Événement

Pua Ali'i 'llima Dance Performance at Asian Arts Initiative

Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street

Asian Arts Initiative is excited to bring world-renowned, Hawaii-based hula dance troupe Pua Ali'i 'llima to Philadelphia to share ancient and modern style hula dance pieces from their repertoire. The troupe will debut a new piece entitled "E Hui Ana Nā Moku," a suite of ancient chants and Hawaiian style dances that were composed for Queen Lili'uokalani at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

ABOUT PUA ALI'I 'LLIMA (THE ROYAL 'LLIMA BLOSSOM) COMPANY

Pua Ali'i 'Ilima is the hālau hula (school of traditional Hawaiian dance) founded by Vicky Holt Takamine in 1977. The hālau was named by Vicky's kumu hula, Maiki Aiu Lake, and means the Royal 'Ilima Blossom alluding to her graduation from Maiki's Papa 'Ilima, the 'ilima class, and as a descendant from Hawaiian royalty. We treasure the many gifts of hula and mele from our kumu and leave them as a lasting memory to the next generation of hula practitioners. In 2007, after thirty years of teaching hula, Vicky graduated through the 'ūniki rituals of hula two kumu hula, her son Jeffrey Kānekaiwilani Takamine and long time haumana and friend, Momi Kamahele, ten ho'opa'a (drummers/chanters) and ten 'ōlapa (dancers). Pua Ali'i 'Ilima perpetuates the teachings of Maiki through their programs and participation in the many cultural festivals and events throughout Hawai'i and the world. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the hālau in 2012, Pua Ali'i 'Ilima performed at the 85th Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett, Mass., the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC and La Mama Theatre in New York City.

ABOUT "E HUI ANA NA MOKU"

Taken from an ancient prophecy chant predicting the fall of the ali'i (royalty) or the Hawaiian kingdom, the chant also predicts that the people will rise up, the islands will come together (e hui ana nā moku) and the walls will stand firm.

At the time of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and Queen Lili'uokalani, numerous chants were composed for her and published in Hawaiian language newspapers. These chants came in from all islands and were messages of love, support and aloha for their imprisoned Queen. Some of the these chants have never been performed in modern times.

E Hui Ana Nā Moku is a suite of mele oli and mele hula (ancient Hawaiian style dances) that were composed for Queen Lili'uokalani at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.