Hula Dancing Tips

Hula dancing is the traditional dance of the Hawaiian Islands. It is both a meditative and religious experience, as the natives usually dance the Hula to honour their goddess “Laka”. It was also believed that the dance intertwines the dancer to the spirits of the universe. Traditionally, various poems and songs accompany the Hula dance, which was interpreted by the dancers through the different movements of the arms and hands. The modern Hula is very different from the traditional Hula, but the dance still tells a story.

In Hula dancing, the arms of the dancers are outstretched to represent the swaying of the palm trees when they are being blown by the wind. The facial expression of the dancer should be well coordinated with the movements of the arms, fingers, wrists and the hips, as this helps in conveying the message of the song to the audience. Below are five essential tips to learn Hula dancing faster:

1. Learn the history of the dance. The Polynesians who first settled there introduced the Hula dance to the Hawaiian Islands. The original form of the dance, which is called “Kahiko”, was used both to meditate and to entertain guests, particularly western guests. The more modern variation of the dance, called “auana,” is more western than the original because it uses western-influenced instruments. Learning the history of Hula dancing is as essential as learning the dance moves itself.
2. Read up on the “mele”. The mele is usually a chant or song that is used to accompany the Hula dance. If you plan to enroll in a dance school, ask the instructors if they can interpret these songs for you. Understanding the mele is an essential part of Hula dancing, because the dancers need to convey the meaning of the song to their audience.
3. Look for a good dancing school that teaches the Hula dance. Hula dancing schools are called “Halaus.” Some dancing schools require the dancer to learn the Hawaiian native tongue, so it might come in handy to teach yourself ahead of time. You can buy a book to aid you with learning their native tongue, or you can look it up in the Internet. Most serious Hula dancers are required to be fluent in the native Hawaiian Language.
4. Hula dancing requires the use of the fingers, wrists, hands and arms. The most common form of Hula dance involves the following steps: first, extend your right arm and hand to your right and make sure it is level with the shoulder. Slightly bend your elbow, face the palms down, and the fingers should lightly touch each other. Place your left hand on your hip with your fingers pointing downward.
5. And last but not least, make sure to enjoy yourself while learning the dance. Hula dancing is a meditative dance form, and it requires the dancers to connect with themselves and with nature as well. If you do not enjoy the dance, you might have trouble learning it properly.

The steps mentioned above should be able to help you learn Hula dancing in no time. Just make sure to dedicate a lot of time and effort into learning the dance. 

by Hula Jack -

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Hula Dance