Hula Dance
Hula dancing today is connected with an image of beautiful woman who nearly naked moving her hips to flowing rhythm of nice radio music. Usually with coconuts on their breasts as a top, and grass on her hips as a skirt. There are many schools of hula today on Hawaii as well in many countries in the world. A school where they teach Hula is called Halau. Students can be any age from small children to adults, and they are taught the ancient forms of Hula Auana. Hula Dancers wear fresh flower leis for the enjoyment of the viewer. Traditional Huna dance was a sacred temple dance. It was traditionally performed by younger women and men before they were introduced into adulthood. The traditional Hula dance was not preformed for humans but for Gods. Traditionally Hula is the language in which Kahunas of a certain type would talk to gods.
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Hula dancing is traditionally a dance of smoothing and flowing movement throughout hips and arms.
Smooth bodily motions and chants are included in traditional Hula dancing. The movements used are said to traditionally tell a story of some sort or they can even use movements to represent things in nature such as beautiful palm trees blowing in the breeze and fish swimming very smoothly in the ocean. Hula dancers both female and male wear traditional skirts know as a pa`u. Originally they are made from tree bark cloth called tapa. Sometimes the male dancers would also sometimes wear a loincloth called Malos. To make skirts they also sometimes use natural, native plants other materials like dried leaves. Traditionally female Hula dancers would not wear tops, but today they now wear a pareau, strapless top or a muumuu. Costumes would typically be in coordination with the reason for the dance. If a dance was to honor a water god then they would wear water related costumes, like blue, green and sometimes even shells. Hula Dancing involves a lot of hip, feet and arm
movements. Traditionally Hula dancing is danced to live music, some of the instruments include: The Pahu which are typically made from hollowed out coconut tree trunks and are intricately carved and also covered with shark skin. It is used to accompany the chanting and movements. The puniu or kilu is a smaller drum type thing made from a coconut shell and covered with the skin from a kala fish. The dancers often tie these drums to their legs and strike them in rhythm or counter rhythm to their movements.The puili is dried bamboo about two feet long and has been split into strips down most of the length. The dancers strike two puili together or sometimes against their bodies to create a rattling noise. The ‘ohe is a very simple bamboo flute that produces a soulful sound. What makes this flute different from other flutes this one is played by blowing air across the opening from one nostril and is often times called a nose flute. The uli’uli is about a grapefruit sized gourd from the La’amia tree that was dried, hollowed out and after pebbles were put inside, they are decorated with bright red and yellow feathers. It is kind of like maracas and they are still used today for Hula Auana as well as Hula Kahiko. Ipu are Hawaiian gourds that are dried which have had the insides removed and the tops cut off. Dancers hold the ipu by the “throat” in one hand and carefully strike it with the palm of fingers using the other hand or it is struck against the body and sometimes even a pad the ground, in rhythm to the Hula. Two gourds are sometimes glued together to create an ipu heke. Ili’ili are two small and flat river rocks the dancers use to make percussive sounds with like Spanish castanets. Kala’au are two sticks that the hula dancer hits together to make percussive sounds. Some dancers use one short and one staff- like long one, but they are typically short. Ka’eka’e vary in lengths, they are made of bamboo sticks that are open on one end. The Hawaiians hit the Ka’eka’e on the ground to make a drum like sound. The Kulili is a triple gourd rattle and it also uses a sort of pull string to rotate the individual parts inside. The Pu is like a trumpet that is made from a seashell, like a conch shell. The Ukulele and Hawaiian steel guitar are very famous Hula instruments that are more modern. They both were adapted by Hawaiians from some early European instruments. The Ukulele is possibly another of the most well known Hawaiian words in the world. This instrument is really easy to learn and play. Hula dancing has many different elements to learn and understand but with the right amount of hard work and dedication it can be mastered. Hula is an ancient dance that has been being danced for an extremely long time and it has a lot of meaning and background. The music that comes from this style of dance is very widespread and diverse. From the instruments to the movement to the costumes Hula dancing is very diverse and in a way kind of unique.
