Secret language of the hula
Learning to dance the hula is as easy as 1-2-3. In Hawaii the hula is an integral part of the Hawaiian culture. Beloved by all and studied in the most serious fashion by students in a hula halua (school).
When dancing the hula, there's always a story to be told with the hands. It can be seductive and suggesting. In fact, Protestant missionaries in Hawaii denounced the hula as pagan and its performances banned because of the gyrations and scantily clad dancers. Luckily it was revived.
All in all, the hula is purely poetry in motion --- a beautiful art form with its own body language. Camile will show you the secret language of the hula including how to say:
- I Love you
- I'm thinking of you
- Go away
- Come here, let's go
- Speak to me, talk to me
- I'm happy
- I'm sad, unhappy
- Rain
- Sun
- Surf, water, beach
Today, hula is celebrated by the young and old, both men and women.
About Camile Velasco
Camile Velasco was one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol. She auditioned for the show in Honolulu, Oahu and while she was a struggling songwriter/composer who worked at her parents' IHOP Restaurant in Kahului, Maui in Hawaii and was unanimously accepted by the judges. During the show, Randy Jackson requested that she infuse more of her hip-hop style into her performance that differentiated her from other finalists. Velasco emerged as a top vote-getter in results shows, just as Cowell had predicted. Since being a finalist for Idol, she released a single with Universal Motown and is currently working with Up Above Records to complete her long awaited debut album, Koy, which to be released in March 2009 . Her first single (Guava Jelly) off her debut album was released in October on iTunes.
Since American Idol, she released a single with Universal Motown headlined events in California, Hawaii, and elsewhere, and is currently working with Up Above Records to complete her long awaited debut album which to be released in march 2009 . Her first single (Guava Jelly) off her debut album will be released October 14th on iTunes. Her debut album is slated titled Koy.
In 2003, Velasco auditioned for American Idol in Honolulu , Oahu and was unanimously accepted by the judges for her rendition of the chorus and bridge of Ready or Not-a Delfonics sampled classic by the Fugees. Simon Cowell remarked that "you're actually very good," assuring Velasco that she had "no need to be nervous." Randy Jackson added that, "I love the sound of your voice. I love the kind of dark kinda quality of it." Finally, Paula Abdul said that "you have a real interesting tone. You're a beautiful, beautiful girl." She encouraged Velasco not to be afraid to "let go" and to "know and own the fact that you're really good."
Velasco quickly became the pride of Hawaii, and small-town Maui in particular, causing the islands to vote exponentially more than in previous years. Her return home before the finals was deeply emotional, as she was showered with support and physically covered with colorful leis.
