-- Kamokunani Hula Hālau, a Bloomington-based school dedicated to hula and Polynesian dance, is celebrating its third anniversary following a six year sebatical, marking three more years of activities under founder Johnette Kamokunani Palumbo. The milestone reflects the school’s ongoing work with students of different ages and experience levels through dance instruction and cultural presentations.
The anniversary also provides an opportunity to reflect on the school’s development in Bloomington since 2008 and Palumbo’s longstanding involvement in hula. Her experience with the dance began in childhood in Hawaii and continued after her family relocated to the Chicago area. Over the years, her participation in performances and community activities informed her decision to establish a hālau, a Hawaiian term for a hula school.
Palumbo’s path to founding the school included an earlier period in Rockford, Illinois, where an introduction to a steel guitar player seeking a hula dancer led to local performance opportunities. “Those engagements encouraged me to connect with other dancers and eventually establish a group of my own. I later brought a similar approach to Bloomington, where Kamokunani Hula Hālau developed through renewed teaching and performance activities,” she says.
The school’s activities include instruction for children, teens, and adults, with classes accommodating different levels of dance experience. Its performances also introduce audiences to several Polynesian dance traditions, including Hawaiian and Tahitian forms. These activities provide the context for the school’s anniversary, connecting regular instruction with opportunities for students to participate in public showcases.
Cultural education remains part of the school’s classes and performances, with Palumbo incorporating information about Polynesian traditions into the presentation of dance. Through these activities, participants have opportunities to learn about the cultural backgrounds associated with the dances they practice and perform, extending the experience beyond choreography and music.
Palumbo also points to the relationships that develop among participants. She says, “I use the Hawaiian term ‘ohana,’ meaning family, to convey the connections that can grow through shared participation.” This emphasis on belonging accompanies the school’s instruction and performances, offering context for its work with people from varied backgrounds and stages of life.
As Kamokunani Hula Hālau marks this third anniversary, the milestone recognizes the continuation of its activities in Bloomington and Palumbo’s involvement in teaching and presenting Polynesian dance. The anniversary also reflects the school’s long term development as a local setting for dance instruction, cultural education, and community performances.
Contact Info:
Name: Johnette Palumbo
Email: Send Email
Organization: Kamokunani Hula Hālau
Phone: +1(815)-985-9807
Website: https://kamokunanihulahalau.com/
Release ID: 89207145
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