Welcome to the Foundation Course,
Welcome to the 'ohana!
Welcome to the Beginner Foundation Course! If you would like to join our Whatsapp groups– the main chat and/or the LSHO announcements group– please click the links below. If you join the Main group, please make sure to say hello and add a small intro+picture of yourself so that the rest of the ‘ohana can say hello!
Main Group
Announcements
What to wear:
Anything comfortable to move in. Please wear a pareo or sarong if you have one.
What to bring:
Please have water and a notebook to hand. Bring any questions/thoughts/concerns/ideas about the preparation assignments.
Before we get started…
Check out the videos below in order to gain an initial understanding in which dances belong to Hawaiian Hula, and which belong to the Tahitian ‘Ori.
Hula: Kahiko
Hula: ‘Auana
'Ori Tahiti: 'Ōte'a
'Ori Tahiti: 'aparima
Read The Foundations.
Discover a story about Pele, Laka and/or Hi'iaka. Discover a story about Ta’aroa, Hina and/or Maui. What are some of their most memorable characteristics?
Dig deeper into the word Aloha. What does it mean? How does this differ from what you thought it meant? In which ways is it the same?
Please bring your findings to the first class, we will be sharing and discovering together!
Don’t forget to do the Week 1 Preparation as well!
Week 1: Preparation
Watch the Hakalama video to help you understand both the Hawaiian and Tahitian alphabets. Practice pronouncing both under olelo/orero.
Read through the list of steps paying attention to your pronunciation, and try to sing along to the Mele Wai'oli.
What do you think He inoa no Kapi'olani means? (tip: revist the Fundamentals of Hula)
Ōlelo/Ōrero
List of Steps
Mele
Beats
Week 1: Session Recordings
Session 1 : Intro to Fundamental Steps
Hula: Ka'o, Kāholo, Hela, 'Ami
'Ori Tahiti: Tā’iri Tāmau, 'Ōtamu, Tūmami
38:21 Hula Practice
1:14:20 'Ori Practice
Sat Session1
Week 2: Preparation
1. Do the basic step exercises every day for the length of one song, 3x through the mele.
*Remember: Start from the ground up. Plant your roots and grow up towards the sun. High Maka Maka. Shoulders pulled back and down. Exhale and keep your core engaged, but loose.
2. Research the words Mana and Aloha 'aina. Do a free write about each word, or follow the prompts below.
What do these words mean in the context of your life? What would you like them to mean in the context of your life? Do those things align? How can you ensure these things align more?
Week 2: Session Recordings
Session 2
SAT Session 2
Week 3: Preparation
While the last weeks were about cultural discovery, this week is more about self-discovery. It is very important you allow yourself the time for these tasks this week. Set aside time for you to sit in your body and in your thoughts.
Do the exercises learned in Week 1+2. Bonus points if you practice every day!
Set aside time to stretch. If you’re unsure of stretches you can do, check out Youtube and find an appropriate yoga/stretching video.
Take yourself on a date, or set aside some time to do something you enjoy.
Week 3: Music
Week 3: Session Recordings
Session 3
SAT Session 3
Week 4: Preparation
Practice, practice, practice!
Week 4: Session Recordings
Session 4
SAT Session 4
Hula combo
Moves: kaholo, hela, lele uwehe, kao, ami and kalakaua
Song: He Lei Wahine by Kaulalua