Hula

Hula was danced in Hawaii for hundreds of years as a sacred ritual before the missionaries arrived to show them the missionary position. Naturally, it was relegated to being a somewhat distasteful item on any party agenda by the missionaries. During the 19th century, the hula almost vanished. King David Kalakaua is generally regarded as saving it during the late 1800's, when as King he could form his own troupe and encouraged the dancers to learn the old hula. Since that time it has progressed slowly forward because there have always been fans along the way.

"Posture itself in dancing strengthens the core of the body and
not only provides a physical benefit, but improves the
appearance and promotes a confident air."

Hula is a Polynesian dance form accompanied by chant or song, It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form. There are many sub-styles of hula, with the main two categories being Hula ʻAuana and Hula Kahiko. Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, is called kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments.

"Music Of Hawaii" by Melveen Leed

Hula, as it evolved under Western influence in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called ʻauana (a word that means "to wander" or "drift"). It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ʻukulele, and the double bass. Terminology for two main additional categories is beginning to enter the hula lexicon: "Monarchy" includes any hula which were composed and choreographed during the 19th century. During that time the influx of Western culture created significant changes in the formal Hawaiian arts, including hula. "Ai Kahiko", meaning "in the ancient style" are those hula written in the 20th and 21st centuries that follow the stylistic protocols of the ancient hula kahiko.

"Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery." ~ Martha Graham