Photo Essay: Hula
The members get together on Mondays and Saturdays. Since all of the members are either in school or have other jobs they come to the practices they can make it to and stay as long as they can.
Ron helped to create the group when his own daughters were quite small. Now he plays in the troop's band. Even though one of twin daughters, who was in the original group, has died he still loves hula and anticipates Saturday practices.
The movement in the practices is quick and constant. By the end of the practice the room has gotten about five degrees warmer.
The group consists of dancers whose heritage goes back to many different islands. If there is a technical question they call an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. However, they have no reference for the Maori style of dancing.
There are different styles of dance that the troop performs. One or two members will take respinsibility for learning the basics and then they will teach the rest of the group. Members also go to seminars around the country.
The newer girls have begun to help each other. The performance season is coming up and the veteran dancers are busy picking songs, readying the band, and perfecting styles.
All of the new girls; kaycee, Jackie, Jaimie, and Farah; show what they have learned so far. Some will be able to perform for the public this season, but others know they may not be ready until next year.
The group is a professional hula troop, but they do not take themselves too seriously. Jeans and t-shirts are totally acceptable for practice, but effort is a necessity.
Angel, one of the veteran members, is pregnant with her second child. She will not be able to dance in shows until October, but she still performs the vocals for the group.
Saturday May 5th was Angel's birthday, and because the members of the troop have been friends for years, they decided to throw her a small party before their 10 a.m. practice.
Maya, 27, has begun to get more and more Hawaiian tattoos. The tattoos along with her hula dancing help her feel connected to her heritage.
The group recently learned that they would not e able to take part in national competition because they were unable to get financial aid. They send a quick email and its time to get back to the learning. They have a season to prepare for after all.
The group is a postmodern mesh of old island tradition and modern American conveniences. Older band members sing tribal songs into a new sound system as the dancers match their traditional tattoos with Americanized clothing.
Family, friends, and neighbors are often stopping by practices to chat or take part as members of the band. The troop has become accustomed to maintaining their concentration despite the coming and going of the audience.
After all of the work of going to seminars, scheduling prectices, twirling their hips for four hours at a time, and designing costumes the troop has the satisfaction of getting it right and moving as one.
The members get together on Mondays and Saturdays. Since all of the members are either in school or have other jobs they come to the practices they can make it to and stay as long as they can.
Ron helped to create the group when his own daughters were quite small. Now he plays in the troop's band. Even though one of twin daughters, who was in the original group, has died he still loves hula and anticipates Saturday practices.
The movement in the practices is quick and constant. By the end of the practice the room has gotten about five degrees warmer.
The group consists of dancers whose heritage goes back to many different islands. If there is a technical question they call an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. However, they have no reference for the Maori style of dancing. 
There are different styles of dance that the troop performs. One or two members will take respinsibility for learning the basics and then they will teach the rest of the group. Members also go to seminars around the country.
The newer girls have begun to help each other. The performance season is coming up and the veteran dancers are busy picking songs, readying the band, and perfecting styles.
All of the new girls; kaycee, Jackie, Jaimie, and Farah; show what they have learned so far. Some will be able to perform for the public this season, but others know they may not be ready until next year.
The group is a professional hula troop, but they do not take themselves too seriously. Jeans and t-shirts are totally acceptable for practice, but effort is a necessity.
Angel, one of the veteran members, is pregnant with her second child. She will not be able to dance in shows until October, but she still performs the vocals for the group.
Saturday May 5th was Angel's birthday, and because the members of the troop have been friends for years, they decided to throw her a small party before their 10 a.m. practice.
Maya, 27, has begun to get more and more Hawaiian tattoos. The tattoos along with her hula dancing help her feel connected to her heritage.
The group recently learned that they would not e able to take part in national competition because they were unable to get financial aid. They send a quick email and its time to get back to the learning. They have a season to prepare for after all.
The group is a postmodern mesh of old island tradition and modern American conveniences. Older band members sing tribal songs into a new sound system as the dancers match their traditional tattoos with Americanized clothing.
Family, friends, and neighbors are often stopping by practices to chat or take part as members of the band. The troop has become accustomed to maintaining their concentration despite the coming and going of the audience.
After all of the work of going to seminars, scheduling prectices, twirling their hips for four hours at a time, and designing costumes the troop has the satisfaction of getting it right and moving as one.
posted by Erin Lennon at 4:23 PM
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