Te Hau Nui Dance Company
Te Hau Nui Dance Company offers exciting classes and performances in Polynesian Dance. In our classes we study hula, tahitian and maori and share a sense of ohana or family through deepening our knowledge of this cultural treasure. Through the sacred dances and festive costumes of Hawai’i, Tahiti, and New Zealand in our performances, we evoke the magnificent spirit of Polynesia and its people. Te Hau Nui means “forever peaceful” in tahitian and through sharing this art form, we hope to convey the beauty, grace, joy, and power of Polynesian dance. We welcome you to join our Te Hau Nui Dance Company through our classes and performances.
Director
Lorraine Kalehuakeaikewekiu Kinnamon
It is my greatest joy to celebrate the sacred and festive dances of Polynesia with the community and beyond. I have been dancing Polynesian dance since the age of ten. I started formal dance training in ballet at the age of four in Toronto, Canada and upon my arrival in Hawai’i, fell in love with the dances of Hawai’i, Tahiti and New Zealand. My first kumu was Kapiolani Butterworth from Kaneohe, O’ahu and it was through her that my love of these dances began. I grew up performing every Sunday at the the Keiki Hula Show at Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu. In high school, I joined The Sounds of Young Hawai’i under the direction of Shigeru Hotoke at Kailua High and participated in two world tours performing the songs and dances of Polynesia throughout Europe, Canada, United States, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. At the same time, I was blessed to be able to study with kumu hula Henry Pa on O’ahu and danced with such greats as Hilo Hattie. In college and throughout my dance career, I have also studied many forms of dance including modern, jazz, African, middle eastern, folk and creative movement.
I have participated in occasional master tahitian classes with Mahea Uchiyama, Director of the International School of Dance in Berkeley, California. I have also studied Tahitian dance with Rose Mapuhi Perriera of Poe Rava Tahitian Dance Studio, former lead dancer for the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawai’i, and with Lorenzo Schmidt and Taiki Villant, Artistic Directors of Le Grande Ballet Tahitian Dance Company in Tahiti. I have studied hula with kumu Clark Bolivar of The Ladies of Moani Ke Ala ‘Ika Maili Lauli’i, formerly of San Jose, California and have also danced with Jacinta McGinness of Halau Hula ‘O Mahina I Ke Kai in Santa Cruz, California. I am deeply indebted firstly, to Shigeru Hotoke who gave all of us the opportunity to share our aloha through dance around the world, and secondly to my kumu, Clark Bolivar for sharing his wealth of knowledge, profound love of hula, and his infinite kindness and wisdom.
Thirteen years ago I began teaching and founded Te Hau Nui Polynesian Dance Company in Santa Cruz, California. I have taught Polynesian Dance as adjunct faculty at San Jose State University in the department of Music and Dance, and currently teach Polynesian Dance classes at the University of California Santa Cruz, as well as other locations in Santa Cruz County. Over the years, I have organized and performed at countless Polynesian events and celebrations throughout the Greater Bay Area. I have sung and danced in several music videos and commercials.
I continue to study and pursue my love of Polynesian Dance and its people. Several years ago, I made a trip to Fiji and learned some wonderful dances while I was there. I also had an incredible opportunity to participate in E Pili Kakou and study the songs and dances of Hawai'i and Tahiti with several kumu in Farehape and Papeete, Tahiti, including Kumu Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Vaihere Doudoute. And most recently
I was honored to be selected into a formal three year ‘uniki training
program with my treasured kumu, Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett of
Kane’ohe, O’ahu. I am deeply indebted firstly to Shigeru Hotoke who gave us
all the opportunity to share our aloha through mele and dance around the
world, and secondly to Loea for sharing his wealth of knowledge, profound
love of hula, and masterful artistry. Being part of the ohana as well as aina deepened my relationship with the dance and gave me many gifts to take home and share. I treasure my haumana and cherish the opportunity to educate and inspire them to gain a deeper appreciation of the dances and music of Polynesia. We welcome you to join our Te Hau Nui Dance Company ohana.
Me ke aloha pumehana (with warmest love),
Lorraine Kalehua