It's going to be a busy summer...Isla Pacifika will be at Millennium Park!

Summer is almost here and it looks like it's going to be a busy one!

First, everyone in class is working hard preparing for our class recital in less than two weeks! We're learning many different hawaiian and tahitian dances...a lot of new stuff! The other weekend the girls made pa'u skirts and kukui nut leis. To learn how to make your own pa'u skirt, check out our previous blog post here. Sound exciting? It's just the beginning...

Join Isla Pacifika during the month of June as we teach the basics of tahitian dancing at Millennium Park. If you didn't know, every summer the Millennium Park hosts free workouts on the Great Lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Are you ready to shake those hips and burn some calories?

Hula Steps

All steps must be done with knees BENT. Do not straighten while you dance or you will start to bounce or bob up and down. Weight on heels, back straight.

'Ami: Rotate hips in a circle back

Huli: 1/4 turn

Hela: begin with weight on left foot, right foot extends and tap, comes back and switch weight to right, then left foot extends and taps

Kaholo: to travel, Right foot steps to the side, then step left (bring together next to right foot), then right step, Then do same with Left

Uwehe: step in place with right foot, lift both heels quickly of the floor and back quickly, causing knees to open forward. Repeat with the left foot

Kalakaua: Step forward right foot, weight back on left, step back on right foot, weight forward on left, step forward on right weight back on left, step back on right (weight stays on right). Repeat with left foot