Hawaiians offer traditional, contemporary dancing at Ellen Eccles Theatre

Hawaiian dancers Frankin Akima, MaileGinger Ripp and Keala Fund perform "He 'Ole Loa" during the Tau Dance Theatre performance at the Ellen Eccles Theatre on Sept. 30 (Image courtesy of Facebook).

LOGAN – The Tau Dance Theatre of Honolulu brought a taste of Native Hawaiian culture to the stage of the Ellen Eccles Theatre on Sept. 30.

It was a delightful, enriching experience for the Cache Valley audience.

Master storyteller Kealoha Kelekolio acted as master of ceremonies for the dance show entitled Indigenuity.

He began by extending the group’s land acknowledgement to all eight Native American tribes of Utah, including the Confederated tribes of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone, the Goshute Indians, the Ute Indian Tribe, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the San Juan Southern Paiute, the Skull Valley Band of Goshute and the White Mesa Band of the Ute Mountain Ute.

Then Kelekolio introduced Tau Dance founder Peter Rockford Espiritu, who accompanied dancers Frank Akima, MaileGinger Ripp and Keala Fung in performing a medley of traditional hula dances.

Popular Native Hawaiian musician Pōmaika’i took the stage to perform the melodic “Love Like This” in her native tongue.

Ms. Pōmaika’i inherited the “ha’i” style of singing from her grandmother, Hawaiian music legend Aunty Genoa Keawe. But her lovely voice and an engaging stage presence were all her own.

From New Mexico, Native American special guest Shelley Morningsong performed a dramatic prayer set to music entitled “Return,” while her husband Fabian Fontenelle did a ritual dance.

The pair are award-winning Native American performers and are widely recognized for their contributions to the Native American Contemporary music and dance scene.

Then Espiritu unveiled Pōhuli, the Tau Dance Theatre’s signature style of choreography. It was an innovative blend of traditional hula, ballet and modern dance that he has developed.

Dancers Kamakoa Page Zablan, Malia Moguel and Emma Fujitani joined the earlier ensemble to perform Pōhuli versions of “Rain” by Credence Clearwater Revival; “He ‘Ole Loa,” sung by Pōmaika’i; and “Tuahine” before the curtain came down on Act 1.

Coming on the heels of the farewell performance by the Odyssey Dance Theatre earlier in the week, those styles of dance begged comparison.

While the American dancers displayed energetic athleticism in Thriller, Espiritu’s performers were all supple grace and smooth movements. His dancers were obviously working hard as they performed Indigenuity, but the overall effect of Pōhuli was to invite the audience to relax in a way that felt oddly Hawaiian.

After the intermission, the second act of Indigenuity offered more of the same. Its highlight was the charming “Legend of Maui” cleverly told by Kelekolio.

The entrancing performance by the Tau Dance Theatre was the opening act in the CacheARTS’ line-up of events in its National Touring Season.

The next performance will be a Comedy Night at the Ellen Eccles Theatre, featuring stand-up artists Rocky LaPorte and Tim Walkoe on Monday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

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