Want to Hula?

Last Thursday, I joined a Music Vinyasa class by Anna Carbonell, one of the teachers in the newest studio in the metro...Beyond Yoga.

blissful yoginis after Anna's class

If you do not know her (yet), she is a senior Jivamukti teacher based in New York. Another interesting thing I found out is that Anna has been dancing the hula for over 18 years and has learned under the tutelage of Michelle Akina and Janu Cassidy of the Hawaiian Cultural Foundation (HCF). She now studies with a Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine, a master teacher living in O'ahu, and belongs to a halau (hula school) called Pua Ali'i 'Ilima o Nuioka. Anna has performed across the U.S. at various venues and events with HCF and Aloha Hula NYC. In addition she has featured as a Polynesian dancer in television commercials and has worked as a model for many years, appearing in Cosmopolitan, Self, All You Magazines and various print ads and billboards throughout mainland US, Hawaii and Asia. Anna has also appeared as "Liat" in South Pacific, a Tahitian dancer on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", numerous roles as a Pacific Islander in daytime soap operas and even a cameo opposite Blair Underwood in "Sex in the City". Anna now focuses exclusively on Polynesian dancing and teaching yoga.

FYI, Yoga & Dancing are two of my passions! So this upcoming Dance workshop is a definitely a MUST for moi!

Beyond Yoga presents a Hula Tahitian Dance workshop on Thursday, Oct 27 at 6:30pm

Learn to move your hips gracefully to the melodic sounds of Hawaiian music and “shake” rhythmically to the drumbeats of Tahiti. Learn to move your hands to tell the story behind the Hawaiian lyrics and to express your own sensuality as you dance the ote'a (traditional dance from Tahiti). Let your breath move the spirit within to embrace the beauty of your whole being.  Anna will teach you the basic footwork, hips and hand motions, and “eha” (breath) in order to tell the story and the essence of a song. 

You will learn a hapa haole hula song and will end the class with a review of the basic Tahitian steps.  Be prepared to sweat. 

No previous dance experience required. Please bring a sarong and wear comfortable clothing.

P600 drop in rate for non-members and P300 for members. Please call to 0917-5BEYOND (0917-5239663) to reserve.

Aloha!