Hawaiian dancers perform beautiful dances to welcome people to their lands, and to celebrate special occasions. Many people all over the world now perform these dancers as their popularity has spread all over the entire globe. They have also become a great exercise especially for those people that are more expressive. This dance came to the Islands many centuries ago when the Polynesian peoples populated the area.
The hula is the dance, which accompanies, or is accompanied by an Oli or chant or a mele, which is the word for the song that is often heard with the hula. Originally, the hula and the Oli were a method of prayer but now it is also used as a welcoming ritual as many know who visit the Islands. Special Oli and mele or songs have and are written for special ceremonial purposes and delivered at great events.
The original method of hula known as Kahiko was the method danced prior to the arrival of western explorers on the islands. Original instruments, not modern western stringed instruments, also accompany this method. Drums and stick instruments are used, and generally, the method of verbal story telling is the chant or Oli.
The second type of hula is called the Auana. This term means drifting or to wander away from in the native tongue. This is a more modern version of this hula and has the introduction of western instruments like the double bass, ukulele and guitar. This method of hula is generally accompanied by the song or mele, as opposed to the chant or Oli.
There are two other methods of hula have recently been differentiated. The first of these is called Ai Kahiko, which means something like back to the old ways. It has developed over the 20th and 21st centuries as a way to reinvigorate the old methods of telling the stories about the Islands and its people.
The last type of classification is called the Monarchy division. This is named for the very popular Island monarchy of the 1800s. They traveled widely and became very popular. This encouraged the sharing of hula around the world, but also the westernization of the music and the dance.
Posture is extremely important in hula for the participants, and most people assume that they only correct posture is standing. This is not the case. There is also a strong tradition of hula being delivered while the participant is sitting down. As the hands and the face deliver the storytelling of the dance, it is easy to see how this method will not prevent proper presentation.
In summary, there are four different types of dances that hawaiian dancers perform. These are the Kahiko, the Ai Kahiko, the Monarchy and the Auana. These can be performed standing up, or sitting down, and with traditional or more western based instruments.
The hula is the dance, which accompanies, or is accompanied by an Oli or chant or a mele, which is the word for the song that is often heard with the hula. Originally, the hula and the Oli were a method of prayer but now it is also used as a welcoming ritual as many know who visit the Islands. Special Oli and mele or songs have and are written for special ceremonial purposes and delivered at great events.
The original method of hula known as Kahiko was the method danced prior to the arrival of western explorers on the islands. Original instruments, not modern western stringed instruments, also accompany this method. Drums and stick instruments are used, and generally, the method of verbal story telling is the chant or Oli.
The second type of hula is called the Auana. This term means drifting or to wander away from in the native tongue. This is a more modern version of this hula and has the introduction of western instruments like the double bass, ukulele and guitar. This method of hula is generally accompanied by the song or mele, as opposed to the chant or Oli.
There are two other methods of hula have recently been differentiated. The first of these is called Ai Kahiko, which means something like back to the old ways. It has developed over the 20th and 21st centuries as a way to reinvigorate the old methods of telling the stories about the Islands and its people.
The last type of classification is called the Monarchy division. This is named for the very popular Island monarchy of the 1800s. They traveled widely and became very popular. This encouraged the sharing of hula around the world, but also the westernization of the music and the dance.
Posture is extremely important in hula for the participants, and most people assume that they only correct posture is standing. This is not the case. There is also a strong tradition of hula being delivered while the participant is sitting down. As the hands and the face deliver the storytelling of the dance, it is easy to see how this method will not prevent proper presentation.
In summary, there are four different types of dances that hawaiian dancers perform. These are the Kahiko, the Ai Kahiko, the Monarchy and the Auana. These can be performed standing up, or sitting down, and with traditional or more western based instruments.
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