HONOLULU (HI Now) - The Asia Pacific Dance Festival celebrates dancers and choreographers during a two-week intensive experience in May. The festival invites groups from all over Asia and the Pacific, and includes workshops, lectures and four major performances that are open to the public.
The festival takes place every other summer and is a production of the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Outreach college. Kumu Hula Liko Cooke and Kumu Hula Sky Kanoelani Gora say they look forward to being a part of the “Living the Art of Hula” opening performance.
The Kumu and dancers told HI Now Daily hosts they’ve been working diligently leading up to the first show, taking place on Thursday May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Theatre.
Three more shows will follow, on May 25th, May 31rst and June 1rst.
The dancers say performing is a lot of fun, and learning the dances connects them to their culture, their relatives who have passed, and the generations of the future. Kilinoe Gora says she’s been dancing since she could walk, and she hopes to leave that legacy behind.
“To be able to look back at what I’ve done and what I’ve learned and hopefully pass that down to my children is priceless.”
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