HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaii Dental Service shares what’s beyond the smile when it comes to dancing and appreciating hula.
It’s natural for most to think that smiling in hula is purely for entertainment purposes. While the focus can be on the choreography, hula incorporates faces, the sound of the dancer’s voices and so much more. They tell stories through singing or chanting and use their voices to lead.
Certain expressions are used to tell stories of war and resilience or of love and nature. Facial expressions could be serious, or joyful depending on the story being told. Most times, people expect hula dancers to smile, but not every story is a happy one. Hawaiian Cultural Expert Cy Bridges encourages watchers of this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival to look beyond the dance and observe the faces of the dancers. You’ll notice emotions, changes in demeanor, or inflections in the chanter’s words throughout the song.
“We love hula, it’s not only enjoyable to share the beauty of our culture, but also the stories of our people through dance. Smiles and facial expressions can take you beyond the surface layer of a hula dance. It can expose raw emotion and reveal the story behind every performance.”
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