Although the Mandan may differ from other Plains Indians in the fact that they live in a rooted community, they share many traditions with the neighboring tribes. They believe in a great spirit, they use medicine bundles, sacred pipes, have a sweat lodge and conduct many religious and spiritual ceremonies. The Mandan have a ceremony like no other recorded that is exclusive to their tribe called the Okipa or Okeepa.
The story of Olaudah Equiano and his people went through a lot throughout the time of the 18th Century. Africans faced, “the part of Africa, known by the name of Guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast above 3400 miles, from the Senegal to Angola, and includes a variety of kingdoms.” This is where it first started the business of slavery and selling and buying slaves for them to work for their owners. During this time men and women had to face different types of punishment from adultery and other types of reasons to put them to death, execution, but if the woman had a baby they were often spared to stay with their child. African’s displayed there different types of traditions through weddings, friends, public
The Folklorico group presentation I was honored to observed was the “Grupo Folklorico Juventud” from North Salinas High School. I decided to attend to this presentation because I use to be part of this Folklorico group. I also enjoy watching the dances for the reason that I believe they are beyond beautiful. It is amazing how a simple dance could transmit so much information while representing a region from Mexico. From my observation experienced, I noticed every region has different movements and customs for a reason. While observing the presentation I noticed most women used long skirts to create different shapes. They usually create the eight shape, half a circle or an entire circle which is created when the dancer does an entire spin while holding and moving their skirt. The skirt is also moved in different levels, such as high, medium, and low. The two levels that are used in most of the dances is the high and the medium level. While dancing the men and women usually do the same steps and movements. All the dances include “zapateados” which are known as foot dances or stomps. The “zapateados” are usually done with different parts of the feet such as the toe, heel and the sole of the feet. The dances include “zapateados” with different sections of the feet because every part creates a different sound. Most of the dances also include jumps and turns. It is extremely important for the
A brief description of the Pueblo Indian culture and religion are needed to get a full understanding of why their dances were misinterpreted by white settlers and why the Indians were judged and treated in such an unjust way. Pueblo Indians lived in Arizona and New Mexico and had a very different culture religiously than the white man. White religious history shows us that women were not seen, in European and new American culture, as not being significant to religious practices. In the Pueblo religion, however the woman was regarded in a different light. They rarely practiced in religious rituals but were the center of their people’s religion. Pueblos had rituals that were performed exclusively by men, and there, these men imitated women’s reproductive pow...
Leading up to the celebration the girls are taught a certain dance that must be performed at the ceremony. “the new initiates are brought into town for the first time since the initiation process began…” At the ceremony the Mende girls wear a Sowei mask and costume which is considered to be the embodiment of the river spirt Sowo. Once the mask and costume is on the person transforms and her actions are no longer hers but are the actions of the spirt Sowo. A sacred dance is performed and dance moves represent the strength and power of woman as members in the Mende community. “Sowo mask are divided into three structural components- the neck, face, and coiffure. Carved from a single block of lightweight wood, the masks weigh only two to four pounds. The mask displays a shiny black surface representative of the value assigned to smooth dark skin.” The rings around the masks neck demonstrates a trait that is considered beautiful in Mende cultures. Every mask has a different hairstyle, representing the style of the woman the mask is made for, you can see items such as shells, metal and claws on the coiffure.
Native American music has many different musical styles. Within every Native American tribe there is a variety of musical styles and instruments. In response to the research that I have conducted, there are three main musical styles that are going to be my point of focus. The Sioux Grass Dance, the Zuni Lullaby, and the Iroquois Quiver Dance are the principal methods which contribute to Native American music.
