Hula and Tahitian Dance
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I teach Hula and Tahitian dance for the town of Cary, North Carolina.
Check out my biography!
Check out the Photo Gallery!
There are no classes currently scheduled at the Bond Park Community Center.
History of Hula
The ancient Hawai'ians did not have a written language. They told their history through Hula and chants. Also, to study Hula was not just to learn the dance and chanting, but to become aware of history, nature, language, religion, and culture.
When the missionaries arrived in Hawai'i in 1820, they thought that Hula was immoral and it was forbidden. Hula was taught and practiced in secret, and the Hula kahiko, or the ancient and traditional Hula, was kept alive.
King Kalakaua encouraged a revival of Hula, and it was performed publicly during the 1880s-1890s. When Hawai'i became a territory of the United States in 1890, it went through many big changes, and another form of Hula grew. Hula 'auana, or the more modern Hula, was danced to guitars and the 'ukulele, and was viewed only as entertainment.
Today, people all over the world dance Hula. Both styles (Hula kahiko and Hula 'auana) have been kept alive and are being taught and performed. It is still a form of entertainment for some, but also a way for people to learn about the culture and traditions of Hawai'i.
I teach Hula and Tahitian dance for the town of Cary, North Carolina.
Check out my biography!
Check out the Photo Gallery!
There are no classes currently scheduled at the Bond Park Community Center.
History of Hula
The ancient Hawai'ians did not have a written language. They told their history through Hula and chants. Also, to study Hula was not just to learn the dance and chanting, but to become aware of history, nature, language, religion, and culture.
When the missionaries arrived in Hawai'i in 1820, they thought that Hula was immoral and it was forbidden. Hula was taught and practiced in secret, and the Hula kahiko, or the ancient and traditional Hula, was kept alive.
King Kalakaua encouraged a revival of Hula, and it was performed publicly during the 1880s-1890s. When Hawai'i became a territory of the United States in 1890, it went through many big changes, and another form of Hula grew. Hula 'auana, or the more modern Hula, was danced to guitars and the 'ukulele, and was viewed only as entertainment.
Today, people all over the world dance Hula. Both styles (Hula kahiko and Hula 'auana) have been kept alive and are being taught and performed. It is still a form of entertainment for some, but also a way for people to learn about the culture and traditions of Hawai'i.
Basic Hula Steps
Below are listed a few of the basic Hula steps. To start, you should have your feet about shoulder width apart. Be sure to keep your knees bent, and try to make sure your upper body stays as still as possible. When doing Hula basics, always start to the right and complete both sides (right and left) of the move before moving on to the next step. When moving on to the next step, you should have just completed the left half of the step.
Kaholo - four steps to the right, then four back to the left (the last step should just be a tap before changing directions, without putting much weight on that foot)
Hela - point right foot forward and bring back, repeat on the left (be sure to keep your feet the same distance apart, place your foot directly forward of the starting position)
Ami - rotation of the hips, in a counter clock-wise direction (be sure you're moving just your hips and not your whole body)
Ka'o - swaying of the hips, side to side (it's easier if you lift one heel to push your hip up, pushing the other side down, then switch sides)
Uwehe - stepping in place, raising the heels up and popping the knees forward and out (be sure your knees stay bent, try to practice in front of a mirror to make sure your upper body is staying level, not moving up and down)
Lele Uwehe - step to the right, then point your left foot forward, then move your left foot back and uwehe, do the same to the left (after you step to the right, make sure you don't bring in your left foot as you would in a kaholo, but point it forward)
History of Tahitian Dance
Tahitian dance, more properly known as Ori Tahiti, is a fast and exciting dance performed to native log drums. Ori Tahiti is often what people mistake as Hula, with girls wearing grass skirts and coconut tops, while vigorously wiggling their hips. In general, Ori Tahiti uses fewer hand movements than in Hula. The hip movements are very pronounced.
Below are listed a few of the basic Hula steps. To start, you should have your feet about shoulder width apart. Be sure to keep your knees bent, and try to make sure your upper body stays as still as possible. When doing Hula basics, always start to the right and complete both sides (right and left) of the move before moving on to the next step. When moving on to the next step, you should have just completed the left half of the step.
Kaholo - four steps to the right, then four back to the left (the last step should just be a tap before changing directions, without putting much weight on that foot)
Hela - point right foot forward and bring back, repeat on the left (be sure to keep your feet the same distance apart, place your foot directly forward of the starting position)
Ami - rotation of the hips, in a counter clock-wise direction (be sure you're moving just your hips and not your whole body)
Ka'o - swaying of the hips, side to side (it's easier if you lift one heel to push your hip up, pushing the other side down, then switch sides)
Uwehe - stepping in place, raising the heels up and popping the knees forward and out (be sure your knees stay bent, try to practice in front of a mirror to make sure your upper body is staying level, not moving up and down)
Lele Uwehe - step to the right, then point your left foot forward, then move your left foot back and uwehe, do the same to the left (after you step to the right, make sure you don't bring in your left foot as you would in a kaholo, but point it forward)
History of Tahitian Dance
Tahitian dance, more properly known as Ori Tahiti, is a fast and exciting dance performed to native log drums. Ori Tahiti is often what people mistake as Hula, with girls wearing grass skirts and coconut tops, while vigorously wiggling their hips. In general, Ori Tahiti uses fewer hand movements than in Hula. The hip movements are very pronounced.
Cheryl Schlitter (biography)
(919) 946-6821
This page was last updated on June 10, 2008.