University of Hawaii-Manoa
Halau Hula Ka No'eau hula dancers have learned modern dance
movements for "Ike/Body of Knowledge," a collaboration
between modern dance and ancient hula.
The work began when Mark Taylor, artistic director of Pittsburgh's Dance Alloy troupe, began researching the relationship between language and body movements, and the quest led him to Hawaiian chanting.
Taylor's interest in cross-cultural dance collaborations led him to kumu hula Michael Pili Pang of Hilo, whose Halau Hula Ka No'eau will perform the work with Dance Alloy.
"Ike/Body of Knowledge" uses 14 dancers and chanters to examine differing visions of the creation myth, the Kumulipo and the western edition, and the Hawaiian creation chant underpins the work.
"The Kumulipo is the genesis of Hawaiians," said Pang. "When the grant (for the collaboration) was written, what we had in mind was, what does it FEEL like in your guts to understand this heritage? 'Ike' is Hawaiian for 'to see,' or 'to have inner knowledge.'
"No one really knows what the ancient Hawaiian music sounded like, so we're kind of recreating it based on the text of the Kumulipo. We do know how, for example, oli oli chanting goes, so we can use that as a guide."
In addition to "Ike/Body of Knowledge," the performance will include "Pa Ka Na'Au: To Feel Within," a set of traditional Hawaiian dances performed by Pang's Halau Hula Ka No 'Eau, and "Union Hall," a work by Mark Taylor and musician Guy Klusevsek performed by Dance Alloy.
"It was interesting working with Mark because he likes to take outside influences, like African or Indian, and combine them with modern movement," said Pang.
"Onstage, it's pretty much 50/50; we're all up there at the same time, and the hula dancers are doing modern movements, the modern dancers are doing hula - well, actually, they're doing hula movements, not really doing hula."
The Hawaii dancers, said Pang, are having a great time. "It's very interesting AND a lot of fun. This kind of dance is not generally in their vocabulary, so we're all learning."
"Ike/Body of Knowledge" premiered at the Gate Performing Arts Center at Hawaii Preparatory Academy Saturday night, and will debut in Pittsburgh in April.
Admission to the Hawaii Theatre Center show is $20, $15 and $12. Information and reservations: 528-0506.
What: Ike/Body of Knowledge