Great job this week, guys. We started making notes on "To You Sweetheart, Aloha": both hands and feet. This will be great practice for you especially when we learn more hulas, either here in class or in workshops. We finished the first verse this week. We'll continue with notes on the next verse next week.
I am feeling a bit under the weather this week, so I am spending a bit more time with my laptop and iPod listening to songs (Hawaiian and otherwise). I found a great free app in iTunes for Hawaiian words. If you have an iDevice, I recommend to download it. This will help when we start diving into Hawaiian songs.
A me ke aloha! See you next week.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Session Two, Class 2 - January 10, 2012
Great job this week! We learned the second verse of "To You Sweetheart, Aloha" and finished the song. There are some common movements between the first and second verse, so I am hoping that this verse was easier to learn.
To recap, new footwork that we need:
- Kaholo
- Ka'o
- Kahela (new for this verse): Right foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body. Repeat on left side.
We also learned new hand gestures:
- Dream: Put your hands together at the side of your head as if you are sleeping.
- Tonight: Start with your arms extended on one side. Move one of your arms in an arc over your head.
- Pray: Put your hands together in front of you as if you are praying.
Don't get frustrated if you don't get it the first time. My martial arts sensei once said "This is a 20-year technique." These hulas may take a session to learn, but you learn something new everytime you dance them.
For next week, we'll review the song, but we'll take time to write the steps. Bring a pen and some extra paper (a notebook is probably better). I will bring a print-out of the lyrics to help you with your notes (I forgot to hand them out next week).
A me ke aloha! A hui hoi! (With love! Until we meet again!)
To recap, new footwork that we need:
- Kaholo
- Ka'o
- Kahela (new for this verse): Right foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body. Repeat on left side.
We also learned new hand gestures:
- Dream: Put your hands together at the side of your head as if you are sleeping.
- Tonight: Start with your arms extended on one side. Move one of your arms in an arc over your head.
- Pray: Put your hands together in front of you as if you are praying.
Don't get frustrated if you don't get it the first time. My martial arts sensei once said "This is a 20-year technique." These hulas may take a session to learn, but you learn something new everytime you dance them.
For next week, we'll review the song, but we'll take time to write the steps. Bring a pen and some extra paper (a notebook is probably better). I will bring a print-out of the lyrics to help you with your notes (I forgot to hand them out next week).
A me ke aloha! A hui hoi! (With love! Until we meet again!)
Aloha to Session Two
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!
I am very excited to start the new year with a new song. We will be learning "To You Sweetheart, Aloha" this session. This is one of the most popular Hawaiian songs and will be a good addition any hula dancer's repertoire.
We started with the first verse this week, and learned some new hand-foot combinations. Just to review, for our footwork, we will only need these:
- Kaholo: This is the most basic step. Step to the right, step together, step again, and together. Repeat to the left.
- Kahela: Foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body.
- Ka'o: The sway on steriods. Make a figure-8 with your hips, as if you're drilling your legs down the ground.
New hand gestures:
- Sweetheart: Place your hands palm in over your heart (left side of your chest) and roll your right hand in front of the left
- Aloha: Make a slanted-T with your hands near your mouth. Extend the vertical part of the "T" to the side.
- Smile: Place your hands palm in near your smile. Flip your hands towards the audience.
- Tears: Start with your hands near your left eye in the same slanted-T position. With the vertical part of T, shake it down to about waist level.
We'll review the first verse this coming week. Keep practicing your basics!
I am very excited to start the new year with a new song. We will be learning "To You Sweetheart, Aloha" this session. This is one of the most popular Hawaiian songs and will be a good addition any hula dancer's repertoire.
We started with the first verse this week, and learned some new hand-foot combinations. Just to review, for our footwork, we will only need these:
- Kaholo: This is the most basic step. Step to the right, step together, step again, and together. Repeat to the left.
- Kahela: Foot stretches out to form a 45 degree angle from the body.
- Ka'o: The sway on steriods. Make a figure-8 with your hips, as if you're drilling your legs down the ground.
New hand gestures:
- Sweetheart: Place your hands palm in over your heart (left side of your chest) and roll your right hand in front of the left
- Aloha: Make a slanted-T with your hands near your mouth. Extend the vertical part of the "T" to the side.
- Smile: Place your hands palm in near your smile. Flip your hands towards the audience.
- Tears: Start with your hands near your left eye in the same slanted-T position. With the vertical part of T, shake it down to about waist level.
We'll review the first verse this coming week. Keep practicing your basics!
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