The art that hawaiian dancers carry on today in many parts of our present world is actually what originated in the islands of Hawaii. The Polynesian people brought this language of dance to the islands many centuries ago, and it has formed part of their culture ever since. As the centuries have passed, there have been many changes and additions but the basic idea of telling a story continues to this day.
The story is told either verbally in a Mele, which is a song, or in an Oli, which is a chant. The dance called a Hula accompanies these verbal descriptions with gestures of their body, hands and face. The chant and hula dance are generally considered a method of prayer and as such is sacred. The song is a more recent addition. It is often delivered at public ceremonies and welcoming events.
The oldest version of this Hula is called the Kahiko and dates back to the beginning of time on the islands. The Oli or chant, and traditional instruments such as drums and stick instruments usually accompany it. The mele or song is seldom seen with the older version of hula. This version of Hula started to change with the influx of western influences.
These western influences introduced a new version of the Hula called the Auana. This word means wandering or drifting, as in drifting away from the old ways. This is where you get more evidence of the mele or song accompanying the hula, as well as modern western instruments. Usually these consist of the guitar, double bass and ukulele.
Another newly segregated type of hula is called Ai Kahiko, which means return to the past and has become very popular since the early 1920s. This has continued through to the 21st century when people are popularizing the olds ways including a greater use of the Oli instead of the mele and a greater preponderance the old prayer methods and a movement away from the Christian message.
The second segregation of hula that has come into the main stream is something called Monarchy, which encompasses hula composed during the 1800s. This was when the Islands monarchy was at its height and travelling the world it became quite well known. It also is a reference to Queen Victoria the monarch of Great Britain for most of the 1800s.
There are two major positions from which the hula is performed. The standing position called the luna dance posture, and the sitting position known as the noho dance posture. Most dances are performed in one or the other posture. Some dances utilize both postures but this is rare. People generally assume all hula is performed standing up, and are surprised when they see a performer sitting down. As it is the face and the hands that are telling the story not the legs, it becomes more understandable.
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 story is told either verbally in a Mele, which is a song, or in an Oli, which is a chant. The dance called a Hula accompanies these verbal descriptions with gestures of their body, hands and face. The chant and hula dance are generally considered a method of prayer and as such is sacred. The song is a more recent addition. It is often delivered at public ceremonies and welcoming events.
The oldest version of this Hula is called the Kahiko and dates back to the beginning of time on the islands. The Oli or chant, and traditional instruments such as drums and stick instruments usually accompany it. The mele or song is seldom seen with the older version of hula. This version of Hula started to change with the influx of western influences.
These western influences introduced a new version of the Hula called the Auana. This word means wandering or drifting, as in drifting away from the old ways. This is where you get more evidence of the mele or song accompanying the hula, as well as modern western instruments. Usually these consist of the guitar, double bass and ukulele.
Another newly segregated type of hula is called Ai Kahiko, which means return to the past and has become very popular since the early 1920s. This has continued through to the 21st century when people are popularizing the olds ways including a greater use of the Oli instead of the mele and a greater preponderance the old prayer methods and a movement away from the Christian message.
The second segregation of hula that has come into the main stream is something called Monarchy, which encompasses hula composed during the 1800s. This was when the Islands monarchy was at its height and travelling the world it became quite well known. It also is a reference to Queen Victoria the monarch of Great Britain for most of the 1800s.
There are two major positions from which the hula is performed. The standing position called the luna dance posture, and the sitting position known as the noho dance posture. Most dances are performed in one or the other posture. Some dances utilize both postures but this is rare. People generally assume all hula is performed standing up, and are surprised when they see a performer sitting down. As it is the face and the hands that are telling the story not the legs, it becomes more understandable.
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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