but I may change my mind. We'll keep reviewing Hanalei Moon, but a new hula will allow us to expand our hula repertoire.
A hui hoi!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Session 1, Class 4 - December 6, 2011
Sorry for the delay in my blog post this week -- but the holidays are upon us, and the chores are piling up.
Fortunately, there is nothing new to blog this week. With the new visiting students last week (Mahalo for the mai tais), we reviewed basics and the first two verses of Hanalei Moon. Please refer to our first class's blog for basic steps.
We'll continue refining Hanalei Moon until the end of the session. Remember, the goal for this session is to memorize Hanalei Moon, so practice, practice, practice...
I may have a surprise hula for tomorrow.
A hui hoi!
Fortunately, there is nothing new to blog this week. With the new visiting students last week (Mahalo for the mai tais), we reviewed basics and the first two verses of Hanalei Moon. Please refer to our first class's blog for basic steps.
We'll continue refining Hanalei Moon until the end of the session. Remember, the goal for this session is to memorize Hanalei Moon, so practice, practice, practice...
I may have a surprise hula for tomorrow.
A hui hoi!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Session 1, Class 3 - November 29, 2011
Aloha kakou!
Yey, we did it - We finished Hanalei Moon last night! We completed the second verse and the chorus. We'll continue to refine and memorize the rest of the session.
For those who need a refresher, I found an old You Tube video of Ka Hale Hula. This was from our 2009 Furry Con performance. That was a lot of fun. You'll find some familiar faces in this one.
Until next week! Practice, practice, practice!!!
Yey, we did it - We finished Hanalei Moon last night! We completed the second verse and the chorus. We'll continue to refine and memorize the rest of the session.
For those who need a refresher, I found an old You Tube video of Ka Hale Hula. This was from our 2009 Furry Con performance. That was a lot of fun. You'll find some familiar faces in this one.
Until next week! Practice, practice, practice!!!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Session 1, Class 2 - November 22, 2011
Hau’oli La Ho’omakika’i kakou.
Mahalo again for a fun class last Tuesday. Great warmup to Lisa Stansfield's "All around the world". A bit unorthodox, but it was on the radio and a great way to start the class.
Quick review of last Tuesday's class:
- Basic steps and hand motions (see our first class's blog for notes).
- Ami kuku (new): Rapid form of ami. We did it with two normal speed ones on "top" and three fast ones lower.
- Place name (third form - new): This one looks more like a "X". Start at with your hands in front, slightly to the left. Make your first diagonal line going down to the right. Make your second diagonal starting from the right.
We also reviewed the first verse of Hanalei Moon (and walked through -- or shall I say lele'ed through -- the second verse and chorus). Again, no worries... we'll go through the second verse next week in detail.
I hope you are all sneaking in some practice while the turkey is roasting. Burn some calories by doing a couple of amis in the kitchen while stuff is baking and kaholo while serving food.
Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
Mahalo again for a fun class last Tuesday. Great warmup to Lisa Stansfield's "All around the world". A bit unorthodox, but it was on the radio and a great way to start the class.
Quick review of last Tuesday's class:
- Basic steps and hand motions (see our first class's blog for notes).
- Ami kuku (new): Rapid form of ami. We did it with two normal speed ones on "top" and three fast ones lower.
- Place name (third form - new): This one looks more like a "X". Start at with your hands in front, slightly to the left. Make your first diagonal line going down to the right. Make your second diagonal starting from the right.
We also reviewed the first verse of Hanalei Moon (and walked through -- or shall I say lele'ed through -- the second verse and chorus). Again, no worries... we'll go through the second verse next week in detail.
I hope you are all sneaking in some practice while the turkey is roasting. Burn some calories by doing a couple of amis in the kitchen while stuff is baking and kaholo while serving food.
Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Session 1, Class 1 - November 15, 2011
Aloha kakou (everyone)!
Mahalo for attending the first class last night. Just to review, here's what we covered. No worries for those who did not make it; we'll go over it again next class.
Basic Steps:
- Sway: (also known as an Akalewa or a Ha'alewa) - Hips right to left
- Kaholo: This is the most basic step. Step to the right, step together, step again, and together. Rinse and Repeat to the left.
- Kahela: Foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body.
- Kawelu: (also known as the Kalakaua) - Cha-cha like steps. Usually done one facing left, and then to the right. Drills are 16 count facing front to the right then left (32 total - whew).
- Ami: Hip rotations. Hip forms more of a "D" than an "O".
- Lele: Walking (and swaying at the same time)
Basic Hand movements:
- Kuhi: Basic hand movement, commonly used in the Pa (or the musical part between verses). Pretend you're petting your cat (or dog) with your fingers closed. If that does not work for you, pretend you're removing something sticky in your fingers with your thumb.