It is said that ancient times were simpler than the present day. Life was simply about surviving. But of course, change is inevitable. Humans constantly feel the need to expand grounds or to go where conditions are best suited for them. Eventually, a tribe or race would have met another on their own. But what was life like before the different tribes and races met? In present day research, it is seen that though there was no contact whatsoever, separated ancient tribes and/or races were deemed similar. Somehow, human minds branch off into different views of the same topic, depending on where the people are located. Take the Hawaiians and Middle Easterners for example, they remained on opposing sides of the world and yet they have similar forms of
On the inside of the club door a large notice is pinned up. The notice
Hawaiian is unique among the fifty states, especially in regards to its native music form, which is still preformed, and captivates audiences even today. Hawaiian chanting, music, and dance are not only key parts of life on the island, but have also become cultural icons as well as profound symbols of nature and religion in Hawaii. Hawaii has a rich history, beginning with the early settlers from Polynesia who brought their traditions and religions to Hawaii. Over the years, the inhabitants took those traditions and adapted them to their new home, creating the definitive culture that, even with Western influences, still is a captivating force within the society.
For many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, the sun dance was the major communal religious ceremony . . . the rite celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth of participants and their relatives as well as the regeneration of the living earth with all its components . . . The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication to insure harmony between all living beings, continues to be practiced by many contemporary native Americans. -Elizabeth Atwood LawrenceAs the most important ritual of the nomadic Plains Indians, the Sun Dance in itself presents many ideas, beliefs, and values of these cultures. Through its rich symbolism and complicated rituals we are able to catch a glimpse into these peoples' view of the world. A Sun Dance is held when a man feels the need to be a dancer to fulfill certain wishes, primarily "for his deliverance from his troubles, for supernatural aid, and for beneficent blessings upon all of his people." (Welker) It is this dancer who usually bears the expenses of the Sun Dance (Atwood), including a feast for all that comes to the celebration. (Welker) Motivations behind the Sun Dance varies slightly between tribes. The Crow held the ceremony to seek aid for revenge for family members killed in warfare. The entire event surrounding the Sun Dance generally lasts from four to seven days, though longer events exist. On the first day a tree is selected to serve as the sun-pole, the center pole for the Sun Dance Lodge, or New-Life-Lodge, as called by the Cheyenne. (Atwood) The selection of the tree is usually done by the eldest woman of the camp, who leads a group of elaborately dressed maidens to the tree to strip off its branches. On the next morning, right as the sun is seen over the eastern horizon, armed warriors charge the sun-pole. They attack the tree in effort to symbolically kill it with gunshots and arrows. Once it is dead it is cut down and taken to where the Sun Dance Lodge will be erected. (Schwatka) "Before raising the sun-pole, a fresh buffalo head with a broad centre strip of the back of the hide and tail (is) fastened with strong throngs to the top crotch of the sun-pole. Then the pole (is) raised and set firmly in the ground, with the buffalo head facing ! toward the setting-sun." (Welker) The tree represents the center of the world, connect...
The Mohawk people would usually wear moccasins if they would go away from their village. The males in the tribe would also wear their leggings. They would wear the leggings because it was a great protection from thorns that they could get, or poison ivy. The mens leggings were tied by cords and for the women, their leggings would go to the knee and tied above. The reason that their leggings were shorter was because they had long skirts that would cover and protect, their knees and higher.
All around the world, there are thousands of cultures. Although they are different, every culture partakes in dance. Dancing is something known worldwide. Every culture has traditional cultural dancing they partake in. Mexico has many cultural dances. La danza del venado is one traditional dance from Northern Mexico. La danza del venado, is known as the deer dance.
For example, the Chi Wara is a ceremonial object. The Chi Wara is from the Bamana people, who used the visuals of dance as well in their art. The Chi Wara is a mystical, zoomorphic, animal headpiece that encompasses an antelope, anteater, and human. It is said to bring favors of fertility, agri...
Different dances came from different cultures in this performance. As I had said before, “Oshun, Goddess of Love”, came from Africa. It arrived in America during the slave trade and has been here ever since. “Paper Moon” came from Japan. The text from the dance came from an adaptation from “Omoiyari”, which is an ancient Japanese dance ritual.
Folk dance is also a popular types of dance. Folk dance is a variety of dances that reflect a certain culture. There are many types of folk dance including aboriginal dance, clogging, irish dance and square dance. Folk dancing started in the 18th century, the steps were then passed through the generations. Many children songs and games today come from folk