Yesterday, on an early November Saturday, there was a hula exhibition at the foot of Futaarasan Shrine. I had just left Parco department store to go home when I heard the sound of Hawaiian music from across the street. Curiosity piqued, I went to see what was going on. As I imagined, there was a hula show taking place.
Dancers were out in their bare feet swaying to the music this cold day. Their dedication to their art was impressive. I wouldn't have wanted to dance on cold stone pavement with the threat of rain in the air. There were a number of dance teams, each dancing to a different song. The songs were sung in Hawaiian (recorded), but the dancers seemed to know the words and were singing along. It was fascinating to see the almost trancelike states that the more advanced dancers achieved. They seemed to be truly telling a story with their hands and body. I noticed how centered the good dancers were. It was like watching a religious dance, which it probably was originally and perhaps continues to be in Hawaii itself.
The troupe leader and emcee was explaining the context for many of the dances and it was enlightening to hear themes such as harvesting seaweed and taro and other daily activities. The hand gestures and lower body movement of hips and feet were very evocative of their themes. I couldn't help thinking about the commonalities of Japanese dance and Hawaiian. At their foundation they are about telling stories and they are about the linking of the sacred with the mundane. It was touching to see something that was so expressive and joyful. This is what great dance is, isn't it? Whether it's flamenco or Japanese festival dancing, it expresses our feelings about life wordlessly through movement.
And the little girls were adorable.
Dancers were out in their bare feet swaying to the music this cold day. Their dedication to their art was impressive. I wouldn't have wanted to dance on cold stone pavement with the threat of rain in the air. There were a number of dance teams, each dancing to a different song. The songs were sung in Hawaiian (recorded), but the dancers seemed to know the words and were singing along. It was fascinating to see the almost trancelike states that the more advanced dancers achieved. They seemed to be truly telling a story with their hands and body. I noticed how centered the good dancers were. It was like watching a religious dance, which it probably was originally and perhaps continues to be in Hawaii itself.
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