Dance 10 Page
The History of Hula Dancing
Molly Silven ’13
Professor Wise
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. There are multiple forms of dance ranging from hip-hop, Irish step dancing, ballroom dancing, jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, tribal dancing, and even hula dancing. Dancing is way to express oneself by using the body. Sometimes dancing is regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans, and is also performed by other animals. Typically animals dancing are a form of a mating ritual used to attract a mate. Dance has evolved drastically through the decades; however, there are the ritual dances that remain the same despite the changing society. These dances are typically performed by tribes such as Native American tribes or even African tribes. The tribes or groups use dance to tell stories of their history. A perfect example of dancing to express history is the Hula. The Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song performed by Polynesians of Hawaii. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele. There are many styles of hula; however, they are commonly divided into two different categories. One category is the Ancient hula. It was performed before people from the west had encountered the people of Hawaii and is known as kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. The second category of Hula is called ʻauana. It has evolved under Western influence during the 19th and 20th centuries ʻAuana is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ‘ukulele, and the double bass. In the ancient times of Hawaii, as with almost all aspects of life, hula was integrated with traditional
Molly Silven ’13
Professor Wise
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. There are multiple forms of dance ranging from hip-hop, Irish step dancing, ballroom dancing, jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, tribal dancing, and even hula dancing. Dancing is way to express oneself by using the body. Sometimes dancing is regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans, and is also performed by other animals. Typically animals dancing are a form of a mating ritual used to attract a mate. Dance has evolved drastically through the decades; however, there are the ritual dances that remain the same despite the changing society. These dances are typically performed by tribes such as Native American tribes or even African tribes. The tribes or groups use dance to tell stories of their history. A perfect example of dancing to express history is the Hula. The Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song performed by Polynesians of Hawaii. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele. There are many styles of hula; however, they are commonly divided into two different categories. One category is the Ancient hula. It was performed before people from the west had encountered the people of Hawaii and is known as kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. The second category of Hula is called ʻauana. It has evolved under Western influence during the 19th and 20th centuries ʻAuana is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ‘ukulele, and the double bass. In the ancient times of Hawaii, as with almost all aspects of life, hula was integrated with traditional