The Art of Hula Dance

Perhaps you have visited Hawaii, most likely then you are familiar of Hula Dancing. A kind of dance which is a tradition to Hawaii dancing and music.

This kind of traditional Hawaiian dancing and music style is the way of  praise and a form of communication to genealogy and mythology. Based on Hawaiian legend, the first hula dance was done by a god or goddess, which is why this is a sacred dance performed with much respect of Hawaiian culture. As a tradition a hula dance was performed before by both men and women, which of today's many hula performances are done for tourists may often be with women only.

Hula music continues to be passed on to generations of Hawaiians to preserve the cultural heritage. Nowadays the hula music is composed of local Hawaiian folk music as well as modern styles of hip-hop and rap both incorporating along with steel guitars. These distinct and unique styles are all about the hula genre. Many themes used for hula dancing has been influenced by the nearby Polynesian islands. However, hula dancing is very distinct and cannot be compared to any kind of dances all over the world.

The hula dance is usually seen at special festivals as well as other events that includes during luaus. Although as of today a lot of these hulas are carried out for tourists, the actual art of hula which starts back ages ago seems to no longer exist. A traditional kind of hula music includes chanting, many of which is relying on religion. The hawaiian style of folk music which comprises of simple melodies as well as rhythms influenced of poetry. Though its origin is for religious ceremonies and rituals, most of the hula dances of today are carried out for strict entertainment purpose only. If you could possibly get a chance to see a traditional hula and that of the modern style hula side-by-side, you will see the difference of the two.

To learn how to dance hula, it is imperative that you also learn the meaning of each dance moves. Each and every movement or action of the body has its own specific meaning. A hand placement in a hula dance is vital. The different moves of a hula dancer imitates that of a plant. palm tree, animals and even war.

Even if some claim of the chants that accompanies a hula dance was once a very important key of the dance,  as of today the movements done on a hula itself is known of being part of the hula dance which carriers the most of its symbolic meaning. The modern kind of hula dance is "hula auana while the traditional one is known as "hula kahiko".

A particular custom is being worn by a Hula dancer when hula dancing. A typical custom would be a fresh flower lie of which you will be able to observe when you visit Hawaii.  One will be wearing a grass skirt known as "pau" and on its anklets that made of a bone. This ensemble is well recognize throughout the world; hula dancers are even found in the dashboards of countless cars.

Even though hula dance is quite popular even as of today, and existed for hundreds of years, though it almost died out of a misunderstanding that missionaries thought of it as a demonic act which happened during the 1800s. The missionaries of before convince the local hawaiians of before to stop this kind of  belief since it will not be a sufficient mix of the Christianity they have thought to the people but King Kalakaua continued and encouraged this traditional dance that it flourished.

On your trip to Hawaii, one of the best cultural activity you shouldn't miss is the hula dance. A lot of hula dancers performs at luaus along with other ceremonies. Throughout your trip, it is also best to take part and learn of Hawaii's unique and vibrant culture and its people. May it be you are on a vacation to release your stress or on spiritual journey in Hawaii everything is just possible once you are here.