National Talent Competition
Lorton hula students Emily Amon, Twany Gorbutt, Margaret Bumgarner, Anna Moh and Eleanor Carle participated in National Talent competition last February 14, 2009.
Teens, Emily, Twany, Margaret and Anna meet each other at the Lorton Saturday hula class. Our Hawaii born hula instructor Cherry Nutting asked if they would like to participate in the national talent competition. They eagerly said yes. The group was entered in the teen division dancing an Otea. Otea is ‘Ote’a
The most spectacular of all Polynesian dances, performed by a group of male dancers (‘Ote’a Tane) or a group of female dancers (‘Ote’a Vahine), or sometimes male and female dancers (‘Ote’a Amui). It is inspired by old legends; the themes consist of a certain number of variations, the length of each one being determined by the beats of the To’ere. Sometimes the theme of the ‘ote’a is a contemporary one (celebration of a wedding, welcome of an important visitor, marking of an important event, etc.). The ‘Ote’a are usually performed in traditional costumes (A’ahu More).
Eleanor Carle was the youngest in the class and she too joined the group by doing a solo – Hula – Lei apuahi. Hula ….. Ku`u Lei Awapuhi Written in 1951 for the remake of the movie Bird of Paradise, this poem was set to the melody of Ku`u Lei Pûpû, a tune the haku mele remembered from her childhood.
Halau Photographers: Susan Bickell and Jocelyn Handly.