hula is a unique movement that is danced by either a song or chant.Chants and voices were used as instruments and the hula provided the lyrics.Today, hula is accompanied by guitars or ukuleles.To get the full experience, you should try to find a hula class near you, but you can get started on your own with a few basic steps.
Step 1: Take a deep breath and bend your knees slightly.
Keep your feet and hips loose.Sway your hips from side to side if it helps.
Step 2: To the right, take two steps.
Follow with the left foot.After moving two steps to the left, follow with the right foot on each step.You should lead with your hip when you step the first foot.Let that hip sink when the next foot comes.Every time you move, this creates a rocking motion with your hips.
Step 3: Put your arms up.
The arm that corresponds with the leading foot is traditionally put up.At shoulder height, the arm will come straight out to the side.The other hand will be pointing towards the center of your chest, with your elbow at shoulder height.The position of your arms will be changed when you switch your foot.
Step 4: Take a deep breath and bend your knees.
Keep a significant bend in your knees.Keep your hips loose.If you want to change your height but don't use a lot of thigh strength, you should be bending enough.
Step 5: The weight should be shifted from your left foot to your right foot.
Bring your right hip up.Relax on your left hip.On the other side, repeat.Your head should be level.It may be side to side, but never up and down.All of your movement should be focused on the weight in your legs and hips.Lift your feet when the weight is off of them.
Step 6: Put your hands on the ground.
The position for the kao step is to keep both of your hands at chest height, palms towards the ground, and fingertips facing each other.Don't let your elbow droop, keep them at shoulder height.
Step 7: Bring your chest up by bending your knees.
Lift your tailbone, but don't push your belly forward.Think of your hips as separate from your torso.Your torso and chest should not tilt too much to accommodate them as they should be a little further back and higher than normal.
Step 8: Take your weight from the center to the right foot.
The Kao step is similar to this one, except that instead of shifting back to left immediately, you will shift your weight to the left.For four counts, do this.Your first weight shift will go from center to left.Imagine putting your butt in circles.Your butt and hips will move in circles as you counter clockwise for four counts.
Step 9: The arm positioning should be added.
The leading hip should be in the middle of your chest, with the palm pointing toward the floor.Your elbow should go straight to the side.The other hand should be on the other hip.When your hip changes, switch the arm position.
Step 10: Use a pua motion.
With your hands at waist level, stretch your arms to the right.Your palms should be facing the ground.Bring your fingertips together as you rotation your hands so that your palms face up.If you do this for two counts, then do it again on the left side.The kaholo or kao usually accompanies this motion.
Step 11: The ua is a rain motion.
To get your hand above your head, bring your right arm to the side.Look upward at your hand when you lean back to the left.The left hand is five inches away from the right hand.As you bring your hands down to your waist, gently move your fingers.On the other side repeat.The swaying motion and the kaholo step are accompanied by this motion.
Step 12: The motion is called the nalu.
Start with your right hand up and to the side, and your left hand at your chest.In a wavelike motion, move your hands up and down.On the other side repeat.The ocean is represented by a waving motion.With your arms in front of you, act like you are picking flowers out of water, alternating picking motions between right and left hands.The illusion of waves is created.
Step 13: Use a video.
There are videos of basic dances.It will be easy to follow along to the videos once you have mastered the individual steps.The fluid and motions outlined above will give you a feel of the rhythm of hula hand motions.The hands are usually placed the same.
Step 14: You can write your own dance routine.
You can use the motions in the article to make your own dance.Start with the swaying motions.Continue to use arm motions while moving into kaholo.Use the ka'o or ami to turn in a circle.The kaholo can be used to move further to the side or toward the audience.
Step 15: Come up with a new idea!
You should be able to move from one to the other if you practice these motions.They are easy to understand.Go through the motions if you like the song you choose.If you use your hands, you can tell your own story.If you want to get the motions right, use youtube to find more hand motions.