Brahmas say Aloha to Hawaiian Dancing
September 14, 2016
For a handful of students at Diamond Bar High School, a culture-rich dance style from Hawaii is a major part of their everyday lives.
Hula dancing preserves the culture and history of Hawaii which is what has appealed to sophomore Carrie Lee, junior Renee Yam, junior Breana Tse, and sophomore Miranda Dypiangco since they were very young.
“The dances tell stories of the culture, mythology, and history of Hawaii,” Lee explained.
Each girl has their own experience with the dance, and has developed a strong bond with both the dance itself, and the people they’ve danced with.
Being involved in hula for most of their lives, they have grown close to the people and environment.
“The people there are like family,” Lee said. “Hawaiians believe in family unity.
Compared to if we went to a dance company for ballet or something, we’d be there for a class and that’s it, but here we get to learn about the culture -we aren’t just there to dance.”
The girls have been dancing hula for a variety of different reasons, and are not just there for the exercise.
“Hula is a way for me to express my emotions with the music and through the dancing,” Yam said, “It’s an emotional experience.”
All of the girls have been to hula competitions where they are able to show what they have learned, and compete to show their talents.
The studio Lee a
nd Dypiangco dance at is called Halau Na Pua Lehua I Ka Ua Noe in Chino Hills, which offers multiple competitions throughout the year.
They placed first in some categories at the George Na’ope Hula Festival in Sacramento last year.
The group plans to go to another competition in Long Beach this year.
Yam and Tse attends Dellos Dance Studio, which brings their students to a competition in which there are freestyle type dances where the dancer does not know how the beats are going to be played.
“I really enjoy the choreographs that my teacher does. For me, it has a deep meaning and I can understand the songs personally,” Yam said.
For these students, hula is more than just a form of dance or exercise.
The meaning behind hula and the connection between the dancer and the music is significant for
those who take the time to learn about it.
“Hula has a deeper meaning, the songs that you dance to have more meaning compared to ballet or other types of dance,” Yam said.
As time has passed, the girls feel connected to not just the dance itself, but also the studio they go to, and the family they have made there.
“It’s a more personal experience,” Dypiangco said, “Hula is ingrained into us, and it’s a part of us now.”
