<Press Release/Patti Cook>
To culminate the 150th anniversary of the Beamer-Solomon Hula Halau O Po'ohala, Waimea’s traditional hula school will present the third and final “Eia ka Hula (Behold the Hula), E Hula Mai Kakou (Come and Dance)” Trilogy performance at Kahilu Theater from 6-8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 4, 2012. Doors open at 5 p.m. and seating is first come.
To culminate the 150th anniversary of the Beamer-Solomon Hula Halau O Po'ohala, Waimea’s traditional hula school will present the third and final “Eia ka Hula (Behold the Hula), E Hula Mai Kakou (Come and Dance)” Trilogy performance at Kahilu Theater from 6-8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 4, 2012. Doors open at 5 p.m. and seating is first come.
This performance will document and share through hula, music, stunning visuals including Herb Kane masterpieces, and family stories, the final chapters tracing the footsteps of the hula school's five generations of wahine (female) dance masters whose contributions have perpetuated this Hawaiian dance legacy into the 21st century.
The focal point of this third and final presentation will be the accomplishments of fifth generation Loea (hula master), Kumu Hula Hulali Solomon Covington, M. Ed, whose impressive style as a choreographer has earned the halau numerous local and national awards and made possible the performance of the “Eia Ka Hula” series before audiences in prestigious theaters in New York, New Mexico, Japan, Tahiti and throughout the State of Hawai'i. The halau also has been invited to present a portion of “Eia Ka Hula” when it represents the USA at the July 2012 world famous Folkmoot International Friendship Dance Festival in North Carolina along side of dance troupes from 20 other nations.
Loea (hula master) is the title given to an individual who is proficient and entrusted to become the cultural keeper of a particular style of hula, chant or music. Loea are allowed to enhance the characteristics of the style, whereas, a Kumu Hula is an instructor of a style of hula from a specific school of thought.
Loea Hulali’s impressive style of dance teaches the art of precision body movement. To master the complexity and the proper execution of the Beamer-Solomon halau’s basic foot patterns takes seven years of dedicated practice.
Members of the Beamer-Solomon halau also are instructed by Loea Hulali in a dance discipline woven with traditional Hawaiian core values of aloha, love, lokahi and unity. Students’ adherence to these values prepares a dancer mentally, spiritually and physically to perform as a soloist and within a group.
Members of the Beamer-Solomon halau also are instructed by Loea Hulali in a dance discipline woven with traditional Hawaiian core values of aloha, love, lokahi and unity. Students’ adherence to these values prepares a dancer mentally, spiritually and physically to perform as a soloist and within a group.
With the assistance of sister Malama Solomon, Ph.D,, who serves as Kakau Olelo for the halau, and her daughter, Leiomalama Tamasese Solomon, who is the halau’s lead dancer, Loea Hulali has overcome the ongoing challenges of perpetuating a traditional native cultural dance in the 21st. century. The key to the continuance of the art form is Loea Hulali’s and Kakau Olelo Malama’s abilities to connect native Hawaiian hula mana'o (thoughts) dating back to the 1700's to students and families as they live in today's world.
“This identity link demands constant creativity, however once the associations are made by the student, families and the audience, we have achieved our goal and insurance that the dance will continue,” said Kakau Olelo Solomon.
Featured guest artists include Kumu Hula Keala Ching and dancers from his foundation, Na Wai Iwi Ola, as well as Na Mele O Po'ohala (musicians) lead guitarist Russell Paio, bass player and falsetto singer Nathan Grace and Hawaiian Slack Key guitarist Ikaika Marzo and Alaka’i (halau assistant) Stephanie Apolo. Providing additional media arts support are Joy Downey and Ari Bernstein.
Tickets for the final trilogy performance may be preordered by email: poohala2002@yahoo.com, or by calling Loea Covington (938-6357). If there are any tickets available on the day of the performance, they can be purchased beginning at 4:30 p.m.
# # # # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Hulali Solomon Covington (938-6357) Malama Solomon (885-3553)
PHOTO CAPTION: CONTINUING A 150-YEAR HULA LEGACY: Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala’s “Na Hala Ekolu” haumana (students) who attend Waimea Middle School, HPA and Honoka’a Intermediate School, took First Place in the recent 27th Annual Mokihana Hula Competition on Kaua’i. They are (L-R) Kamakamae O’Dell, Jaycie Carvalho, Kealia Haitsuka, Hi‘ilei O’Dell and Ikena Nakoa. ‘Na Hala Ekolu’ will be one of several Halau o Po’ohala hula classes performing during the Feb. 4 final “Eia Ka Hula” trilogy presentation at Kahilu Theatre.
0 comments:
Post a Comment