Group classes are back!
Classes will be held on Sundays from 2:00PM to 3:00PM, starting Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Class location: Distinctive Dance Etc., 2765 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886.
This class is beginner-friendly! Please read on to learn more.
Classes will be held on Sundays from 2:00PM to 3:00PM, starting Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Class location: Distinctive Dance Etc., 2765 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02886.
This class is beginner-friendly! Please read on to learn more.
About Polynesian Dance
Polynesia is a region of island nations in the Pacific Ocean. Hawai’i, though now a US state, is a former nation of its own in that region. Polynesian cultures have some similarities with each other, but there are also a lot of differences to be noted. The dances differ vastly. Unfortunately, misinformation has made it difficult for some to discern what is what. For example, Tahitian dance (‘ori Tahiti) is confused for Hawaiian dance (hula) often. This is due in part to shows featuring many dances from different Polynesian islands being performed all at once, but it is also due to misinformed performers not differentiating between the two different styles. What a lot of people think of as hula—fast-moving hips, fast drumming, coconut bras with grass skirts, sarongs (pareo/pareu), and large headdresses—is actually Tahitian dance. These dances are very sacred to each nation and their integrity must be preserved by teachers and practitioners of the dance.
This is one variation of a typical hula costume—a ti leaf skirt and a tube top or blouse with flowers and ferns. Often, dancers wear a pa’u skirt with the same type of top, or they wear dresses. Sometimes, a raffia ("grass") skirt may be worn at the waist instead. It varies based on what type of hula is being performed.
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This is a variation of a typical ‘ori Tahiti costume—a long moré (“grass”) skirt with something tied around the hips. In this example, it’s leaves around the hips, but it can be more of the same material as the skirt or even feathers. The head has a bigger adornment than you usually see in Hawaiian hula.
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This is another version of an ‘ori Tahiti costume you may see. Sometimes, there is no hip adornment, and a short or long pareo is worn instead of the big skirt. Costuming varies based on what type of ‘ori is being performed.
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Why Learn from Teaona?
Polynesian dance—which includes Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori, Samoan dance, and many others—is very culturally rich and requires in-depth knowledge. Each of these cultures is quite unique, even while they share similarities with each other. The dances are no exception to this, and it takes a great deal of dedication to understand the differences and the cultural context of each dance. Teaona has put in a lot of that work and studied Hawaiian dance (hula) and Tahitian dance (‘ori Tahiti) since 2005, and she continues to learn more today. She has kept up with workshops from Polynesian teachers throughout the years. She has also upheld the teachings of her kumu hula (hula teachers) even after moving states. When learning Polynesian dance, you want to make sure you’re learning from someone who honors the traditions and values of the cultures from which the dance comes and will teach you the same. Teaona is that someone! Teaona has been a performer of hula and ‘ori Tahiti for 15 years and has experience teaching both adults and children.
What will you learn?
Movement |
Mixed Levels |
Theory |
Learn and drill dance movements, including hand gestures, steps, and more. Work toward learning choreography! |
Combos will always be beginner-friendly. If you’ve already got some ‘ori training under your belt, there will be more challenging versions of the combos to keep you engaged! |
Learn the history and culture from which the dance comes. We will discuss cultural legends and myths that inspire any choreography you learn. Also learn the different types of dance performed. |
Pricing
Drop-in |
4-Class Pass |
$20 |
$65 |
Pay for just one class. This is perfect for if you just want to try it out first! |
This pass is good for four classes. They do not have to be consecutive--this is designed so that if you miss a class, you can just make it up another time (as long as you still have classes left on your pass). You have 60 days from the date of purchase to use all four class credits. It is a good deal; it will save you over 18% versus buying four drop-ins! |
Ready to sign up?
We would be glad to have you! Please click one of the buttons below to get started.