"Luau" The Mullumbimby Polynesian Show

Anna Carbonell & Gisela Conechado

“No Ke Aloha O Ka Hula – Luau”

MULLUMBIMBY’S POLYNESIAN SHOW

& VEGETARIAN FEAST

Spring is in the air; the flowers are blooming while dolphins play within the waves, and in Northern NSW, Hula dancers are training to the glorious music of Polynesia - in preparation for this upcoming Luau. On Sunday the 12th of November, at 4:30pm in Mullumbimby’s cosy little St Martin’s Hall, the doors will open to the No Ke Aloha O Ka Hula - Luau, which translates to ‘For the Love of Hula - Polynesian Show and Vegetarian Hawaiian Feast’.

Hula has been historically significant during sacred Polynesian ceremony and remains spiritually important during mass, weddings, and even when saying ‘goodbye’ at funerals. Hula is a very graceful dance. It is the art of the dancer to make it look effortless, though in reality to dance Hula well, it means working very hard. This involves long hours of training. Not only for learning each dance number, but to refine the basic moves. Each dancer’s mind and body must learn the language of the dance. Hula is a spiritual practice and has many health benefits.

Local Byron Shire Hula dancer Gisela Conechado explained, “When I dance Hula every part of me is in pure joy, even when we are training hard and my thighs and arms are burning. The face and hands are very important, as they tell the story of each song. The dancer’s gentle gaze on the hands is very calming on the nervous system, similar to the effects of practising tai chi.”

This Luau will showcase artists from near and far, sharing beautiful song and dance from such exotic locations as Hawaii, Tahiti, Aotearoa, Fiji and the ‘Big Island’ known as Australia. The audience will feast on gorgeous vegetarian food and will have an opportunity to try both Hula and Tahitian dance.

This colourful evening of cultural celebration will begin with the soulful sounds of Australian-Fijian singer-song writer Andrea Kirwin - from the Sunshine Coast, and Brisbane-based Polynesian dancer Tauaria Howard, who will share Maori song.

The graceful moves of Hula dancers Anna Carbonell and Gisela Conechado, will follow the singing. Anna will be flying in from America, where she has been performing throughout New York’s steamy summer. Gisela and Anna have trained and performed with Heilani Polynesian School of Culture and Dance in Brisbane, and Ori’vai Tahiti on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Gisela teaches Hula at the Byron Community College and is the director of Hula Pili Kai contemporary Australian-Polynesian dance school based in Brunswick Heads.

This will be such an enriching Spring evening, as this Mullumbimby Luau will be presenting the students of Hula Pili Kai, some of whom will be performing Hula for their first time.

Please join us for this celebration of Polynesian song and dance:

When: 5pm Sunday 12th of November, 2017

Venue: St Martin’s Hall - 38 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482

Tickets: Tickets are limited and can be purchased from the following link:

https://www.trybooking.com/QWNQ

Inquiries: Gisela 0410161747

For more information about the performers:

Anna Carbonell http://www.igobeyondyoga.com/blog/hula-tahitian-dance-class-with-anna-carbonell

Gisela Conechado

https://www.facebook.com/HULAPILIKAI/

Andrea Kirwin http://www.andreakirwin.com/

Heilani School https://www.facebook.com/heilaniproductions/