Hula hopefuls New class to teach ‘body prayer,’ the dance of Polynesia

BANGOR – It’s a melding of very different cultures: the tropical South Pacific and chilly New England.

These two worlds come together at a Polynesian dance workshop to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Thomas School of Dance, where participants will learn basic techniques in ancient and modern hula and Tahitian dance.

The hula dance will be the focus for instructor Mary Beth Ellis, but she is also teaching the Tahitian dance “just for fun.”

Ellis, of Brewer, has a profound interest in the spiritual aspects of dance, in part because she is an ordained American Baptist minister and a graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary. She has tried all forms of dancing throughout her life, including ballet, African, Middle Eastern, flamenco and Irish step and has been studying hula for three years.

Ellis loves to dance these dances but finds that they, like most modern dances, are usually too technical. “I need a deeper meaning to dancing,” she said. “Hula is really a body prayer. Ballet could be, too, but it is not thought of in that way.”

The ancient hula, called kahiko, is not what most people think of when they think “hula.” Originally hula was rooted in a mystical religion, and the hula dancer was the priest of the community, where he was separated out of society to perform rituals in worshipping the god Pele.

When missionaries began to visit the South Pacific, these sensual dances, with dancers often scantily clad, were banned. In the 20th century, the hula and other dances became forms of entertainment to draw more tourists to the area.

Hula and Tahitian dance both are based in the connection of man and woman, self sacrifice community and Aloha. “It is a holistic approach to life,” said Ellis. “It also has a lot in common with Native American dance and its rituals.”

Hula is also being studied as a spiritual healing art, and large groups in Hawaii are studying the ancient form again.

Ellis has given dance instruction to diverse groups in the past, too, like the nurses in Kittery who were intrigued by the dance’s emphasis on female native rights of passage. “People are interested in dance for different reasons,” said Ellis.

Polynesian dance is considered to have both feminine and masculine traits because it involves the whole community dancing in a group. Today, professional groups have to have a certain number of women and men to compete.

“Hula tells the story of people, their legacy and what their history is,” said Ellis.

The workshop is open to those 8 years old and up, and there is a $12 fee. To register, call Thomas School of Dance at 945-3457.