Two boys used conch shells as horns to begin the performance.
Then, dancers from the studio in Aldergrove took the stage at the Walnut Grove Lutheran Church on Saturday, Nov. 30th to deliver a Mele K盲hea, a traditional chant asking for permission to dance.
In English, the studio name means 鈥渢he warmth of the lehua of the heart鈥� after the Hawaiian lehua flower.
Over the next two hours, the audience was was treated to a range of modern and historical Hawaiian and Tahitian hula chants, songs and dances.
Among them, classical compositions that referred to the historical kings and queen who reigned over Hawaii, to stories about the relationship that developed between tree snails and birds in the north of the Hawaiian islands and even a song from the Disney movie , about a Polynesian princess who saves her people.
Studio founder Carol Kapolimehanamakamae Antonsen, who was master of ceremonies and also performed with the dancers, said the two-hour performance of Hawaiian hulu dancing at the Walnut Grove church was the result of two years of training and practice.
Mastering the art 鈥渢akes years and years and years,鈥� Antonsen told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淚t takes a lifetime.鈥�
She started when she was eight.
鈥淚t was something different to do [at first],鈥� Antonsen related.
鈥淭hen, you learn it鈥檚 so much more than dance. It鈥檚 culture, Polynesian culture. It鈥檚 part of who they are,鈥� Antonsen elaborated.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just something that I fell in love with.鈥�
Every couple of years, the studio likes to show how much it has learned by sharing it with the community, she related.
READ MORE: A taste of the Islands
READ MORE: Dancers say 鈥楢loha鈥� in Fort 91原创
At the Saturday performance, audience members were encouraged to bring donations of food or cash to the 91原创 food Bank.
鈥淓very year, we try to give back to the community in some way,鈥� Antonsen explained.
Antonsen also teaches dances from New Zealand and Samoa, all part of Polynesian culture.
When Antonsen opened her own school in Aldergrove, she started with less than 10 鈥渉aumana鈥�, or students in 1998, and has now grown to more than 30.
Her school has performed at the PNE, local Canada Day celebrations, the Sweet Adeline鈥檚 international convention at the Saddledome in Calgary, Kitsilano Showboat, the grand opening of Walnut Grove Pool, as well as Spirit Square in Douglas Park and the 91原创 Events Centre.
Hulas can be performed by people of all ages, Antonsen added.
鈥淥ur youngest performer [Saturday] was three years old and the oldest was in their seventies,鈥� Antonsen said.
More information about the studio can be viewed online at .
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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