That's what I had to do to learn the dance. But before that, I had to turn my head around. My ego around. This is not profound. This is what your mama always said about sharing, and she was right.
See there was this long period of time where every single week we had a new student in class. And Kumu had us do "Blue Hawaii" over and over. Which was fine. Really. You start to pick up things. You can round arms more and bend knees more. You can smile, follow your right hand with your eyes, act the story, engage hips. You start to feel pretty confident. Pretty secure in your hula-ness.
And for me, because it's all about me as you know, I was feeling damned secure and more than a little smug that I knew how to do something that my husband didn't know how to do, most of my friends didn't know how to do and my time in class with my hula sisters was uniquely and specifically and selfishly mine. Then someone I knew wanted to take the class. She asked me about it. I heard the bitchy voice of Evil Cathey start to fabricate the lie, the "Well, I'll have to ask if she is taking any..."
I had to fight her. Mental hand clamped over her mental mouth I almost shouted, "Sure! Come and see how you like it!" Even then, she wouldn't shut up. She worked on me all week. I don't want to go back to the beginning. I don't want to share my special time. I don't want anybody else in my class!
I'll tell you what though. As I'm internally huffing and puffing through yet another explanation of Kaholo, Ka'o, Lele and feeling All That and bracing myself for another round of "Blue Hawai'i," guess what?
"OK, we are going to learn a new hula," said Kumu. "'E Huli Mākou,' Let's all turn around."
And guess what? We're all newbies again. Right back where we started. Two left feet to learn a ridiculous new step where you have to wiggle and walk in circles at the same time. And she called it a "fun" hula, an easy one, a lighthearted, little something different. We struggled. We all struggled together and we all, eventually, sort of, got it.
As hard as it was, I knew what was going on in my head was harder. Hula is all about sharing. Kumu was willing to share it with me, my Genius Friend and my hula sisters shared in the learning of it, and it was my responsibility to share it with someone else. At least not block them. At least give them the chance I was given. And as much as it absolutely was for me, a gift for me, it is not the kind you keep.
The newbie didn't stay in class. In fact she left the island. But it wasn't my fault. Honest. And wherever she ends up, if she ever hears the music, some part of her body, some arm, foot, hand or hip is going to wiggle, is going to remember and suggest "let's all turn around." And she might just show somebody, and that would be cool.
And guess what else? When you fight the ego back, when you make Evil Cathey shut up, you can learn that much faster. E Huli Mākou.
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