More than 100 students from Kona Dance and Performing Arts take the stage for their premiere recital this Saturday and Sunday at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
This inaugural performance, “The Beat Goes On,” features professional choreography to tunes from Glenn Miller Orchestra to the Andrew Sisters, and from Billy Joel to the Beatles. Dancers ages 3-19 will entertain audiences with dance genres including tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre, hip-hop and contemporary pieces.
“We have 105 students at our studio in Kealakekua, and they’ve been working very hard for the past 10 months for this show at the Aloha Theatre,” said KDPA Artistic Director Amanda Trusty. “We have seven choreographers involved who put together about 28 to 30 pieces for our students ages three all the way up to 19. Some of our teachers will be performing as well. It’s really exciting for our keiki and teenagers to show the community what they’ve been working on.”
The concert features classical music, stunning costumes and beautiful stories told through the art of dance and song. Professional choreographers Amanda Trusty, Debra McGee, Miho Morinoue, Alexis Gaines, Andreas Tolaas, and junior choreographer, Grace Branham will feature their work created specifically for this production. Saturday evening’s performance includes pieces from choreographers and dancers across the Big Island to celebrate the diversity of Hawaii Island’s performing arts, including the breakdance community.
Dancers from KDPA train diligently in technique and performance. Annual recitals are an opportunity for students to showcase their talent with the community and take a bow for all the hard work and hours they’ve dedicated to their craft. It’s also an opportunity for family and friends to show their appreciation for the young dancers.
“We start in the fall with technique and start our choreography in January, so the students have been working on these particular pieces for about five or six months,” said Trusty. “We have some awesome tap pieces this year. We also have some musical theatre, which includes live singing and dancing all at the same time, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and jazz.”
Kona Dance and Performing Arts teaches more than just dance. Their training also teaches students life skills like responsibility, taking direction, being generous and learning to support one another. These are skills that students carry with them in to adulthood.
“This weekend in our teen class, we had a really long discussion about what it means to take responsibility, and self-critique versus judgment,” said Trusty. “We want our young women to feel empowered and learn how to demand respect. We also have young men at our studio and we want them to learn how to interact with the girls and not feel intimidated by dancing in general. We want all our students to learn how to take responsibility for their actions, as well as their belongings, right down to their tap shoes and not blaming it on mom or dad if they forget something. It’s really important to us that we are developing their craft and their character at the same time.”
A professional dancer herself, Trusty recognizes the friendships and relationships formed through the performing arts are as important at the art itself. This weekend’s performances are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $12 for children.
Info/tickets: www.apachawaii.org ■
