Dance at Kalani
"Kalani is my spirit home" - Cleo Parker Robinson, contemporary American dance leader
Celebrating Dance
Dance at Kalani celebrates many cultures, in 5 studios with suspended wood floors, totaling 17,000 square feet of available movement space.
Kalani was founded by two dance professionals, Earnest Morgan and Richard Koob, MFA, former University of Hawaii instructors versed in modern, ballet, jazz, hula, and yoga. Since Kalani's beginning in 1975, many dance and music forms have been and continue to be celebrated in the annual and weekly ongoing events. In addition to an annual Hula Heritage week, Kalani supports the ongoing renaissance in Hawaiian culture with an anytime HULA Package featuring private instruction with kumu Ehulani Stephany (or other qualified instructor). Contact us to register.
History
Dance has been the essence of the Kalani experience from its beginning. Kalani's 120 acre property was at one time a traditional ahupua'a, or land portion, that was cared for by an 'ohana, or extended family, who benefited from its stewardship. A halau, or Hawaiian cultural school, graced the ocean frontage of Kalani until 1900. This site, with its paths, lava walls and smooth stone floor, is preserved along with a heiau (temple) site and burial grounds.
In the 1860's, Hawaii's beloved monarch, Kalakaua, reinstated the practice of hula after years of suppression from the missionaries. A renaissance of Hawaiian culture has continued ever since, celebrated annually in Hilo's Merrie Monarch Festival, during which Kalani holds our Hula Heritage Week.