Siony Srnka

Dance Style
Hula

Workshop Description
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele. (from Wikipedia)

Artist Bio
Following her graduation from the private and prestigious Centro Escolar University in Manila, Philippines, majoring in all forms of classical dances as well as in Hawaiian Hula, Siony commenced her teaching career in Manila as a physical education teacher and a Hawaiian Hula instructor. In 1973 she immigrated to Toronto, Canada and continued her teaching career. Subsequently, she left for Hawaii, where she honed her dancing skills further by studying Hawaiian Hula under some of Hawaii's greatest contemporary Hula Grand Masters.

There are many styles of hula. They are commonly divided into two broad categories: Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaii, is called kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. Hula as it evolved under Western influence, in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called auana. It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ukulele, and the double bass.

Artist Website
www.sionysdancecompany.com