Artistic hawaiian dancers have been carrying on the tradition of the hula for many years around the world as the love of this special dance has spread. Originally brought to the Islands by the Polynesian peoples centuries ago, it has now formed a standard of the culture. Like anything else it has changed over time with additions, but it is still a method of prayer and storytelling that it was many years ago.
The story is told either verbally in a Mele, which is a song, or in an Oli, which is a chant. The dance called a Hula accompanies these verbal descriptions with gestures of their body, hands and face. The chant and hula dance are generally considered a method of prayer and as such is sacred. The song is a more recent addition. It is often delivered at public ceremonies and welcoming events.
Originally, the hula was only found with the Oli or chant and was called the Kahiko. This type was popular before the advent of the western missionaries and explorers. It was delivered with the traditional Island instruments of the drum and stick instruments, and not modern instruments like the guitar. Slowly over time, this method of storytelling and prayer was replaced.
The second type of hula is called the Auana. This term means drifting or to wander away from in the native tongue. This is a more modern version of this hula and has the introduction of western instruments like the double bass, ukulele and guitar. This method of hula is generally accompanied by the song or mele, as opposed to the chant or Oli.
There are two other methods of hula have recently been differentiated. The first of these is called Ai Kahiko, which means something like back to the old ways. It has developed over the 20th and 21st centuries as a way to reinvigorate the old methods of telling the stories about the Islands and its people.
The last type of classification is called the Monarchy division. This is named for the very popular Island monarchy of the 1800s. They traveled widely and became very popular. This encouraged the sharing of hula around the world, but also the westernization of the music and the dance.
Posture is extremely important in hula for the participants, and most people assume that they only correct posture is standing. This is not the case. There is also a strong tradition of hula being delivered while the participant is sitting down. As the hands and the face deliver the storytelling of the dance, it is easy to see how this method will not prevent proper presentation.
In summary, there are four different types of dances that hawaiian dancers perform. These are the Kahiko, the Ai Kahiko, the Monarchy and the Auana. These can be performed standing up, or sitting down, and with traditional or more western based instruments.
The story is told either verbally in a Mele, which is a song, or in an Oli, which is a chant. The dance called a Hula accompanies these verbal descriptions with gestures of their body, hands and face. The chant and hula dance are generally considered a method of prayer and as such is sacred. The song is a more recent addition. It is often delivered at public ceremonies and welcoming events.
Originally, the hula was only found with the Oli or chant and was called the Kahiko. This type was popular before the advent of the western missionaries and explorers. It was delivered with the traditional Island instruments of the drum and stick instruments, and not modern instruments like the guitar. Slowly over time, this method of storytelling and prayer was replaced.
The second type of hula is called the Auana. This term means drifting or to wander away from in the native tongue. This is a more modern version of this hula and has the introduction of western instruments like the double bass, ukulele and guitar. This method of hula is generally accompanied by the song or mele, as opposed to the chant or Oli.
There are two other methods of hula have recently been differentiated. The first of these is called Ai Kahiko, which means something like back to the old ways. It has developed over the 20th and 21st centuries as a way to reinvigorate the old methods of telling the stories about the Islands and its people.
The last type of classification is called the Monarchy division. This is named for the very popular Island monarchy of the 1800s. They traveled widely and became very popular. This encouraged the sharing of hula around the world, but also the westernization of the music and the dance.
Posture is extremely important in hula for the participants, and most people assume that they only correct posture is standing. This is not the case. There is also a strong tradition of hula being delivered while the participant is sitting down. As the hands and the face deliver the storytelling of the dance, it is easy to see how this method will not prevent proper presentation.
In summary, there are four different types of dances that hawaiian dancers perform. These are the Kahiko, the Ai Kahiko, the Monarchy and the Auana. These can be performed standing up, or sitting down, and with traditional or more western based instruments.
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