- To see: Both hands start right by the eye and one extends to front, at about a 45 degree angle.
- Moon: Both hands start at waist level and forms a circle.
- Wind: One arm extend to 45 degrees, while the other forms a tornado around your head.
- Sea (Rolling and double-dip): One version hands move in circle around the other, other has diving motions.
- Place Name (two types) - First one, one arm extended up, other is extended forward and sweeps. Second one, both arms start at about 45 degrees in front left, Right hand floats down.
We also touched on the first two verses of Hanalei Moon. I am using the music provided by my kumu, but you can download the song in iTunes or your favorite music repository. Also, as promised, I'll bring copies of my halau notes next class so you can have an idea of how my notes look like, but I encourage everyone to make their own notes.
BTW, I will try my best to blog notes after class. Can't make any promises right now, but hopefully this will help. This is probably about the longest that I will write, since we covered a lot last night.
A hui hou! 'Til next week.
Mahalo for attending the first class last night. Just to review, here's what we covered. No worries for those who did not make it; we'll go over it again next class.
Basic Steps:
- Sway: (also known as an Akalewa or a Ha'alewa) - Hips right to left
- Kaholo: This is the most basic step. Step to the right, step together, step again, and together. Rinse and Repeat to the left.
- Kahela: Foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body.
- Kawelu: (also known as the Kalakaua) - Cha-cha like steps. Usually done one facing left, and then to the right. Drills are 16 count facing front to the right then left (32 total - whew).
- Ami: Hip rotations. Hip forms more of a "D" than an "O".
- Lele: Walking (and swaying at the same time)
Basic Hand movements:
- Kuhi: Basic hand movement, commonly used in the Pa (or the musical part between verses). Pretend you're petting your cat (or dog) with your fingers closed. If that does not work for you, pretend you're removing something sticky in your fingers with your thumb.
- To see: Both hands start right by the eye and one extends to front, at about a 45 degree angle.
- Moon: Both hands start at waist level and forms a circle.
- Wind: One arm extend to 45 degrees, while the other forms a tornado around your head.
- Sea (Rolling and double-dip): One version hands move in circle around the other, other has diving motions.
- Place Name (two types) - First one, one arm extended up, other is extended forward and sweeps. Second one, both arms start at about 45 degrees in front left, Right hand floats down.
We also touched on the first two verses of Hanalei Moon. I am using the music provided by my kumu, but you can download the song in iTunes or your favorite music repository. Also, as promised, I'll bring copies of my halau notes next class so you can have an idea of how my notes look like, but I encourage everyone to make their own notes.
BTW, I will try my best to blog notes after class. Can't make any promises right now, but hopefully this will help. This is probably about the longest that I will write, since we covered a lot last night.
A hui hou! 'Til next week.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Me... teaching?
I am currently in sabbatical from Hula. Because of my ongoing health issues, I have not been going to my regular hula practice. I visit my kumu as much as I can to keep my hula skills up, talk story, and because she is such a cool person. Who else can explain hula using a Star Trek analogy - that's my kumu!
One Thursday evening, in one of my visits with her, while preparing for an upcoming workshop with Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, she told me about an opportunity to teach and that I should consider doing it.
Me.... teaching hula? I have never thought about that possibility at this point in my hula career; after all I am still a youngster compared to those with years and years of experience. And I am not actively dancing with the halau right now. Sure, I'm an active student of Loea, but I am out of practice.
After some thought and consultation with my very supportive and understanding husband, I decided to explore this opportunity. I met with Ilima, and she is very excited to start a hula program in her studio which is just minutes away from my home. Long story short, I am starting a new adventure... new beginnings. And I can restart a weekly hula practice again.
Keep in mind, I do not consider myself a kumu, maybe more an alaka'i-in-training. I still have a lot to learn!
Let's start!
One Thursday evening, in one of my visits with her, while preparing for an upcoming workshop with Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, she told me about an opportunity to teach and that I should consider doing it.
Me.... teaching hula? I have never thought about that possibility at this point in my hula career; after all I am still a youngster compared to those with years and years of experience. And I am not actively dancing with the halau right now. Sure, I'm an active student of Loea, but I am out of practice.
After some thought and consultation with my very supportive and understanding husband, I decided to explore this opportunity. I met with Ilima, and she is very excited to start a hula program in her studio which is just minutes away from my home. Long story short, I am starting a new adventure... new beginnings. And I can restart a weekly hula practice again.
Keep in mind, I do not consider myself a kumu, maybe more an alaka'i-in-training. I still have a lot to learn!
Let's start!
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