{"id":208856,"date":"2025-01-07T16:02:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T02:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=208856"},"modified":"2025-01-08T08:46:54","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:46:54","slug":"dance-fusion-tongan-to-hip-hop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/07\/dance-fusion-tongan-to-hip-hop\/","title":{"rendered":"Dance Fusion: Tongan to hip-hop hits UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa stage"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Dancer
Nani Marcos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A vibrant array of dance styles—including Tongan, Afro-Cuban, contemporary, and hip-hop—will take center stage as graduating Master of Fine Arts (MFA<\/abbr>) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA<\/abbr>) students showcase their original choreography.<\/p>\n

\"Dancer
Jonathan Clarke Sypert<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
\"Dancer
Hannah Archer<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
\"Dancer
Isabella Andrade<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Department of Theatre and Dance<\/a> and Kennedy Theatre<\/a> present MFA<\/abbr>\/BFA<\/abbr> Dance Concert: Introspection<\/em><\/a>, running from January 29 to February 2, at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre.<\/p>\n

Directed by UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa dance instructor Sami L.A. Akuna, this dynamic showcase highlights the creative journeys of its choreographers, reflecting their diverse perspectives and cultural influences.<\/p>\n

Showcase spotlight<\/h2>\n

Hannah Archer\u2019s “Painted People,” infused with tap and jazz elements examines self-identity and the passage of time. Archer invites audiences to find reflections of themselves in her work.<\/p>\n

“I want the audience to see a bit of themselves in my piece and feel entertained and inspired by the entire show,” Archer said.<\/p>\n

Nani Marcos\u2019 “-apo” delves into ancestral respect and cultural identity, drawing on her Filipino-American heritage. Through storytelling, movement and sound, Marcos explores the significance of batok (traditional Filipino tattoos) as a medium for passing down traditions.<\/p>\n

“This piece is about reconnecting with my culture and respecting our ancestors,” Marcos explains.<\/p>\n

Stephen Isileli Kolokihakaufisi\u2019s “Ritual” celebrates traditional Tongan dance with hip-hop and West African influences as a means of preserving cultural knowledge and community connection.<\/p>\n

The concert also features Isabella Andrade\u2019s “Mi Viejos,” Camille Dias\u2019 “Limelight,” “Beige: An Afro Ballet” by Jonathan Clarke Sypert, “The Rite of the Heel” by Anneliese Wirsching, and Anu Shaw\u2019s “Take One Take.”<\/p>\n

Ticket information<\/h2>\n

Tickets are available for $8\u2013$18. Performances will run Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., with a post-show Q<\/abbr>&A<\/abbr> on January 31. More on tickets at the Kennedy Theatre website<\/a> or contact the box office at ktbox@hawaii.edu<\/a> or (808) 956-7655.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Graduating students showcase their original choreography in MFA<\/abbr>\/BFA<\/abbr> Dance Concert: Introspection<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[78,131,76,9],"class_list":["post-208856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-dance","tag-kennedy-theatre","tag-theatre-and-dance","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t