Semiotics: theory, history, and applications

History Of Dance

History of Hula Dance

Dance refers to movement used as a form of expression and is generally presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting, and as a method of non-verbal communication between species, such as the mating dance of birds and as part of ceremony, rituals, and celebrations of humans (Dance pp). Dancing figures can be found depicted on cave paintings of prehistoric era, dating back to the stone age, such as those found on some five hundred caves at Bhimbetka, in India (Bhimbetka pp). Although dance and music can be traced to prehistoric times, it is not clear which art-form came first, however, because rhythm and sound are the result of movement, and music inspires movement, "the relationship between the two forms has always been symbiotic (Dance pp). Many dance forms of today can be traced back to historical, traditional, ceremonial, and ethnic dances (Dance pp).

The hula maiden with hips swaying the breeze has become a legendary symbol of Hawaii, however, the hula of Old Hawaii, known as "kahiko" was a ritual of religion and communication (Hawaii's pp). In ancient times, dancers were selected for hula training in childhood and often even before birth, and spent their formative years under the care of a kumu hula, or hula master, separated from the outside world and dedicated to the goddess Laka, patron of the hula (Hawaii's pp).

The history of births, deaths, loves, and battles of the people were preserved in chants and dance (Hawaii's pp). Since Hawaii's history was recorded as dance, "hula dancers were expected to remember and repeat every dance step perfectly and under punishment of death," for "to change the dance was to change history" (Kaleikini pp). Hula was the written word for ancient Hawaiians, told through the movements of the dancers' feet, hands, and body movements (Kaleikini pp). Through dance, stories were told, genealogies were kept, and beliefs were shared and imposed, thus to change the steps would be to change the message (Kaleikini pp).

Not only was hula used to preserve the history of births, deaths, loves, and battles, it was danced for religious purposes and entertainment, such as to celebrate human fertility, or for the hope of successful crops (Hawaii's pp).

Certain hulas were considered very sacred and were done only at certain times, for example, for a certain deity on certain moons, at certain ceremonies, while others were performed for certain events such as the birth of a child, for which a song would be composed and the hula performed for that particular event (Meaning pp).

The double-gourd drum, called ipu heke, provides accompaniment for the dancers (Meaning pp). Mele refers to sung poetry, and oli refers to the voice techniques used to deliver the mele, which is chanted in a rhythmic manner for dancing and at other times in a non-rhythmic manner (Meaning pp). "They are sometimes composed to mark an event of immense magnitude, such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, storm, or tidal wave" (Meaning pp). Compositions also recall events such as the birth of a high chief or experiences such as lovemaking or war, and feelings such as nostalgia for a person or place (Meaning pp). Moreover, the composition process may be "straightforward or very complex, depending on the composer's mood and training, and other factors, such as the need to veil the identity of the hero or heroine" (Meaning pp). "Mele are delivered in diverse voice styles in which performers convey the character and sounds of the natural world, such as the wind, ocean, birds, and volcanic eruptions" (Meaning pp).

One of the most traditional instruments used for hula is the sharkskin drum called pahu.

The pahu stands two to three feet high and is made from the trunk of the coconut or breadfruit tree. A small knee drum called puniu accompanies the pahu. The puniu is made from the skin of the kala fish, stretched over half a coconut shell. Another drum we often use is the double-gourd drum known as ipu heke (Meaning pp).